Announcements
CPH Group expanding to China
Perlen Packaging, the packaging division of CPH Chemie + Papier Holding AG, is to establish a new film coating production facility in China. The new plant will commence operations in 2016, and should provide further impetus for the present growth in the Asian pharmaceuticals market.
Perlen, 28 May 2014 – The demand for blister films among Asia’s pharmaceuticals manufacturers is currently seeing double-digit percentage annual growth. China in particular is witnessing a substantial increase in demand for medications owing to a combination of urbanization, rising incomes and an ageing of the population. Perlen Packaging, the packaging division of the CPH Group, already generates some 20% of its sales in Asia, and is now planning to intensify its production and distribution activities in this regional market.
To this end, Perlen Packaging is establishing a production site in China to join its existing facilities in Perlen (Switzerland), Müllheim (Germany) and Whippany (USA). Land is currently being acquired in the Shanghai area, on which a film coating production facility should be built in the next two years. The facility, which will entail a lower-double-digit-million-franc investment, will be certificated to GMP standards, and will serve the Asian market.
“Our Packaging Division has achieved steady growth over the last few years, and is now one of the world’s top three providers of blister packs for the pharmaceuticals market,” says Peter Schildknecht, CEO of the CPH Group. “Our existing film coating facilities will reach their capacity limits in the next few years, though,” he continues. “So this expansion to Asia is a logical step that will enable us to respond even more swiftly to local customer needs.”
“With its new production site in the Shanghai area, Perlen Packaging will be ideally positioned to serve the rapidly-growing Chinese pharmaceuticals market,” adds Wolfgang Grimm, Head of the Packaging Division within the CPH Group.
The new investment will further strengthen the CPH Group’s Packaging Division, which accounted for CHF 116.4 million or 24% of group net sales last year. CPH has set itself the specific goal of achieving further growth in the next few years outside its Paper Division, which currently accounts for over 60% of total net sales.
Contacts
CPH Chemie + Papier Holding AG
Dr. Peter Schildknecht, CEO, +41 41 455 87 57
Christian Weber, Head Corporate Communications, +41 41 455 87 51