Schur Flexibles Acquires Manufacturers of Premium Packaging

Schur Flexibles Group, Baden, Austria, continues to grow with the announced acquisition this week from the Clondalkin Group, Utrecht, the Netherlands, of the following producers of premium packaging: Cats-Hänsel with the two sites—Cats Flexibles Packaging B.V., Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and Hänsel Flexible Packaging GmbH, Freital, Germany—as well as Nimax B.V., Elst, the Netherlands. 

Through this, Schur Flexibles strengthens its position in the sector of premium packaging for the confectionary and tea market. The three locations with about 135 employees generate a sales volume of more than EUR 30 million (2017). With these acquisitions, turnover is likely to grow to more than EUR 400 million in 2018. In the segment wax, paper, and film packaging for confectionery alone, Schur Flexibles thus achieves a turnover of more than EUR 80 million and is among the largest providers in Europe in this sector. 

"These companies fit perfectly into our growth strategy. In parallel, we are investing in our plant network to further build up our highly specialized production locations, thus creating additional added value for our customers," said Michael Schernthaner, managing director of the Schur Flexibles Group.

 

The intended transaction is subject to internal and external approvals, including approval by the relevant competition authorities.

With Cats-Hänsel, Schur Flexibles is taking over a well-established company in the sector of paper/film-based flexible packaging solutions for confectionary in the premium segment. Cats provides proven expertise in the production of waxed paper and barrier packaging, including premium-quality flexo and gravure printing technologies. An example of the company's innovativeness is ECOWAX, a fully biodegradable vegetable-based alternative to traditional wax packaging adapted by Cats-Hänsel, which offers - not only for confectionary manufacturers - sustainable packaging solutions. Hänsel is one of the leading experts in the confectionery sector for twist and fold wraps. The high- quality, flexible packaging solutions are tuned to run perfectly on the high-speed packing lines of its customers.

Nimax is an expert in the production of high-quality tea tags and envelopes, as well as inlay sheets for tobacco packaging.

"Our customers are now profiting from an even broader range of innovative, specialized and sustainable packaging and service solutions from one source, which we develop at our highly specialized locations. We are continuing our expansion strategy and see alongside organic growth further opportunities for acquisitions," explained Managing Director Michael Schernthaner.

The Schur Flexibles Group, with around 1,400 employees, specializes in innovative, high-quality and made-to-measure high- barrier packaging solutions for the food, tobacco, and pharmaceutical industries. With its integrated chain of added value, from extrusion via print and laminating, to extensive bag and pouch-making, the Group, which was founded in 2012, recorded an actual turnover of EUR 350 million (2017), making it one of the top European companies in the industry. Schur Flexibles encompasses 12 companies with 14 production plants in Germany, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Greece, and Russia, all of them highly specialized and each enjoying technology-leadership status in its own field. This center-of-excellence concept makes the Group an attractive and expert partner for client companies in selected industries.