Koenig & Bauer is filling a gap in its corrugated press portfolio through an initial 49% stake in Italian manufacturer Celmacch.
The 50-strong company produces both high board line flex presses and rotary die cutters aimed at an entry level point in the market, and consequently do not compete with Koenig & Bauer’s own CorruCut and CorruFlex presses, let alone the digital machines offered through Koenig & Bauer Durst.
Celmacch’s key machine is the new Chroma Evo rotary die cutter. It represents a “competitive starting point for ventures in the world of modular rotary die cutters” says the company. The Chroma High Tech machines are marked by high levels of automation. The introduction of this machine in 2019 has helped the company to sales of €20 million. In the first half of this year it has announced an order backlog of €20 million. It has projects to develop two side printers for both high board line and rotary die cutters
Celmacch will become Koenig & Bauer Celmacch while the German company’s own machines will be rebranded under the Chroma brand. The deal lays the “foundations to collaborate on development and marketing activities on the growth market for corrugated board,” says Koenig & Bauer. In addition Koenig & Bauer will provide sales and service support and will help expand Celmacch’s production facilities.
There are provisions to increase the initial stake at points in the future. Further details of the deal are being withheld.
Celmacch general manager Luca Celotti says: “Celmacch has been looking for a partner for long term cooperation and has found one in Koenig & Bauer. Our existing product portfolio ideally positions it for further growth.
“Koenig & Bauer provides us with access to a worldwide sales and service network with more than 2,000 staff. This combination will enable us to establish a more international and therefore scalable market presence. As the founding family, we want to actively shape this path together with our new partner and further increase the production capacities at the Desenzano del Garda site.”
The acquisition is driven by continual growth in demand for corrugated board and increasing demands for improved quality of printing, including printing on the reverse of the board for ecommerce packaging.
Koenig & Bauer CEO Dr Andreas Pleßke underlines: “Corrugated board aligns with the increasing sustainability demands of the packaging industry, not least in the context of the European Green Deal, and is therefore also an expression of our ‘Exceeding Print’ strategy.”
