Its recently acquired FP International’s European operations will be combined with Pregis, Ltd. The latter, formerly known as Easypack, offers a robust on-demand paper packaging systems portfolio, while FP International has a complete on-demand air systems offering. Its well-known loose-fill brand, Flo-Pak®, was used to start the company more than 50 years ago, and has become the leading brand name in the market. The combined organizations will now go to market under the Pregis name.
“By combining the air and paper systems portfolios, we will be creating a new European entity that will enable us to recommend the best on-demand, inside the box packaging solutions to meet a wide set of customer needs,” said Kevin Baudhuin, president and chief executive officer, Pregis. “This investment will help expand our global footprint to provide a unified experience for European and multinational customers.”
To support the restructuring, Pregis has named Conré Oostrom managing director of its combined European businesses. Oostrom has more than 20-years’ experience as a CEO/managing director for a variety of companies, including Scholle IPN, the well-known global bag-in-box company.
The manufacturing locations will operate as Pregis Specialist Centres. They include Stevenage, U.K. (paper and equipment); Heerlen, The Netherlands (film and foam), and Herbrechtingen, Germany (foam). Pregis customers are also serviced from two additional warehouse locations in France and Germany.
The company is also investing in new product development and infrastructure to support continued growth in key end user segments, including e-commerce, automotive and other manufacturing sectors. Recent examples include new paper converting capabilities in the U.K. and a new starch-based, loose-fill extruder in the Netherlands.
