The packaging and paper manufacturer Mondi has made a major investment “on an unprecedented scale” in its Grünburg plant in Upper Austria, which corresponds to a total modernization of the site, said site manager Florian Döbl to the OÖNachrichten. The London-listed group did not provide more detailed information on the investment amount.
The new offset printing machine, which produces high-quality printed sheets of corrugated cardboard for product packaging, will be ceremonially commissioned today, Thursday. It can print larger corrugated board surfaces much faster than before. Switching from one template to the next takes half as long.
The new plant will be operated with the existing workforce of 213 employees plus seven apprentices – which will further secure the competitiveness of the location in the group, according to Döbl. The new machine can add gloss effects, 3D structures or even scents to packaging boxes. Due to the higher output, other group locations will also be supplied with these high-quality sheets of corrugated cardboard. “We have already seen strong demand in this segment,” says the site manager. The occupancy is currently 100 percent.
The price pressure is also enormous in the paper industry, natural gas is the most important source of energy. Added to this is the scarcity of raw materials, including waste paper and wood. On the other hand, there is high demand for cardboard packaging due to online trade and the sustainability trend. Mondi Grünburg can currently still supply its customers with the corresponding quantities as agreed.
Supply secured so far
Because the group covers many stages of the value chain – forest management, paper – right up to packaging production – so that the all-clear is given at least with regard to raw materials (except gas). The situation is different on the cost side. “Here we are exposed like others,” says Döbl. The increase in costs must be passed on accordingly.
The Mondi Group achieved sales of 7.7 billion euros in 2021. According to the company register, the Grünburg plant had a turnover of 50 million euros. This makes it one of the big players in the corrugated board industry in Austria, which achieves total revenues of 550 million euros. (uru)
Source: Nachrichten
