Founded in 1902, the Panther Packaging Group in Tornesch/Hamburg is launching a new investment programme with a volume of over 60 million euros.
WS Coswiger Wellpappen- und Papierverarbeitung, which has been part of the Group since 2018, has already installed an additional flatbed die-cutter and will be installing a new jumbo inliner for Large-format corrugated board packaging will be maintained. Some of the internal logistics are being modernised and further land has already been purchased or will be purchased in 2020 in order to double production and storage capacity.
The other companies in the Group are also investing in state-of-the-art equipment to Increase in productivity and quality invested. For example, three additional rotary die-cutters, a folding box inline machine, a flatbed die-cutter with a width of 2.10 metres and a fully automated internal logistics system have already been ordered and will go into operation in 2019/20. Another neighbouring property has been acquired around the Altonaer Wellpappenfabrik in Tornesch to create space for growth.
Wustermark: more space for co-packing
The Panther Display in Wustermark is also growing rapidly. These days, for example, a New offset printing press in 7b format in order to fulfil growing customer requirements even better. Furthermore, an additional hall with an area of approx. 11,000 m² has been built in the Panther Group's display and packaging park in Wustermark for the Co-packing of packaging and displays has been put into operation.
Wepoba Wellpappenfabrik will equip the two new folder gluers installed in 2018 with fully automated logistics and in 2020 with robots for supplying and disposing of the machines.
In addition to the extensive investments in machinery/equipment and land, drastic investments are also being made in reducing energy consumption in order to minimise CO2-emissions further. The Panther Corrugated Board Group already has a significantly low energy consumption relative to its production volume.
According to the company, the entire investment programme will be financed by the debt-free group of companies. Financing from own cash flow.
Focus on employee qualification
However, as in previous years, Panther's absolute focus remains on investing in employee training. Approx. 6 million euros annually invested in employee training. For example, from September 2019 133 trainees in 15 professions in the Group in order to be qualitatively and quantitatively equipped for further growth in the area of human resources.
Every child of an employee currently has a guaranteed training place in the Panther Group. As a family business, Panther thus opens up future opportunities for all employee families. At the same time, there are numerous measures in place to make apprenticeships at Panther attractive and to inspire young people. The training mobile, a Panther Mini vintage car, is available at the plants for many trainee activities.
Future expectations of the company
According to the company, the greatest risks for the coming years lie in the German energy policy compared to other countries, as there is a large Competitive disadvantage for German companies and the ever-increasing bureaucracy in all areas.
The greatest opportunities for the Panther Group, however, continue to lie in its products themselves, as all types of corrugated board products are environmentally friendly, sustainable and recyclable and, in the course of the substitution of plastics, can be used for other purposes. Corrugated board products will certainly be in even greater demand in the future.
Source: Panther Packaging
