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Labels&Labeling |21
Laufenberg purchases release
paper business from Huhtamaki
B. Laufenberg GmbH and Huhtamaki Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG have signed an
agreement for the purchase of the release paper business of Huhtamaki by Laufenberg.
The transaction will take place on the basis of an asset deal. The assets will be
transferred in the course of a transition process of several months.
Huhtamaki Group is a global manufacturer of consumer and specialty packaging with
net sales of EUR 2.3 billion in 2008. The release paper business was part of Huhtamaki
Group’s Film Global business segment and included the manufacture of siliconized
papers for technical applications used in different industries (i.e. labels, tapes,
packaging). Huhtamaki will continue the production of release films.
Laufenberg has produced siliconized papers and films for 50 years. Today the
company employs a staff of more than 180 people and is one of the leading commercial
silicon coaters for technical applications.
When Laufenberg learnt about Huhtamaki’s intention to sell the business, negotiations
quickly started. ‘The close match as well as the useful supplement of product range
and market segments of both companies have quickly awaken our interest in this
acquisition,’ said Jörg Soding, one of three managing directors of B. Laufenberg GmbH.
During recent years, the market for release liners has consolidated strongly.
Production capacity was moved towards large corporations as many smaller
businesses were closed or sold. ‘This trend is regarded as a threat to the customers.
Especially in stagnating markets large corporations take decisions about product
range and business segments fast and often without considering customers’ concerns.
Privately owned companies offer a higher degree of continuation and security. This is
appreciated by our customers a lot,’ explained Gernot Becker, managing director for
Sales and Logistics. With this acquisition, Laufenberg is increasing its sales volume by
more than 40 percent. This growth will enable Laufenberg to expand and strengthen its
international market position in the release liner market.
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for Asia Pacific
GSE Dispensing, the Dutch supplier of
gravimetric ink dispensing systems for
the graphics and textile industries, has
appointed Bangkok, Thailand-based Techno
Global Graphics as agent of its products
and services in the South East Asia region.
The company will provide a local point of
contact for GSE’s graphics customers in
Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines,
Indonesia, Taiwan as well as Thailand.
Pamarco appoints
French agent
Pamarco Global Graphics has appointed
The Knife Manufacturer (TKM) as its
representative for France. TKM France
is based in the north of the country and
belongs to the IKS Klingelnberg group. The
company has been in the press converting
and rotary market in France since 1998
and has been increasingly focused on the
flexographic printing and packaging market.
When top brands launch a winner, they
demand packaging that says “excellence.”
More designers are turning away from last
year’s sparkly gimmicks and opting for the
elegant metallic sheen of brushed films and
papers made by Brushfoil.
Brushfoil has perfected the art, offering
unblemished consistency, widest roll
widths, superior printable topcoats,
a wide variety of patterns
and colors and fast
turnaround on
custom orders.
A division of Interfilm Holdings, Inc.
www.brushfoil.com 800-493-2321
1 Shoreline Drive, Unit 6, Guilford, CT 06437 (USA)
may 2009 | L&L