Overview of Cardboard and Packaging Area (3)

The development of related production, finishing, processing and printing equipment is closely following the market demand. This is particularly evident in the development of corrugated board, which is mostly used as a packaging material. For many years, the working width of corrugated board machines has been increasing - from the usual 2.5 meters to 2.8 meters or even 3.3 meters. Today, the average production speed of 300 meters per minute will soon be increased to 400 meters per minute, while also providing greater flexibility, better utilization of equipment width, and online adjustments that can be used to make changes and batch sizes.

Production capacity

In recent years, on the one hand, processors in Western and Eastern Europe have been actively investing in a large number of new corrugated board formats or processing equipment to meet the growing needs of the mass market, and they have gained very good recognition through this move. However, these new equipment investments also satisfy today's demand and trends for new low-quantity corrugated cardboard with a white surface (which can be printed directly), and also partially meet the need to replace cardboard with corrugated cardboard. Better performance, thorough processing of raw materials, and economic advantages resulting from the reduction in energy consumption per unit also bring benefits in terms of quantification, energy consumption, and cost reduction.

There is also the latest increase in production capacity in European Union countries such as Spain, Germany, and France—a total of nearly two million tons/year—which has been well received by the growing and changing markets. Interestingly, most of these devices are owned by independent owners, so these companies can take advantage of their competitive advantages and product differentiation potential. Of course, by actively exporting products to mature markets, sales have increased—it clearly shows that medium-sized companies can also make achievements in the global market.

On the other hand, over the years, large companies continue to overcome difficulties to integrate and optimize acquisitions. They have been concentrating their own capabilities, trimming existing equipment to obtain the best economic benefits, and increasing the speed and output of the work to increase the efficiency of economies of scale. The main focus of their efforts has been to meet the basic needs of the mass market for corrugated cardboard and folding boxboard, and their customers are often multinational food producers. This trend is likely to continue in the process of globalization, and globalization will affect large companies in particular.

Obvious changes at all levels so far and changes made to all participants in the value creation chain will continue in the future. Tomorrow's packaging industry will be different, because cardboard and packaging paper manufacturers will meet these challenges and adapt to these changes.

However, success can only be achieved through unification and by knowing and understanding the needs of others. Cooperation based on this will benefit both together and lead to success. At this point, on the one hand there is room for innovative specialization and specific solutions, and on the other hand there is room for meeting and covering basic needs. The future belongs to us - if we respond to the future in the right way.