El stand de Sonoco Europe en la feria FachPack de este año, que se celebrará del 25 al 27 de septiembre en Núremberg (Alemania), se centrará en soluciones de envasado sostenibles y excepcionales. El diseño del stand 5-247, pabellón 5, imita un entorno real compuesto por una zona de cocina y un rincón de supermercado.

Para Sonoco, producir envases de consumo significa escuchar atentamente lo que dicen los consumidores, pero también comprender lo que necesitan nuestros clientes. El envase perfecto no se limita a proteger su contenido de factores como la humedad o la manipulación durante la distribución; también debe ser cómodo y elegante, y dejar la menor huella ecológica posible.

Séan Cairns Vicepresidente y Director General de Sonoco Consumer Products.

Un "Muro del Reciclaje" muestra cómo Sonoco reduce el consumo de material y garantiza altos índices de reciclaje de sus soluciones de envasado. Uno de los productos más destacados de la feria es el nuevo Hermetic SquareCan, que ofrece a los productores de productos delicados, como frutos secos o café, una solución de envasado destacada, casi cuadrada, con excelentes oportunidades de diseño.

"Para Sonoco, producir envases de consumo significa escuchar atentamente lo que dicen los consumidores, pero también comprender lo que necesitan nuestros clientes", afirma Séan Cairns, Vicepresidente y Director General de Sonoco Consumer Products. "El envase perfecto no se limita a proteger su contenido de elementos como la humedad o la manipulación durante la distribución; también debe ser cómodo y elegante, y al mismo tiempo dejar la menor huella ecológica posible." En la FachPack, Sonoco invita a los visitantes a ver y sentir las ventajas de sus soluciones de envasado de primera mano, y en el entorno donde los consumidores más las utilizan. En la zona de cocina, las muestras de los productos de los clientes van desde muesli hasta mini salchichas, y ponen de relieve en qué consisten los envases de Sonoco: combinar una protección óptima del producto con características de diseño avanzadas. En el rincón del supermercado, Sonoco demuestra cómo se pueden utilizar decoraciones elaboradas, formas de envase individuales y materiales de alta calidad para captar la atención de los consumidores.

Presentación del Hermetic SquareCan

El Hermetic SquareCan, que debutará en la FachPack, es un excelente ejemplo de solución de envasado que combina lo mejor de dos mundos: diseño y funcionalidad. Con su inusual formato rectangular, las SquareCans de Sonoco destacan en el punto de venta. Las tapas imprimibles producidas con tecnología de etiquetado en molde (IML), como la cómoda tapa con bisagra, ofrecen espacio de impresión adicional para mensajes de marca o para contenido extra, como recetas y consejos de salud. La forma prácticamente cuadrada del envase de cartón rígido también aumenta la eficiencia y la rentabilidad de los procesos logísticos, ya que aprovecha al máximo el espacio disponible durante el transporte y en las instalaciones de almacenamiento. Sonoco produce el Hermetic SquareCan mediante un proceso de nuevo desarrollo que aumenta considerablemente la estabilidad del envase. Además, una membrana de aluminio sellada convierte la nueva solución en una bóveda hermética al aire y al gas perfecta para productos delicados como el café, los frutos secos o incluso productos de alimentación infantil, incluida la leche en polvo para lactantes (PIF).

La sostenibilidad como factor crucial

A la hora de crear nuevas soluciones de envasado o mejorar las existentes, el equipo de desarrollo de Sonoco siempre tiene en cuenta el uso de materiales reciclados y las posibilidades de reciclaje tras su uso, además de las características que mantendrán la seguridad del producto y atraerán a los consumidores. Un fondo de papel imprimible, por ejemplo, mejora aún más la reciclabilidad del nuevo Hermetic SquareCan. "Ponemos la sostenibilidad en el centro del desarrollo de nuestros productos", explica Andreas Rothschink, Director de Ventas de Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. "El uso de la tecnología IML, por ejemplo, nos permite producir envases de plástico monomaterial en los que tanto el contenedor como la tapa están hechos de polipropileno y, por tanto, tienen una tasa de reciclado cercana al 100%. Al mismo tiempo, producimos nuestros envases de papel rígido utilizando cartón reciclado como material principal". En el stand de Sonoco en FachPack, el "Muro de la Reciclabilidad" ofrecerá a los visitantes una visión general de los esfuerzos de la empresa relacionados con el reciclaje.

