Weekly Roundup: Henkel's Spanish expansion, Glossop Carton's six figure gluing capacity investment

27 Jul 2018 --- The weekly roundup is PackagingInsights' collection of global packaging stories from the past week. Smurfit Kappa has made sustainable changes to its supply chain in conjunction with global transport supplier Scania while Henkel invests in a production facility near Barcelona, Spain, for packaging liquid detergents and Glossop Cartons heavily invests in its gluing capacities. Quadpack Industries reports strong 2017 financial results, and Diamond Packaging celebrates four wins at the 2018 Premier Print Awards. 

In brief: Launches and certifications
Smurfit Kappa has made sustainable changes to its supply chain in conjunction with global transport supplier Scania. Smurfit Kappa used its SupplySmart service to review every aspect of Scania’s supply chain. The analysis was then compared with insights that have been gathered from over 60,000 supply chains to identify opportunities to make sustainable changes. Smurfit Kappa came up with an innovative new concept that replaced the EPS interior and wooden pallet with honeycomb, a completely sustainable, paper-based material. Along with the switch from multiple materials to a single material solution, the storage space required was cut by 50 percent which resulted in significant transportation savings for Scania.

In brief: Mergers, acquisitions and expansions
Henkel is investing in its production site in Montornès del Vallès (Barcelona, Spain). The company will build a new, state-of-the-art logistics center for the Laundry & Home Care business unit in southern Europe and expand its production capabilities with a new packaging line for liquid detergents. The new logistics center, which will be fully operational by 2020, will feature a warehousing space of 24,000 square meters and have a distribution capacity of more than a million pallets per year.

Glossop Carton has invested six figures in its gluing department, including the purchases of the UK’s first Brausse Forza 900 C3 folder gluer and the Brausse Forza 1100 C3 folder gluer. The company’s investment in its gluing department will enhance its efficiency, enabling it to ensure that customers receive cartons finished to the highest pharmaceutical standards.

Quadpack Industries, a provider of packaging solutions to the global beauty industry, delivered strong results in 2017, thanks to its diversified business model and sustainable growth strategy. EBITDA reached a healthy €6.8 million, an increase of 2 percent over the 2016 results. Looking ahead, estimated 2018 turnover is €106m. Growth plans this year are concentrated on regional expansion, product offer and the Manufacturing Division. A €2m investment budget is earmarked for plant improvements and new equipment in the factories. Quadpack ultimately aims to reinvest up to 33 percent of its profit back into the business.

In brief: Miscellaneous
Diamond Packaging won four awards at the 2018 Premier Print Awards. Printing Industries of America (PIA) hosts the competition, which recognizes the creation and production of superior print communications. One award example was in the “Embossing/Debossing” category for Tarte Cosmetics’ Park Ave Princess Chisel Palette packaging. The folding cartons were converted utilizing metalized polyester board and offset printed with four color process, rose gold, purple, and opaque white inks, with UV gloss and UV matte coating.

By Laxmi Haigh