AR Packaging is broadening its offering to the UK food and healthcare customers by adding local folding carton production through the acquisition of Firstan Holdings Ltd, including its subsidiary Firstan Ltd. This strategic move makes the Group a key multi-category provider of folding cartons, flexibles and fibre-based containers in the UK.
AR Packaging’s strategic direction to grow in selected segments and geographies continues successfully. The Group already holds a strong position as a specialist in flexible barrier materials and carton-based containers for the UK market. The acquisition of Firstan now adds local manufacturing of folding cartons, and thereby enables a wide offering of multi-category packaging solutions mainly to the food and healthcare customers.
“It is with great pleasure we welcome the Firstan company and its employees to our AR Packaging family. This addition is of significant strategic importance to strengthen our position on the UK market”, said Harald Schulz, CEO and President of AR Packaging. “Together with our existing two plants in the UK, Firstan provides an excellent platform for further growth in this important and fast-moving market.”
Firstan Ltd is a leading independent folding carton manufacturer; its factory, located in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, is a streamlined production facility with best in class machinery and operating systems.
“I am happy to see our company take the next step in its development and join AR Packaging”, said Andrew Hartwig, previous majority shareholder and Managing Director of Firstan Holdings Ltd. “Our strategically located and well invested facility will together with our skilled team add further capabilities to AR Packaging and we will together offer extended services to all UK customers.”
Paul Hartwig, also a former shareholder of Firstan Holdings Ltd, added, “This is an exciting new chapter for our business. Together with the rest of the management team, I am looking forward to working with the AR Packaging team to take our business to the next level.”
