For the first time in its history, the German corrugated base paper and sheet feeder manufacturer Progroup has recorded sales of more than one billion euros. In 2020, the group, which operates three paper mills and eleven sheet feeder plants, achieved sales of 881 million euros.
"Across Europe, demand for corrugated board has been extremely high since the third quarter of 2020. In 2021, this momentum has even strengthened further - a development we are seeing in all markets." Jürgen Heindl, founder and chairman of the board of Progroup, which has 1,455 employees, explains.
And this demand from which the group is benefiting, according to him, comes mainly from two strong consumer trends: online shopping and the preference for sustainable packaging.
The increase in internet sales concerns many sectors, from electrical appliances to clothing, pharmaceuticals and food products.
"Added to this are the demands of consumers, and therefore the trade, for systematically recyclable packaging, which are becoming increasingly firm. Corrugated packaging is therefore gaining in importance compared to other products." says the president.
And to continue on this path, the group will build a new sheet feeder plant in Germany. More than 90 million euros will be invested to set up this site with an annual production capacity of 500 million m 2 of plates. 60 positions will be created and manufacturing is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023.
By 2024, four major plants will be commissioned in Germany, France and Italy, and in Poland, which will host one of the largest corrugated board production sites in the world with a capacity of 825 million m 2 of plates per year.
