Walki Group has completed a significant investment of over €6 million at its Steinfurt plant in Germany, unveiling a state-of-the-art production line designed to help customers transition to sustainable, fibre-based packaging materials. This development is aligned with the European Union's regulatory shift toward recyclable and circular packaging, driven by the Green Deal, Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive Regulation (PPWR).
The new production line, dubbed “The Bridge,” is a multi-functional machine that integrates advanced glue lamination and dispersion coating technologies. These processes offer superior barrier properties for fibre-based packaging, using significantly less plastic while maintaining resistance to humidity, grease, and mechanical stress.
Nikolaus Wolfram, Walki's Executive Vice President, emphasized the importance of evolving the company’s material and technology portfolio to lead the market in circular fibre-based packaging. "This investment allows our customers to achieve high functionality with minimal environmental impact, catering to specific packaging needs," Wolfram stated.
The production line will serve a wide range of sectors, including food and non-food packaging, and industrial liner applications for corrugated boxes. With a width of 3 meters, The Bridge also stands as the widest production line on the market, supporting increased capacity and output.
Walki's move comes in response to growing demand from both regulatory bodies and consumers for recyclable alternatives to plastic. Bernd Schröer, Technology Development Director at Walki, noted, “As brand owners and retailers seek solutions to meet EU directives, the need for new fibre-based materials is rising.”
The Steinfurt plant's investment follows the inauguration of a new barrier-board production line earlier this year at Walki’s sister plant in Wroclaw, Poland. Together, these two sites form a comprehensive production hub for Central and Western Europe, reducing CO2 emissions and delivery times by shortening transportation distances.
The new production line was officially launched on June 5, 2024, with a ceremony attended by 70 guests, including customers and community stakeholders. Wolfram called the investment a critical milestone for the long-term development of the Steinfurt plant, highlighting the site's deep technological expertise.
