Huhtamaki, a key advanced manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world, has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Jiangsu Hihio-Art Packaging Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of paper bags, wraps and folding carton packaging in China. The company currently serves international quick-service restaurants (QSR) as well as national bakery chains. With this acquisition, Huhtamaki continues to strengthen its position as the leading foodservice packaging provider in Asia and expands its product portfolio in China allowing it to better serve its existing and new customers in this exciting growth market. Jiangsu Hihio-Art Packaging Co. Ltd. currently employs approximately 200 people in its manufacturing unit in Xuzhou city, Jiangsu. Employees will be offered an opportunity to continue to work for Huhtamaki after the transaction is closed. In 2020 the annual net sales of the privately owned business were approximately EUR 20 million. Following the acquisition, Huhtamaki will have altogether four manufacturing units in China: in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Xuzhou.

Huhtamaki is investing for further growth in Russia. In order to respond to the fast development of the retail business and egg packaging industry in Eastern and Central parts of Russia, the company is setting up a new fiber packaging manufacturing plant at its existing site in Alabuga, Tatarstan. Preparatory work on the site is under way and production of fiber packaging is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2022. “Russia is one of our key growth markets,” says Eric Le Lay, President for the newly integrated Fiber and Foodservice Europe-Asia-Oceania business segment. “This additional capacity for molded fiber egg packaging enables further profitable growth for us in Russia. The location in Alabuga, Tatarstan, allows us to better serve our customers operating in the fast-developing Central and Eastern parts of Russia,” he continues.

When shipping highly sensitive optical and electronic equipment, there is no room for compromise. Even minor shocks, dust, or contamination can impact performance. That’s why Thorlabs Sweden partnered with Emballageteknik and Stora Enso to rethink protective packaging — replacing fossil-based foams with a renewable, high-performance alternative. The result is Papira®, a bio-based, recyclable and biodegradable shock-absorbing material from Stora Enso, converted and engineered by Emballageteknik to meet the strict demands of Thorlabs Swedens’ precision products.