In 1955, the Lehner family founded ALPLA in their laundry in Hard, Austria. The first customers were local food companies which were in need of reliable packaging solutions. Only two years later, ALPLA produced its first plastic bottle — the iconic CLU glass cleaner bottle — and in 1959, Alwin Lehner developed the ALPLAmat, a blow-moulding machine that revolutionised packaging production.

Customer value: from the very beginning, ALPLA helped brands secure a steady, high-quality supply of packaging, enabling them to scale production efficiently. Read the full story about our first big order.

• The ALPLA Story: Technical challenges and the Alplamat
• The ALPLA Story: From Christmas Trees to the First Big Order

By the 1970s, ALPLA had opened new plants across Austria and Germany to stay close to its customers. In 1985, ALPLA built its first in-house plant for Henkel in Lomazzo, Italy, a milestone that set the standard for close partnerships between the packaging supplier and bottlers. Cooperation with the retail giant Migros also pushed ALPLA into PET technology, helping brands adapt to consumer demand for lighter, safer bottles.

Customer value: regional expansion and on-site plants meant shorter lead times, lower transport costs and highly flexible production. Discover our journey into central and eastern Europe.

• The history of ALPLA: customer proximity is the key to success
• The history of ALPLA: taking on the world

The 1990s and 2000s were marked by rapid international growth. ALPLA established plants in Mexico, the United States, India and China, following its multinational partners into new markets. In eastern Europe, ALPLA provided a secure packaging supply during a time of major transformation. In 2005, the company entered the recycling sector with its first recycling facility in Austria.

Customer value: ALPLA combined global reach with local proximity to ensure customers enjoyed consistent quality and technical leadership no matter where they expanded. See how global brands scaled with us.

• The history of ALPLA: progress powered by ongoing technology leadership
• ALPLA around the world: central and eastern Europe
• ALPLA around the world: the Caribbean

This decade saw ALPLA move to the forefront of sustainable packaging. New PET recycling plants were established in Poland and Mexico, and partnerships like the one with Vöslauer in 2018 for a 100% rPET mineral water bottle set industry benchmarks. At the same time, ALPLA launched its Zero Pellet Loss programme, ensuring raw materials were handled responsibly across production sites. With expansion progressing at full speed and ALPLA becoming a global winner with its new generation, growth and sustainability became inseparable drivers of ALPLA’s success.

Customer value: brands gained access to reliable, future-proof packaging solutions which helped them meet regulatory targets and raise consumer expectations for sustainability. Explore our sustainability solutions.

• The history of ALPLA: expansion at full speed
• The history of ALPLA: becoming a global winner with the new generation

From biodegradable solutions to advanced recycling technologies, ALPLA continues to pioneer innovation that helps customers transition to a circular economy and meet growing consumer expectations for sustainable packaging. Under its third generation of leaders, ALPLA is strengthening its focus on sustainability, innovation and diversification.

Customer value: With 200 plants worldwide, €4.9 billion in revenue and 24,400 employees, ALPLA is positioned as a global partner which helps brands transition to a circular economy and prepare for the packaging challenges of tomorrow. Read how ALPLA supports sustainable growth.

• The history of ALPLA: expansion under new leadership