Acerca de Sonoco

Fundada en 1899, Sonoco, con sede en Hartsville, Carolina del Sur, es un proveedor mundial de una gran variedad de envases de consumo, productos industriales, envases de protección y expositores y servicios para la cadena de suministro de envases. Con unas ventas netas anualizadas de 4.800 millones de dólares, la empresa cuenta con 20.000 empleados que trabajan en más de 300 operaciones en 33 países, prestando servicio a algunas de las marcas más conocidas del mundo en unos 85 países.

Hockenheim, Germany, December 13, 2016 – (NYSE: SON). Hygiene is a top priority in the food industry. Accordingly, production plants operated by Sonoco Consumer Products Europe strictly follow the provisions of the British Retail Consortium, the BRC Global Standard. This is one of the world’s leading programs for product safety and quality certifications.

In the first half of the year, Sonoco plants in Germany were recertified in accordance with the BRC Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials. All of the plants immediately achieved the recently introduced AA grade of excellence. The other European plants of Sonoco Consumer Products Europe have also been certified AA. Certification to the BRC Global Standard confirms that Sonoco continues to meet the highest international hygiene standards.

The requirements for safety, quality and hygiene in the food industry have been increasing for years. The fact that consumers have become more aware of them is not just reflected in various ISO standards at national and European levels. The demands on food market suppliers have also increased within the scope of BRC Global Standards. A fifth quality level, the AA grade, was introduced last year with Revision 5 of the Global Standards for Packaging and Packaging Materials. In the past, there were only four grades, from A to D. BRC Global Standards also require certificate holders to provide a more rigorous risk analysis across the supply, production and transport chains. Appropriate preventive measures protect products and consumers. Revision 5 of the BRC Standard places allergens and food defense (i.e. protecting food against intentional contamination) more into the focus of risk analysis. This results in the establishment of preventive measures to protect the consumer.

Standards apply to all company areas

Sonoco’s BRC certification applies to all areas of the company. For example, buildings must meet structural criteria to ensure that ceilings, walls and doors do not pose a risk of product contamination. Employees are also very important for effective hygiene management. “Our hygiene teams ensure that all guidelines are followed. This applies, for example, to cleaning processes and orderliness in production. In addition to this, all employees are comprehensively trained once a year,” explains Gudrun Strauss, Quality and Hygiene Management Representative at Sonoco. To meet the high quality and hygiene demands of its customers, Sonoco works primarily with appropriately certified suppliers.

Highest standards in hygiene, quality and energy efficiency

Sonoco plants are certified to BRC Standards annually. Depending on the country, the audits are handled by different companies including, for example, DQS (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen) or Lloyd’s Register. Along with hygiene management, Sonoco strives to meet the highest quality standards. Accordingly, production operations have strictly complied with ISO 9001:2008 quality management standards for more than 20 years (when plants were still operated by Weidenhammer). By 2018, Sonoco will also be certified in compliance with the updated ISO 9001:2015 standard. Furthermore, all German plants have been certified to ISO 50001 since the beginning of 2016. This norm sets standards for energy efficiency and reinforces Sonoco’s commitment to eco-sustainable operations. “We want to complete our Integrated Management System by 2018,” Strauss explains. This will integrate the systems for hygiene, quality and energy management and enable them to be centrally checked. According to Strauss “Not only will this make our internal processes more efficient; it will enable the systems to seamlessly complement each other without overlap.”

About Sonoco Europe

Sonoco’s more than 70 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in Global Rigid Paper and Closures; Global Plastics; Packaging Services and Graphics Management. Offering a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs. To learn more, visit sonocoeurope.com.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $5 billion, the company has 21,000 employees working in more than 330 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world’s best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2015/2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at sonoco.com.

