Schur Flexibles buys packaging manufacturers from Clondalkin

Austria’s Schur Flexibles Group has bought premium packaging manufacturers Cats-Hänsel and Nimax from the Clondalkin Group.

The deal is a move by Schur to strengthen its position in the sector of premium packaging for the confectionary and tea markets.

It includes two Cats-Hänsel sites – Cats Flexibles Packaging in Rotterdam and Hänsel Flexible Packaging in Freital, Germany – as well is a Nimax plant in Elst, Holland. The three locations, with about 135 employees, generated a sales volume of over €30 million last year.

Schur said that with these acquisitions, its turnover is likely to grow to over €400 million in 2018.

Michael Schernthaner, managing director of the Schur Flexibles Group, said: “These companies fit perfectly into our growth strategy. In parallel, we are investing in our plant network to build up our highly specialised production locations further and thus creating additional added value for our customers.”

In a statement, Schur said: “Cats provides proven expertise in the production of waxed paper and barrier packaging including premium-quality flexo and gravure printing technologies. An example of the company’s innovativeness is ECOWAX, a fully biodegradable vegetable-based alternative to traditional wax packaging adapted by Cats-Hänsel, which offers – not only for confectionwery manufacturers – sustainable packaging solutions.

“Hänsel is one of the leading experts in the confectionery sector for twist and fold wraps. The high-quality, flexible packaging solutions are tuned to run perfectly on the high-speed packing lines of its customers.”

Nimax produces high-quality tea tags and envelopes, as well as inlay sheets for tobacco packaging.

Michael Schernthaner added: “Our customers are now profiting from an even broader range of innovative, specialised and sustainable packaging and service solutions from one source, which we develop at our highly specialised locations. We are continuing our expansion strategy and see alongside organic growth further opportunities for acquisitions.”