VPK Group
TypePublic
Euronext Brussels: VPK
IndustryPackaging
Founded1936 (1936)
FounderOmer Macharis
Headquarters,
Belgium
Key people
Pierre Macharis (CEO)[1]
Websitewww.vpkgroup.com

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 Oudegem, Flanders.[5][6] Pierre Macharis is the current chief executive officer (CEO) of the company.[7][8]

History

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 Cardboard Factories (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]

References

  1. "VPK Packaging laat België niet vallen". Trends. 9 September 2010.
  2. De Schamphelaere, Jan (21 February 2019). "Dit is de grootste overname in de geschiedenis van VPK". De Tijd.
  3. "VPK steekt 200 miljoen in nieuwe papierfabriek". De Tijd. 16 June 2018.
  4. "Papier Hoge prijs doet VPK Package pijn". De Morgan. 15 May 2010.
  5. "Personeel VPK Packaging opnieuw aan het werk". De Morgan. 17 December 2007.
  6. 1 2 "VPK Packaging décide d'investir en Wallonie". 7sur7.
  7. 1 2 3 Broens, Bert; Souris, Simon (4 June 2022). "Pierre Macharis (VPK): 'Onbegrijpelijk dat nachtwerk in e-commerce niet kan'". De Tijd.
  8. "Kartonfabriek VPK betaalt in België drie keer zoveel voor elektriciteit als in Frankrijk". De Standaard. 28 March 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 De Cat, Kurt (26 February 2019). "Pierre Macharis bouwt papier- en kartongroep VPK uit tot wereldwijde speler". Trends.
  10. 1 2 Vanacker, Lukas (23 February 2019). "M/V van de week". De Tijd.
  11. Michielsen, Tom; De Schampheleare, Jan (19 May 2017). "VPK investeert 200 miljoen euro in kartonfabrieken". De Tijd.
  12. 1 2 "VPK Packaging naar de beurs". De Morgen. 29 January 1999.
  13. "VPK seeks further growth". Packaging Today.
  14. 1 2 De Schampheleare, Jan (12 June 2023). "Pierre Macharis, CEO VPK Packaging: 'We houden van België, maar de energiekosten zijn een grote zorg'". De Tijd.
  15. 1 2 "VPK Packaging neemt Frans golfkartonbedrijf over". De Morgen. 2 February 2009.
  16. "VPK construit une nouvelle usine en Allemagne". L'Echo. 14 September 2011.
  17. Racquet, Erika; De Schampheleare, Jan (3 July 2012). "VPK doet bod op Duitse papierfabriek". De Tijd.
  18. "UPM signs agreement on the sale of assets of UPM Stracel in France".
  19. "VPK copropriétaire de l'usine Stracel". 28 January 2013.
  20. Al Bouchouari, Younes (24 April 2015). "VPK Packaging s'attaque à la Wallonie". L'Echo.
  21. De Schampheleare, Jan (23 April 2015). "VPK bouwt fabriek in België". De Tijd.
  22. 1 2 De Schampheleare, Jan (3 October 2016). "VPK floreert en doet grote overname na beursexit". De Tijd.
  23. "VPK neemt Scandinavische verpakkingsgroep over". 3 October 2016.
  24. Liesse, Dominique (21 February 2019). "VPK s'ouvre les portes de la Chine". L'Echo.
  25. Vanacker, Lukas (21 February 2019). "Nieuwe overname stuurt VPK naar China". De Tijd.
  26. De Witte, Ilse (21 February 2019). "VPK neemt 15 fabrieken over en wordt actief in China". Trends.
  27. "Normandie : Le papetier belge VPK choisit " Double A " à Alizay plutôt que Chapelle Darblay". 4 June 2021.
  28. Broens, Bert (21 February 2023). "Verpakkingsreus VPK wipt over 2 miljard euro omzet". De Tijd.
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