It’s convenient, catches the eye and provides an even larger decoration area: At the FachPack trade show in Nuremberg Sonoco Consumer Products Europe will unveil its Square-Can, a rigid paper container in a nearly square format. Particularly in combination with another recent innovation from the packaging specialist – plastic lids decorated using in-mould labelling technology (IML) – the new package opens up a whole new range of design possibilities. In hall 5, at booth 345, the company with European headquarters in Hockenheim, Germany will display its current portfolio of rigid paper containers and plastic packaging solutions. The co-exhibitors Sonoco Alcore and Sonoco Plastics round out the company’s booth.

Cylindrical rigid paper containers are a convenience-packaging classic. For many products like stacked chips or instant drinks, they are a vital part of brand identity. The new SquareCan is Sonoco’s first rigid paper container with a nearly square layout. It measures 104 to 94 millimetres and adds an attractive variant to the packaging specialist’s portfolio. “The SquareCan is a major new product development. It opens up entirely new possibilities in terms of packaging design and brand management for our customers,” says Rolf Regelmann, Director Sales and Marketing at Sonoco, summarizing the advantages of the new layout. “The rigid paper container with a nearly square layout can be decorated all around – including the top and bottom. This strengthens brand management and simultaneously attracts a great deal of consumer attention.” The SquareCan allows Sonoco customers to reach additional consumer groups and market segments while taking advantage of the customary advantages of the rigid paper container. The SquareCan also provides significant efficiency benefits in terms of logistics; thanks to its rectangular basic shape, the package makes optimal use of the available space. Compared to competitive products, the SquareCan is significantly more stable and provides more product protection.

Alongside the newly developed SquareCan, Sonoco will also showcase its entire range of rigid paper containers at the FachPack. This includes numerous improvements and innovations, such as Vegetop, a special shaker top made of organic, compostable plastic that makes the rigid paper container even more sustainable. Another focus of the exhibition is on different design options for rigid paper containers, such as special finishing techniques. The Munich-based cocoa manufacturer beckscocoa, for example, uses a label with hot gold foil embossing to reflect the high quality of the package’s content.

Eye-catcher on top: IML lids provide additional decoration area

Sonoco also delivers a new closure solution for rigid paper containers: The new plastic lids decorated with IML technology feature outstanding tactile and visual effects; even highly realistic photographic images are possible. The lids provide an additional decoration area for round or rectangular rigid paper containers, adding another opportunity to put the packaging classic in the limelight and make it stand out from the competition. “The new product developments SquareCan and IML lids are sound proof of Sonoco’s ability to innovate and demonstrate that our know-how in rigid paper containers and plastic packaging complement each other perfectly,” explains Séan Cairns, Vice President and General Manager, Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. “With our expertise in both areas we are excellently positioned in the premium packaging market.”

Convincing benefits for the tobacco industry

The combination of SquareCan and IML lid provides a particular advantage for packaging tobacco products. The revision of the European Tobacco Product Directive (TPD 2) makes warning labels on lids obligatory for cylindrical rigid paper containers, but not for those with a rectangular format. Because manufacturers have to put large warning labels on the sides of the rigid paper container, the lid becomes the central decorating area for the presentation of the brand. With IML technology manufacturers can capitalize on this.

Highly decorative plastic packaging for premium-quality and delicate products

Several Sonoco customers in the plastic packaging segment are already capitalising on the advantages of in-mould labelling. In the IML process the label is usually made of the same material as the packaging container and injected directly into the packaging wall during production. As a result, the label cannot slip or slide and makes a high-quality impression. The packaging’s base shape is completely user-definable – an ideal prerequisite for tailor-made product and brand presentation.

