Warwick Armstrong is the new managing director IPE Pack Oceania, joining the company with a wealth of experience in the Australian packaging industry, and deep knowledge of equipment and materials.
Armstrong has held senior leadership positions for the past two decades and has extensive experience domestically and abroad. He started his journey in the packaging industry as a service engineer, contributing to the installation and commissioning of Australia's inaugural MAP tray sealer. His professional trajectory encompasses significant roles, including state manager and founding team member at Multivac Australia. Most recently, he served as the general manager of business development at Plantic Technologies.
Armstrong currently serves as a board member of the Australian Institute of Packaging, is a member of the Fight Food Waste CRC, and holds a Masters degree from the University of Queensland.
“We are excited to have Warwick join us as we expand into the region. As we continue to grow and with the release of new products, it is important for IPE to have a local presence to support our network of partners and customers. His knowledge and reputation in the industry is well known and proven, this made it an easy choice for us when we were searching for a managing director,” said Michelle Fan, vice president and owner.
Armstrong said, “It’s a great honour to be appointed and entrusted with the leadership of IPE Oceania, at a key time for our business and the industry in general.
“IPEs dedication to innovation, technology and sustainability made it a natural and aligned choice for me. We have been supplying materials into the Oceania market for over 15 years, our products are proven in the region and are used daily across a range of applications,” he said.
Armstrong says IPE already has in place a strong network of partners, which it will continue to support and help them grow.
“It’s important for us as a business to keep ahead of the local industry regulations, requirements and to make sure we understand these. By having direct day-to-day contact with the family and owners of IPE it allows us to adapt quickly and stay ahead of any changes and requirements to these regulatory needs,” he said.
“It’s an exciting time for me to be joining IPE as our expansion in the domestic and global market has shown the need to increase capacity and we have started building a new 40,000 sqm factory, which will include the latest processing equipment from Europe.”
IPE brands include Austlon shrink bags, Austlon shrink films for thermoformers and tray sealers, and Iplon casings.