NEWS


Brueckner acquires Hennecke


Brueckner has expanded by acquiring polyurethane machinery specialist Hennecke. The move adds another 650 employees to Brueckner’s existing 2,700 in 12 countries and more than €150 million to its annual sales of over €1.2 billion. “The acquisition of a


leading PUR specialist – with more than 2,600 machines in use around the world by another German machine manu- facturer – is a signal that we want to send,” said Axel Von Wiedersperg, CEO of Brueckner. “The acquisition


reflects our global, industrial entrepreneur- ship and our long-term prospects as a German family business,” he added. � www.brueckner.com


Suedpack breaks ground at new German plant


Suedpack has broken ground on a new German production facility that is expected to be operational towards the end of next year. The new plant in


Erolzheim will expand production of the company’s PharmaGuard blister packaging and will also include a unit to re-granulate production-related plastic waste. PharmaGuard is based on a PP mono-material that is easier to recycle than conventional packaging. In the first phase of


expansion, an existing hall will be converted to house an ISO 7-certified cleanroom that will enable GMP-compliant production and accommodate a new extrusion line and slitting machine. Construction should be finished by June 2026, with installation of the production equipment to


IMAGE: SUEDPACK


follow. Commissioning and start-up are scheduled for Q3 2027. n At the same time, Suedpack has sold its US operations to North American flexible packaging manufacturer PPC Flex. The acquisition gives PPC


Flex enhanced production capabilities in flexographic printing and conversion, as well as cold seal technology. PPC said the acquisition would give it new flexible


packaging solutions, more technical solutions – including cold seal


technology – and the chance to offer shorter lead time. “This acquisition brings


us expanded technical capabilities and capacity that will allow us to deliver even more innovative and sustainable solutions,” said Kevin Keneally, CEO of PPE Flex. � www.suedpack.com � https://ppcflex.com


Euromap advocates more open markets


Market uncertainty has depressed demand for European plastics and rubber machinery over the last two years, said industry body Euromap during an event at K2025. This uncertainty made buyers


reluctant to invest, it said. In 2025, Euromap had expected demand to recover – especially from the US – but the introduction of tariffs undermined this. However, it believes demand from the US “will pick up in phases”. “Our sector is inherently global with tightly connected international supply chains,” said Alessandro Grassi, vice president of Euromap.


www.filmandsheet.com “This is not so much about the


levels of import or export shares. This reflects a global division of labour that benefits all participants.” He pointed out that the plastics industry depends on open markets – in terms of fair competition, a level playing field and the setting of international standards “to facilitate global cooperation and innovation”. These standards – increasingly based on digital frameworkds – enable machines to “speak the same language” so that data can be used more efficiently, which can help to lower costs. For instance, OPC UA has


been established as a “common language” and a durable data model – allowing ‘plug-and-produce’ integration, trustworthy sustainability data, and long-term compatibility. Tobias Baur, president of Euromap, added: “Our customers’ benefits are apparent to users and customers: less complexity, fewer interfaces and quicker setup.”


He said digitalisation helps teams can solve problems more quickly and reduce downtime on lines – while planning tools can align production with energy availability and cost. � www.euromap.org


January/February 2026 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 5


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