For plastic packaging Sonoco relies on its patented PermaSafe® technology, which is particularly suited for use with sterilized and pasteurized food products with a long shelf life. Unlike conventional tin cans, PermaSafe® packaging provides a resealable lid and a high-quality look and feel, reminiscent of products from the fresh goods shelf. Several of Sonoco’s customers are already taking advantage of these features, such as Tartex for its vegan “Brotzeit” bread spreads.

Sonoco Alcore and Sonoco Plastics round out the booth

As co-exhibitors from the Sonoco group, Sonoco Alcore and Sonoco Plastics are also represented at the FachPack booth. Sonoco Alcore, a specialist for high-quality tube and core solutions, will present its broad portfolio, which includes packaging solutions for synthetic fibre yarns, foils, labels and metals. The Sonoco subsidiary currently supplies customers in more than 65 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In turn, Sonoco Plastics will be presenting spools, precision winding cores and tubes made of plastic – products favoured by the optical fibre yarn, fibre optic cable, paper, foil, textile and glass yarn industries. The plastic specialist also displays a portfolio of end and side walls as an innovative solution for transport and storage of plastic films.

About Sonoco Europe


Sonoco’s more than 100 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in Global Rigid Paper and Closures; paper cores for industrial use, Global Plastics; Packaging Services and Graphics Management. Offering a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs. To learn more, visit www.sonocoeurope.com.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $5 billion, the company has 21,000 employees working in more than 330 operations in 34 countries, serving some of the world’s best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2015/2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

Hockenheim, Germany. May 9 2016. Sonoco Europe recently received ISO 50001 certification across Germany for its systematic and efficient energy management. The company’s facility in Lübeck was certified in 2014, followed last year by facilities in Hockenheim, Bunde and Zwenkau. For Sonoco, the introduction of an energy management system represents a further milestone on the path to even greater sustainability. On a global scale, the company has significantly reduced its CO2 emissions and water usage in recent years while investing in biomass cogeneration.

The certification is based on an in-house energy management system planned and implemented by “energy teams” at the individual production facilities. A server-based knowledge platform enables all sites to access information from the other locations and share the results of any actions taken. “We began by measuring exactly how much energy we are using in each area. Our focus was on electricity as our main energy source. This proved to be an eye-opener in many respects,” says Thomas Richter, Energy Management Officer at Sonoco Europe. For instance, it was discovered that lighting alone accounted for as much as 25% of total energy consumption.

Together with experts from DQS, the German Association for Management System Certification, the company conducted a preliminary audit to identify strengths and potential for improvement. One measure was to gradually replace all old lamps with LEDs. This resulted in considerable savings without sacrificing performance. Substantial savings potential was also identified in the compressed air system. An ultrasonic leakage test enabled Sonoco to quickly eliminate leaks in the pipeline and reduce energy consumption. It took about a year to implement all of the measures necessary for certification. The Lübeck site was the first to be certified in 2014, followed in 2015 by the facilities in Hockenheim, Bunde and Zwenkau. The measures described here alone resulted in total energy cost savings for Sonoco of around 2% in the first year.

Hard figures demonstrate sustainability

“Energy costs in Germany are higher than in many other countries and this is regarded as one of the factors that drive inflation. This is why we decided to optimise our energy efficiency by using an energy management system,” Richter says. The objective of ISO 50001 is to define quality standards for energy consumption. The idea is to achieve greater transparency in terms of a company’s energy flow, help systematically improve energy efficiency, and enable long-term cost savings.

Other measures are aimed at improving the efficiency of production systems. A key factor in purchasing new equipment is the total operating costs including energy consumption. The company is successively replacing older motors used in production with new, more economical alternatives. “Our customers also appreciate the fact that we are now certified for energy efficiency across Germany. More and more consumers want products that are produced according to eco-sustainability principles,” Richter explains. “Packaging is a key factor. The less energy the company uses overall, the more it reduces its consumption and the smaller the carbon footprint for packaging production.” Richter is particularly pleased to see how the new energy management system enables Sonoco to provide hard figures to demonstrate the eco-sustainability practised by the company for years. “If we manage to produce a higher volume of rigid paperboard containers without increasing energy consumption, we are definitely on the right track.”

