- Focus on growing packaging market with particular emphasis on high board line flexo presses and rotary die-cutters for the corrugated board industry
- Unique joint product portfolio will cover all price and performance classes in this market segment in future
- Innovation potential based on collaborative development of the product portfolio
- Expansion of a shared global sales and service network
- Celmacch will operate under the name Koenig & Bauer Celmacch in future
Koenig & Bauer, the printing press manufacturer with the broadest product portfolio in the industry, and Celmacch Group S.r.l., one of the leading manufacturers of high board line flexo presses and rotary die-cutters for the corrugated board industry, today signed a contract laying the foundations to collaborate on development and marketing activities on the growth market for corrugated board. With this step, Koenig & Bauer is continuing a product portfolio strategy that is embodied in its corporate DNA. Celmacch will operate under the name Koenig & Bauer Celmacch S.r.l. in future.
Corrugated board: The multi-talent on the attractive packaging market
Corrugated board offers unrivalled versatility for a wide range of packaged goods, and accounts for the largest share of the overall market in terms of value. Alongside classic corrugated boxes, various forms of secondary and tertiary packaging are important fields for the packaging industry. And their significance continues to grow thanks to e-commerce. What’s more, corrugated board is an eye-catching advertising medium at the point of sale. At the same time, it is environment-friendly, easy to dispose of, and an exemplary circular product with an average recycling quota of 80 per cent. Dr Andreas Pleßke, CEO of Koenig & Bauer, underlines: “Corrugated board aligns with the increasing sustainability demands of the packaging industry, not least in the context of the European Green Deal, and is therefore also an expression of our ‘Exceeding Print’ strategy.”
Celmacch has gathered over 40 years of experience on the growth market for corrugated board, a segment that Koenig & Bauer also caters to with its complementary CorruCUT and CorruFLEX presses. Ever since the relaunch of the Chroma product family in 2019 in particular, Celmacch has built up an excellent standing as a developer and manufacturer of high board line flexo presses and rotary die-cutters satisfying exacting technological demands, and already supplies numerous major international packaging producers, primarily on its local markets.
Luca Celotti, general manager of Celmacch, adds: “Celmacch has been looking for a partner for long-term cooperation and has found one in Koenig & Bauer. Our existing product portfolio ideally positions it for further growth. Koenig & Bauer provides us with access to a worldwide sales and service network with more than 2,000 staff. This combination will enable us to establish a more international and therefore scalable market presence. As the founding family, we want to actively shape this path together with our new partner and further increase the production capacities at the Desenzano del Garda site.”
Acquisition of the shares in Celmacch Group S.r.l. remains subject to official approval from the Italian authorities that oversee foreign direct investment. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction. The final closing is anticipated for September 2022.
