WEPA Group to Install New 65,000-mtpy Tissue Machine at UK Bridgend Mill

The WEPA Group, headquartered in Arnsberg/ Westphalia, Germany, has announced further extensive investments in infrastructure and production at its plant in Bridgend, UK. The main focus of the investment is the construction of a new paper machine with a planned annual production capacity of 65,000 mtpy. The machine will start up in the 1st quarter 2022.

Martin Krengel, CEO of the WEPA Group: "Our willingness to invest in state-of-the-art technology is an important part of our future-oriented Group strategy. UK remains an important growth market for us in Europe despite COVID-19 and Brexit. With the planned investments we will be able to meet our customers' expectations in terms product quality and sustainability even better in the future. It is important to us to produce for our customers in the UK in their own country. For the Bridgend site this means a doubling of production capacity.”

The WEPA Group thus strengthens its market position throughout Europe as the third largest European manufacturer in the hygiene paper market. The site in Bridgend produces toilet paper and kitchen towels for the British consumer market with around 280 employees and has been part of the WEPA Group since 2013 (initially as a joint venture before being fully acquired in 2018). The investments will create more than 50 additional jobs.

The two managing directors of WEPA UK, Tony Curtis and Mike Docker, welcomed the decision: "The construction of a new paper machine and the other planned investments are significant measures for our UK business and our Bridgend site. These investments will strengthen our competitiveness in the UK market and safeguard jobs in the region.”

The WEPA Group is a family business operating throughout Europe and offers sustainable and innovative hygiene solutions that provide a safe feeling of hygiene and contribute to the well-being of millions of consumers all over Europe every day. With 3,800 employees, the WEPA Group produces hygiene paper products such as toilet paper, towel paper, handkerchiefs and napkins at 13 production sites in Europe. WEPA is one of the three largest European manufacturers and is market leader in the production of hygiene paper made of recycled fibers. The annual turnover amounts to approximately 1.3 billion euros. In the consumer business unit, WEPA is the specialist for the private label of European retailers. The professional business unit, with the brands BlackSatino and Satino by WEPA, stands for sustainable and professional hygiene solutions, which are used in public washrooms, the industry, offices or health care for example.

Back to Tissue360 Newsletter