The Fedrigoni Group has entered into two strategic agreements, a manufacturing partnership with a specialty paper mill, producer of translucent papers in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, China and the acquisition of a dedicated research and development centre in Grenoble, France.
With 130 employees and an annual production capacity of 7,000 tonnes, the Quzhou mill is a world-leading manufacturer of translucent papers for applications ranging from industrial design and graphic applications to packaging for food, consumer electronics and luxury products. Fedrigoni will therefore strengthen its presence in the Asian market – where the group already has a wide distribution network in China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, 11 warehouses and a self-adhesive materials production plant in Hefei – with its first paper mill in China.
Besides strengthening its geographical footprint in Asia, this transaction will lead Fedrigoni to further expand its product portfolio in the translucent papers segment by acquiring manufacturing capabilities, which has the potential to increasingly replace plastic in packaging as a fully recyclable mono-material thanks to the award winning Sylvicta brand. Product innovation linked to the transition from plastic to paper is one of the largest investment areas for Fedrigoni and a key pillar of its ESG strategy and roadmap towards 2030.
On the other hand, the acquisition of the dedicated R&D Centre in Grenoble - with its people, equipment, patents, and brands, including the related Powercoat brand - will enhance Fedrigoni’s capabilities in testing and prototyping RFID, printed electronics, and advanced research on paper substrates. The applications of this innovative and promising segment are countless, both in the self-adhesive labels and luxury packaging markets. It is instrumental to find solutions to protect brands, verify their authenticity and prevent counterfeiting. It is also crucial to ensure the traceability of products and goods, as well as for sustainability purposes (for example, monitoring of transport-related carbon footprints).
With this acquisition, Fedrigoni will also augment its research, development, and innovation capabilities in alternative pulp-based materials, benefitting from the relationships established within the existing ecosystem, particularly in the Grenoble area, such as the International Paper Engineering School Grenoble INP-PAGORA, or the Pulp and Paper Research & Technical Centre (CTP).
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