VPK Group
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Packaging |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Founder | Omer Macharis |
| Headquarters | , Belgium |
Key people | Pierre Macharis (CEO)[1] |
| Revenue |  €2.1 billion (2022) |
| Website | vpkgroup |
VPK Group is a Belgian paper and cardboard company specializing in the manufacture of corrugated cardboard packaging from recycled paper.[2][3][4] It is based in Aalst, Belgium.[5][6] Pierre Macharis is the current chief executive officer (CEO) of the company.[7][8]
History
[edit]VPK Group was founded in 1936 by Omer Macharis as a paper factory in Oudegem, Belgium.[7] It was later renamed as the United Paper and Board Mills (VPK).[7][9] After World War II, Fernand Macharis became the head of the company.[9]
In the early 1990s, Pierre Macharis and his brother assumed management of the company from their father, Fernand Macharis.[10][9]
In 1999, VPK underwent an initial public offering, raising 50 million euros, and was listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange.[10][11] The funding was used to expand production capacity at the Uniwell corrugated cardboard factory in Raamsdonkveer, Netherlands.[12] During the same period, the company increased its shareholding in the Northern French packaging group, Ondulys and acquired Rigid Group in the UK.[12][13]
In 2005, VPK expanded its operations into Poland and Romania.[14]
In 2010, VPK acquired Mondi Packaging Saint Quentin, a French corrugated cardboard company, for 20 million euros.[15] Following this acquisition, the company was renamed Ondulys Saint Quentin, aligning with VPK's French corrugated cardboard division.[15]
In 2011, VPK invested 30 million euros in a joint venture, constructing a factory in Leinefelde, Germany.[16]
In 2013, VPK, in a joint venture with Klingele, acquired the UPM Stracel factory in France from UPM.[17][18][19]
In 2015, VPK invested 6.5 million euros in a facility in Courcelles, Wallonia, naming the subsidiary Cartonneries de Wallonie.[20][6][21]
In 2016, VPK acquired Peterson Packaging, which operated six factories in Scandinavia.[22][23] As a result, VPK became a packaging supplier for IKEA.[22]
In 2019, VPK acquired the European and Chinese operations of Corenso from NPAC International.[24][25][26] As a result of this acquisition, VPK expanded its operations into China.[14]
In 2022, VPK repurposed the Alizay Double A Paper factory in Normandy to produce lightweight recycled containerboard and e-commerce packaging.[27]
In 2023, VPK acquired Arteche Paper, again through its subsidiary Corex.[28]
Awards and recognition
[edit]- 2023: Award for Best Belgian Sustainability Report[29]
- 2024: Family Business Award of Excellence[30][31][32]
References
[edit]- ^ "VPK Packaging laat België niet vallen". Trends. 9 September 2010.
- ^ De Schamphelaere, Jan (21 February 2019). "Dit is de grootste overname in de geschiedenis van VPK". De Tijd.
- ^ "VPK steekt 200 miljoen in nieuwe papierfabriek". De Tijd. 16 June 2018.
- ^ "Papier Hoge prijs doet VPK Package pijn". De Morgan. 15 May 2010.
- ^ "Personeel VPK Packaging opnieuw aan het werk". De Morgan. 17 December 2007.
- ^ a b "VPK Packaging décide d'investir en Wallonie". 7sur7.
- ^ a b c Broens, Bert; Souris, Simon (4 June 2022). "Pierre Macharis (VPK): 'Onbegrijpelijk dat nachtwerk in e-commerce niet kan'". De Tijd.
- ^ "Kartonfabriek VPK betaalt in België drie keer zoveel voor elektriciteit als in Frankrijk". De Standaard. 28 March 2023.
- ^ a b c De Cat, Kurt (26 February 2019). "Pierre Macharis bouwt papier- en kartongroep VPK uit tot wereldwijde speler". Trends.
- ^ a b Vanacker, Lukas (23 February 2019). "M/V van de week". De Tijd.
- ^ Michielsen, Tom; De Schampheleare, Jan (19 May 2017). "VPK investeert 200 miljoen euro in kartonfabrieken". De Tijd.
- ^ a b "VPK Packaging naar de beurs". De Morgen. 29 January 1999.
- ^ "VPK seeks further growth". Packaging Today.
- ^ a b De Schampheleare, Jan (12 June 2023). "Pierre Macharis, CEO VPK Packaging: 'We houden van België, maar de energiekosten zijn een grote zorg'". De Tijd.
- ^ a b "VPK Packaging neemt Frans golfkartonbedrijf over". De Morgen. 2 February 2009.
- ^ "VPK construit une nouvelle usine en Allemagne". L'Echo. 14 September 2011.
- ^ Racquet, Erika; De Schampheleare, Jan (3 July 2012). "VPK doet bod op Duitse papierfabriek". De Tijd.
- ^ "UPM signs agreement on the sale of assets of UPM Stracel in France".
- ^ "VPK copropriétaire de l'usine Stracel". 28 January 2013.
- ^ Al Bouchouari, Younes (24 April 2015). "VPK Packaging s'attaque à la Wallonie". L'Echo.
- ^ De Schampheleare, Jan (23 April 2015). "VPK bouwt fabriek in België". De Tijd.
- ^ a b De Schampheleare, Jan (3 October 2016). "VPK floreert en doet grote overname na beursexit". De Tijd.
- ^ "VPK neemt Scandinavische verpakkingsgroep over". 3 October 2016.
- ^ Liesse, Dominique (21 February 2019). "VPK s'ouvre les portes de la Chine". L'Echo.
- ^ Vanacker, Lukas (21 February 2019). "Nieuwe overname stuurt VPK naar China". De Tijd.
- ^ De Witte, Ilse (21 February 2019). "VPK neemt 15 fabrieken over en wordt actief in China". Trends.
- ^ "Normandie : Le papetier belge VPK choisit " Double A " à Alizay plutôt que Chapelle Darblay". 4 June 2021.
- ^ Broens, Bert (21 February 2023). "Verpakkingsreus VPK wipt over 2 miljard euro omzet". De Tijd.
- ^ "The 2023 Awards for Best Impact Sustainability Reports go to Umicore, VPK Group and VUB".
- ^ "VPK Group triumphs as 2024 ambassador of the Family Business Award of Excellence".
- ^ "Verpakkingsgroep VPK is familiebedrijf van het jaar". De Tijd.
- ^ "L'emballeur VPK sacré entreprise familiale de l'année". L'Echo.