"Our challenge is to establish sustainable business models in the flexible packaging industry," says Eckhard Kallies, Director of Flexible Packaging at the Koehler Paper Group. A native of northern Germany, Kallies took up his new position in the Black Forest on March 1.

Kallies knows what he’s talking about. He’s worked in the paper industry for almost 30 years, most recently in the area of paper for flexible packaging. He outlines Koehler’s target as follows: "As a newcomer to the field, we will soon make a name for ourselves as an innovative and reliable supplier in the supply chain." The key here is creating target-oriented solutions with converters and brand owners and establishing paper as the packaging material of the future.

The construction of a new paper machine at Koehler’s site in Kehl on the Rhine river is part of the development of the new product division. It will begin operation in September while the new coating machine will begin operation in July. In addition to conventional papers for flexible packaging, Koehler’s decades of expertise in coating technology will enable it to produce papers whose barrier properties will replace plastic in some areas of packaging.

Koehler’s CEO Kai Furler sees Eckhard Kallies’ commitment as an important part of his future success. "Mr Kallies brings to our team a great deal of experience in the area of papers for flexible packaging," he says. "In his previous roles, he made a name for himself as an executive who thinks and acts strategically."

In addition to conventional papers for flexible packaging, which are often used as part of composites, Koehler is working with research institutions and other companies in the value chain to develop papers with barrier properties. Of particular note here is the Green Coating Collaboration, which Koehler runs together with the TU Darmstadt.