Commitment to reduce environmental footprint

The new energy management system in Germany adds to Sonoco’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. Since 2009, the global Sonoco enterprise has reduced its CO2 emissions by 24% and its water usage by more than 40%. Additionally, Sonoco’s global manufacturing operations significantly increased their diversion of wastes from landfill. Sonoco’s impact on the environment is also lowered by the efforts of its recycling subsidiary and biomass cogeneration operations. For more information on Sonoco’s ongoing sustainability efforts, please visit www.sonoco.com/sustainability.

About Sonoco Europe

Sonoco’s more than 70 operations in Europe provide customers with solutions in Global Rigid Paper and Closures; Global Plastics; Packaging Services and Graphics Management. Offering a range of packaging materials, packaging services, technical disciplines, material science and manufacturing capabilities, Sonoco takes a holistic approach to providing customized solutions that meet our customers’ unique needs. To learn more, visit www.sonocoeurope.com.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and display and packaging services. With annualised net sales of approximately $5.0 billion, the company has 21.000 employees working in more than 330 facilities in 34 countries, serving many of the world’s best-known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2015/2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

Hockenheim - 22 de diciembre de 2015. Sonoco Consumer Products Europe ha anunciado hoy que la empresa ha iniciado consultas con los representantes de los trabajadores para cerrar de forma permanente dos de sus plantas de producción en Alemania, Bunde y Hockenheim 3. Este paso forma parte de un proceso de reestructuración general que tiene como objetivo garantizar un crecimiento rentable mediante la consolidación de la producción de envases de consumo en función de las demandas de los clientes. Sonoco Consumer Products Europe es el mayor productor de envases de papel rígido (también conocidos como envases de papel rígido) de Europa.

El cierre operativo de la planta de Bunde podría hacerse efectivo el 31 de mayo de 2016, mientras que el cierre operativo de la planta de Hockenheim 3 -una de las dos instalaciones de producción situadas en Hockenheim- podría hacerse efectivo en el tercer trimestre de 2017. "Ambas plantas han tenido un buen historial operativo y excelentes empleados, y lamentamos tener que hablar de cierres. Sin embargo, debido a las recientes pérdidas de volumen de producción en ambas plantas, no vemos otra alternativa a este paso", ha declarado Séan Cairns, director general y vicepresidente de Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. "Aunque nuestro negocio europeo con envases de consumo sigue creciendo y se desarrolla de forma muy positiva, recientemente nos hemos enfrentado a un descenso significativo en la producción de envases de tabaco debido a la revisión de la Directiva Europea sobre Productos del Tabaco. Por este motivo y para asegurarnos de que nuestro negocio está preparado para el futuro, tenemos previsto reestructurar nuestra producción en Alemania".

La planta de Bunde, situada en el noroeste de Alemania, tiene una capacidad de producción de 100 millones de unidades, mientras que la de Hockenheim 3, en el suroeste del país, puede producir 130 millones de unidades. Los cierres podrían afectar a 100 empleados en total. La empresa ofrecerá indemnizaciones por despido y asistencia para la recolocación una vez tomada la decisión final.

"El cierre previsto de ambas plantas no afectará a los servicios que Sonoco Europe presta a sus clientes", afirma Cairns. "Nuestras plantas de consumo restantes en Europa tienen capacidad suficiente". Tras esta reestructuración, Sonoco mantendría una capacidad cercana a los 2.000 millones de unidades de envases de papel rígido en Europa.

Inversiones en envases de plástico ubicadas en Zwenkau

Independientemente de los cierres previstos, Sonoco Consumer Products Europe ha anunciado una inversión de 6,5 millones de euros durante los próximos 12 meses en su planta de Zwenkau, en el este de Alemania. Las inversiones se centrarán principalmente en el aumento de la capacidad de producción y la eficiencia medioambiental de la producción de envases de plástico de consumo de Sonoco, situada cerca de Leipzig.

