Weidenhammer Packaging Group
The Weidenhammer Packaging Group (WPG) is a German, family-run company based in Hockenheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg. The company produces composite cans, composite drums, and plastic containers. These types of packaging are used for food, pet food, cosmetics and household products as well as for toys, garden products and tobacco products.
History
Arthur Weidenhammer founded the company in Hockenheim in 1955. After acquiring major customers such as Colgate Palmolive, Franck & Kathreiner and Sunlicht, Weidenhammer already employed 85 workers in 1962. The focus was on the production of detergent drums, including Dash, Ariel, Persil and Omo. In 1977, Weidenhammer took over the Schmalbach-Lubeca plants in Worms and Lübeck. In 1980, the composite can segment generated the largest share in total sales for the first time.
The introduction of the packaging ordinance led to a drop in sales in the mid-1990s, as many customers replaced composite drums by folding cartons. However, this loss was compensated by further expanding the composite can segment, for instance with the introduction of the Pringles cans in 1995.
In 2005, the company established the Weidenhammer Plastic Packaging (WPP) division and expanded its product portfolio by plastic packaging.
Corporate structure
Weidenhammer Packaging Group is a family-owned company, with all four partners belong to the Weidenhammer family. Ralf Weidenhammer is Managing Director and one of the sons of the WPG founder Arthur Weidenhammer.
Sites and production
WPG has twelve production sites. The different plants are used to produce different products:
- Hockenheim (Germany): composite cans, composite drums and plastic lids
- Lübeck and Bunde (Germany): composite cans for instant cappuccino, fine-cut tobacco and fish food
- Zwenkau (Germany): plastic containers and plastic lids for meat products
- Mechelen (Belgium): composite cans for stacked crisps
- Inofita (Greece): composite cans for refrigerated dough products
- Kansas City (USA): composite drums for ice cream
- Dordrecht (the Netherlands): composite drums
- Montanay (France): composite cans and luxury tubes
- Bradford (UK): composite cans and plastic containers
- Vladimir (Russia): composite cans
- Santiago de Chile (Chile): composite cans
Products
Composite cans/composite drums
Weidenhammer produces composite cans and drums. The containers are made of composite materials: 90 percent of the composite cans are produced from recycled paper, the base and seal are made of plastic or metal. The sidewall of the cans consists of several material layers. An inner barrier layer is made of aluminum foil or wax, with the bulk of the container made of recycled carton, and a laminated label as outer layer.
Plastic packaging
The Weidenhammer Plastic Packaging (WPP) division produces plastic packaging using injection moulding. Labels are made as part of the package by an in-mould labelling process, the label is preferably made of the same plastic material as the container, allowing the label and container to be recycled together. During the process, both parts melt together, adhering them without any glue or other adhesives.