Focus on growing packaging market with emphasis on high-board line flexo presses and rotary die cutters for the corrugated industry
Future joint product portfolio offers customers a comprehensive range in all price and performance classes
Potential for innovation through joint further development of the product portfolio
Expansion of a joint worldwide sales and service network
In future Celmacch will trade under the name Koenig & Bauer Celmacch
Following the acquisition of 49 per cent of the shares, Celmacch will in future trade under the name Koenig & Bauer Celmacch
Koenig & Bauer, the 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 industry, have signed a contract that lays the foundation for joint development and marketing in the growth market of corrugated. Koenig & Bauer is thus also continuing its successful portfolio strategy, which is part of the company's DNA. In future Celmacch will trade under the name Koenig & Bauer Celmacch S.r.l.
Corrugated board: the multi-talent in the attractive packaging market
Corrugated board is as versatile as the goods and products that are packaged in it and, in terms of value, has the largest share of the total packaging market. Besides classic corrugated board packaging, outer packaging - so-called secondary and tertiary packaging - is an important part of the packaging industry. It continues to gain in importance through e-commerce. Corrugated board is also an attention-grabbing advertising medium at the point of sale. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly, easy to dispose of and, with an average 80 percent recycling rate, an exemplary recycling product. Dr Andreas Pleßke, spokesman for the Koenig & Bauer management board, confirms: "Corrugated board meets the increasing sustainability requirements in the packaging industry, not least thanks to the European Green Deal and thus our "Exceeding Print" strategy.
Celmacch has over 40 years' experience in the growth market of corrugated board, which Koenig & Bauer is also addressing with its complementary CorruCUT and CorruFLEX presses. With the development and production of high board line flexo presses and rotary die cutters that meet the high technology requirements, Celmacch has established itself excellently on the market, especially since the relaunch of its Chroma family in 2019, and is already supplying numerous major international packaging manufacturers with these, mainly on the local markets.
Luca Celotti, General Manager of Celmacch, adds: "Celmacch was looking for a partner for long-term cooperation and found it in Koenig & Bauer. We are very well positioned for further growth with our current product portfolio. The merger will enable us to expand this potential significantly on an international scale with the international sales and service network of more than 2,000 Koenig & Bauer employees that is now available, thus making it more scalable. As a founding family, we want to actively shape this path together alongside our new partner and further increase production capacity at the Desenzano del Garda site."
Unique product portfolio of flexo presses for the corrugated industry
Celmacch's Chroma Evo range offers entry-level modular rotary die-cutting and flexo presses. While the Chroma High-Tech series meets the demands for high automation. The CorruCUT and CorruFLEX from Koenig & Bauer stand for the highly productive production of rotary die-cut boxes and printed corrugated sheets and set standards in terms of automation and performance. The plan is to unite all the presses under the Chroma product name. With the Chroma product family, Koenig & Bauer Celmacch will be able to offer customers a comprehensive product portfolio in all price and performance categories.
"We have arrived in the market for direct printing of corrugated board and through the merger with Celmacch we will continue to drive innovation together and expand our market position," affirms Christoph Müller, a member of the Koenig & Bauer management board.
Dr Stephen Kimmich, CFO at Koenig & Bauer, explains: "Since the early 1990s Koenig & Bauer has expanded its positioning through acquisitions in the growing packaging market. I am convinced that the competences of both companies will complement each other perfectly. Working together as partners is the best prerequisite for successfully expanding our joint business in the corrugated market."
Koenig & Bauer Celmacch will continue to be headquartered in Desenzano, Italy, with around 50 employees. Celmacch Group S.r.l. has healthy financial strength and has achieved strong sales growth to currently around €20m since the product relaunch in 2019. In the first step, the focus of the cooperation is on joint sales and service, further product development and capacity expansion in assembly. Koenig & Bauer has the option of successively acquiring further shares in Celmacch Group S.r.l. beyond the 49 per cent stake.
The acquisition of the shares in Celmacch Group S.r.l. is still subject to official approval for foreign direct investment (FDI) in Italy. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The closing is expected to take place in September 2022.
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