"Aunque el cierre previsto de Bunde y Hockenheim 3 es una decisión difícil, el capital que se destinará a Zwenkau convertirá nuestro centro de producción en una de las plantas alemanas más eficientes del sector", afirmó Cairns. "Esperamos comenzar las inversiones a principios de 2016 y completar el programa en algún momento cercano a finales de 2016"."

Acerca de Sonoco Europe

Las más de 70 operaciones de Sonoco en Europa proporcionan a los clientes soluciones en Papel Rígido Global y Cierres; Plásticos Globales; Servicios de Embalaje y Gestión Gráfica. Al ofrecer una amplia gama de materiales de envasado, servicios de envasado, disciplinas técnicas, ciencia de materiales y capacidades de fabricación, Sonoco adopta un enfoque holístico para proporcionar soluciones personalizadas que satisfagan las necesidades únicas de nuestros clientes. Para obtener más información, visite www.sonocoeurope.com.

A partir del 1 de enero de 2016, las antiguas plantas y sucursales de Weidenhammer operarán bajo el nombre de Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. Este paso completa la exitosa integración tras la fusión a finales de 2014, convirtiendo a Sonoco en una de las mayores empresas globales diversificadas de envasado, con más de 21.000 empleados y 340 sedes en todo el mundo.

Sonoco Consumer Products Europe es una fuerza importante en el mercado europeo del envasado, con más de 70 fábricas y sucursales en todo el continente. Ofrece la gama más amplia de envases rígidos de cartón (también llamados envases rígidos de papel) del mercado y ha ampliado considerablemente sus capacidades en envases de plástico de alto rendimiento, especialmente en lo que se refiere al moldeo por inyección con etiquetado en molde. Además, Sonoco ofrece una gama completa de servicios de envasado, desde logística hasta gestión de marcas y gráficos y soluciones de exposición en el punto de venta.

"La presencia unificada en el mercado como Sonoco Consumer Products Europe subraya nuestro planteamiento de formar una única empresa con una oferta única: un enfoque completamente neutral en materia de envasado para los retos de nuestros clientes", afirma Séan Cairns, Vicepresidente y Director General de Sonoco Consumer Products Europe. "Nuestros clientes se beneficiarán de nuestra amplia cartera de opciones de envasado y servicios relacionados desde una única fuente". El cambio de marca es el paso final de la integración de Weidenhammer Packaging Group en Sonoco tras la adquisición a finales de 2014.

Acerca de Sonoco Consumer Products Europe

Las más de 70 operaciones de Sonoco en Europa proporcionan a los clientes soluciones en Papel Rígido Global y Cierres; Plásticos Globales; Servicios de Embalaje y Gestión Gráfica. Al ofrecer una amplia gama de materiales de envasado, servicios de envasado, disciplinas técnicas, ciencia de materiales y capacidades de fabricación, Sonoco adopta un enfoque holístico para proporcionar soluciones personalizadas que satisfagan las necesidades únicas de nuestros clientes. Para obtener más información, visite www.sonocoeurope.com.

Acerca de Sonoco

Fundada en 1899, Sonoco es un proveedor global de una gran variedad de envases de consumo, productos industriales, envases de protección y servicios de exposición y envasado. Con unas ventas netas anualizadas de aproximadamente 5.000 millones de dólares, la empresa cuenta con 20.800 empleados que trabajan en más de 330 instalaciones repartidas en 34 países, prestando servicio a muchas de las marcas más conocidas del mundo en unos 85 países. Sonoco es un orgulloso miembro del Índice Mundial de Sostenibilidad Dow Jones 2014/2015. Para obtener más información sobre la empresa, visite nuestro sitio web en www.sonoco.com.

Los servicios de Imagelinx se venderán bajo la marca Trident y la empresa se encargará de combinar eficazmente las competencias básicas de estas dos organizaciones de éxito, para garantizar una transición fluida a los clientes. Trident cuenta con una amplia gama de clientes, entre los que figuran muchas de las empresas más importantes del mundo.