Mondi continues its expansion in Europe by acquiring the activities of Germany's Schumacher Packaging. With this acquisition, Mondi increases its corrugated converting capacity by more than one billion m² in Europe
Schumacher Packaging, founded in 1948 and based in Ebersdorf bei Coburg, Germany, is one of the largest family-owned packaging companies in Europe. With 29 sites in several European countries, including Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Great Britain, the company is run by the third generation of the Schumacher family, with Björn and Hendrik Schumacher at the helm.
By integrating Schumacher Packaging's operations, Mondi is expanding its product portfolio to include solid board solutions, while reinforcing its existing corrugated board offerings. This diversification is essential to meet the varied needs of the e-commerce, retail and food industries.
Better integration of upstream and downstream operations
One of the major advantages of this operation for Mondi is the integration of Schumacher Packaging's operations with its own cartonboard production activities. This complementarity will optimize the range of fiber-based products on offer, reducing production costs and ensuring greater security of supply for customers.
Mondi expects to achieve significant financial synergies through this acquisition. Ultimately, the company expects to achieve cost savings of 22 million euros over the next three years, by integrating Schumacher Packaging's capabilities and optimizing manufacturing processes. However, these synergies are accompanied by an initial investment of 18 million euros to restructure operations.
Sustainability is at the heart of this acquisition, with Mondi aiming to use this capacity increase to meet the growing demand from European companies for recyclable, environmentally-friendly packaging. The new German facilities, with their energy efficiency and alignment with sustainable production standards, play a key role in this strategy.
The transaction remains subject to the approval of the European and British competition regulators. Mondi will have to demonstrate that the acquisition will not create a monopoly or distort the market, particularly in the corrugated packaging sector, where market shares are sensitive.
