BUSINESS / NEWS 14 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2024 - Issue 347 PrintMonthly printmonthly PrintMonthlyMagazine Saica Group has announced it is investing more than €100m (£86.7m) in a new corrugated board plant in Barcelona. The site will combine the operations of Saica Pack El Prat and Saica Pack Barcelona to increase the combined production of the factories by up to 45%. Set to begin operating in Spring 2025, the project is seen by Saica as a “pivotal benchmark for innovation and sustainable packaging solutions”. The investment also reflects evolving market demands for corrugated board and new packaging solutions. The group had a turnover of €4.4m (£3.8m) at the end of 2022 and employs over 10,000 employees across countries like Spain, France, Turkey, Poland, and the UK. Purchased in 2010, the land has been developed with the involvement of Saica Group into an industrial estate that is occupied by a number of major companies. Ramón Alejandro, Saica Group chairman, states: "This investment will allow us to have the latest digital technology. We will be able to increase our production capacity and also improve the service we provide to our customers.” Saica Group invests in corrugated board plant The new investment represents Saica Group’s commitment to the southern European packaging market By David Osgar Antalis has continued its international expansion with the acquisition of an industrial packaging distributor in Portugal, 100 metros - Soluções de Embalagem, Unipessoal (Packaging Solutions, Unipessoal). The company operates out of Pacos Ferreira (Porto region of Portugal) and Lisbon and specialises in the distribution and conversion of packaging materials and components. Having been founded in 2000, 100 metros had consolidated sales of around €13m (£11.2m) in 2023. With a strong base in Europe Antalis sees the latest acquisition as furthering its expansion in the packaging market in the area of Iberia alongside its recent Spanish acquisitions of Cohal, Garalmi, and Gosuma. Hervé Poncin, chief executive officer at Antalis, says: "100 metros is a tremendous opportunity thanks to its know-how in packaging converting and custom packaging development.” Antalis continues expansion with its latest aquisition Elliott Baxter & Company (EBB) has purchased Broadgate Paper. Supplying cut-size papers to City of London companies as well as schools in the Essex and Kent areas, Broadgate Paper will now be a part of the EBB Office & Paper division based at EBB’s Thurrock site. Broadgate was founded by Paul Rossiter in 1998 and has focused on delivering an image of sustainability and ease when delivering its products. Chris Sandwell, sales and marketing director for EBB, says: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of Broadgate. We have known Paul for a long time and believe his customer focus and high degree of service at Broadgate fit ideally into the EBB Office strategy. EBB has expanded its Office & Paper division with the acquisition of Broadgate 100 metros has over 20 years of experience in developing unique and specific packaging solutions EBB expands Office & Paper division Supplier of paper and paper pulp, Sappi has concluded its consultation process regarding its Sappi Lanaken Mill which has ceased paper production. The mill was an integrated pulp and paper mill located in Belgium and employed 581 workers in a site that produced 530,000 tpa of coated woodfree paper which was sold into the European print market. Sappi announced the start of the consultation process on the possible closure back in October 2023. Since then, the production of paper ended in December 2023 and an agreed social plan for employees has been made. The closure of the site is expected to be complete by the second calendar quarter of 2024 with the financial impacts of the closure to be included in the company’s first quarter financial results. Sappi to cease production at its Lanaken Mill Sappi says the priority of the European business will be to grow its packaging and speciality products A document and data processing business based in London and Manchester, Millnet, has been acquired by its managing director, Steve Chadd, in a deal with legal technology group, Consilio Global. Accountants, Price Bailey, and law firm, Howes Percival, advised on the transaction in a deal which those involved say will enable Millnet to strengthen its financial position in the face of major challenges facing the confidential document and data processing sector in the UK. The deal means Steve Chadd acquired all shares of Docbuster along with the trade and assets of the UK Paper division, trading at the time as Millnet Document Services which through the transaction merged to become Millnet. Millnet employs 37 members of staff and provides document, data management, and processing services to clients in the professional services sector. Chadd comments: “We are delighted to have successfully completed the management buyout of the Millnet business here in the UK, marking an exciting new chapter in our journey. The acquisition ensures that the management’s interests are better aligned with the business’ long-term success and will help us navigate the competitive challenges ahead.” Managing director acquires print business The acquisition was completed with the help of Price Bailey accountants and Howes Percival law fi rm By David Osgar
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