8 NEWS PETplanet Insider Vol. 26 No. 01+02/25 www.petpla.net SGT Group acquires Axium Packaging SGT Group, a leading manufacturer of PET preforms and food-grade rPET based in Rezé, Loire-Atlantique, France, announces the acquisition of Axium Packaging. This strategic move is intended to strengthen SGT’s position in the European market and to open new horizons for growth and innovation. Axium Packaging has established itself as a leading expert in the injection and blow moulding of bottles, jars, and caps. With six entities and 385 employees, the company achieved a turnover of EUR 76 million in 2024. Axium serves primarily the food and beverage sectors, as well as the health, hygiene, beauty, and household products markets. With production facilities in France, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Germany, this acquisition is claimed to provide SGT Group with enhanced industrial capabilities and a broader technological offering, all while maintaining a shared commitment to eco-responsibility. The acquisition of Axium Packaging is intended to grant SGT Group access to new expertise, particularly in injection and extrusion blow moulding, while expanding its product portfolio. This strategic complementarity is claimed to strengthen operational synergies, consolidate the group’s presence in the European market, and to create new opportunities in sectors such as cosmetics, hygiene, and beauty. In a context of increasing environmental and regulatory challenges, this alliance underscores SGT Group’s dedication to promoting rPET packaging solutions, thereby reducing its carbon footprint. Axium Packaging complements this vision with eco-designed products and a sustainability strategy aligned with international standards, such as ISO 26000 and SMETA. www.sgt-pet.com Alpla: successful 2024 financial year Alpla continued its growth trajectory in 2024 with new products, plants, business areas, acquisitions and a focus on training skilled workers. The international packaging and recycling specialist increased its turnover from EUR 4.7 billion to EUR 4.9 billion and grew its workforce to 24,350 employees. Alpla is broadening its targets for the recycling sector. The company plans to double its output recycling capacity to 700,000 t of recycled material by 2030. The annual turnover of EUR 4.9 billion represents an increase of 4 per cent compared to 2023. There has been significant growth in the number of sites and employees. Alpla has reached the 200-plant mark and created more than a thousand new jobs through new business areas, acquisitions and training programmes. A total of 24,350 employees work at 200 locations in 46 countries. Growth markets and innovation In addition to the strong growth markets in South America, Africa and the Middle East, demand in North and Central America also recovered in 2024. Alpla is also experiencing an upward trend in Europe. However, the market environment remains chal lenging. “Increasing EU regulation is creating a lot of work and weakening our international competitiveness. This is compounded by high labour costs in some countries. We are countering this with increased efficiency, new products and our leading role in recycling,” says CEO Philipp Lehner. The markets in the Asia-Pacific region offer huge potential. With the upcoming opening of a new plant in Thailand in 2025, Alpla is setting the course for the future here. Recycling: doubling capacity by 2030 The company invests at least EUR 50 million a year in recycling and is on track to achieve its goal of using at least 25 per cent recycled material in its packaging by 2025 and will significantly increase its capacity. The Alplarecycling division produces PET and HDPE recycled materials (rPET and rHDPE) at 13 plants in nine countries. The aim is to double the current installed and planned output capacity of 350,000 t by 2030. As a system provider for bottles and closures, combined with the Alplarecycling division, which has existed since 2023, the company covers numerous industries and markets. In 2024, the new Alplainject division strengthened the injection moulding line. Alplapharma was expanded in 2024 with the integration of Heinlein Plastik-Technik into the group. Alplaindustrial is another division for large-volume packaging. The portfolio was enriched with new products such as the PET wine bottle. www.alpla.com Andrea Grandi is the new General Manager of the Sacmi Group Andrea Grandi succeeds Mau r o Fenzi as General Ma n a g e r o f t h e Sacmi Group, following the conclusion of Fenz i ’s tenure on December 31, 2024. A 49-year-old electronics engineer, Grandi has been with Sacmi almost 25 years. During that time, he has displayed outstanding technical and managerial skills, most notably in mechatronics and industrial automation, says the company. His first 18 years were spent in the Special Pressing Business Unit and as the Metals PU Manager. In 2020, he became General Manager of the Advanced Technologies BU. Over the last three years he has held the key roles of Operations and Plant Director and, subsequently, Corporate Product Supply Manager, demonstrating a talent for operational management and innovation development. In addition to his positions at Sacmi, Andrea Grandi is a member of the Forming Committee of UCIMU (Association of Italian Machine Tool, Robot and Automation Manufacturers). He was also formerly on the Technical Committee of AIM, the Italian Metallurgy Association. www.sacmi.com
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