matters 25 yrs (web) - rpc-group.com · 2001 to 2010 acquisition of 11 manufacturing sites from...
TRANSCRIPT
Certainly the world has changed a lot since 1991. Today we take our 24 hour electronic communications for granted; the fi rst issue of RPC Matters included telex numbers as a means of getting in touch!
And yet looking back at the early editions of RPC Matters, there is a certain familiarity about some of the themes and subjects covered. In 1991 the overall economic situation was challenging, and the environment was already becoming a hot topic for the packaging industry. And while RPC was initially solely a UK-based company, the importance of developing markets and business overseas was already on the agenda.
The news featured in the magazine over the years also includes some regular items. There are details of the many acquisitions that have supported our organic growth, which in turn has been fuelled by consistent investment in our factories. And, of course, the pages of RPC Matters are full of reports of innovations across many end markets, the success of these refl ected in the raft of awards that RPC has gathered over the past 25 years.
And while the RPC Group today is markedly different from the fi ve factories that made up the company on its inception, the explanation of the new business’s structure still has a very familiar ring to it.
As the fi rst issue of RPC Matters explained, the autonomous structure of the company enables ‘each site to offer customers expertise and specialisation while being able to call on the wider knowledge and experience of the whole group if required.’ The advantage of this, it went on to outline, is that it helps ‘to avoid the complicated management hierarchies which can sometimes occur in large companies, and means customers have easy access to all the key personnel.’
This philosophy has remained fundamental to RPC throughout our years of success and growth. Even in the large global operation that we have become, we
REFRESHINGLY FAMILIAR – 25 YEARS OF SUCCESS AND GROWTHTwenty fi ve years is a signifi cant milestone for any business and such an anniversary also provides a good excuse to indulge in a little bit of reminiscing, reminding ourselves of how things used to be.
have sought to maintain a fl at and devolved structure, making sure that our focus always remains on making high quality products and delivering a fi rst-class service to all our customers, from large multinationals to smaller local businesses.
Managing growth is one of the biggest challenges facing any business. RPC’s ability to do this has steered the company to its current good position and will continue to drive the business forward to further success.
Here’s to the next 25 years!
Pim Vervaat
Chief Executive
25 YEARS YOUNG!Welcome to this special issue of RPC Matters which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the RPC Group.
While highlighting some of the major milestones and achievements of RPC’s fi rst quarter century, as reported in the pages of RPC Matters over the years, we have taken the opportunity to remember a few of the signifi cant events that have shaped the world since 1991.
We are also commemorating RPC’s 25 years with a specially-produced video.
We hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane!
At the time the UK was in the midst of a deep recession and the overriding opinion of the majority of commentators was that buyouts had become too risky to contemplate.
The RPC management team saw the situation differently. The fi ve sites that made up the group were already established businesses. The opportunity was to make the most of their expertise in plastics; the risk lay in the possibility that the businesses could become lost or neglected through being acquired by a much larger group with too many diverse interests. Maintaining the fi ve sites as a dedicated plastics packaging company seemed the obvious route to success.
Twenty fi ve years later, with the RPC Group now comprising 113 manufacturing sites in 28 countries throughout the world with revenues in excess of £2 billion, it is clear that this initial optimism was more than justifi ed.
The seeds of this growth are evident from the earliest issues of RPC Matters, with regular news on investment by the company in equipment and facilities and the development of new market sectors, and the fi rst announcements of its many acquisitions. These have all remained key elements in RPC’s expansion strategy.
And underlying this has been the continuing specialism and expertise in rigid plastics, utilising the company’s design and engineering skills in the continual development of new products, several of which have extended the boundaries of plastics technologies and which today now include a number of non-packaging sectors as well.
RPC’s performance over the past 25 years has been impressive by any standards. Of course, the company has not been immune to the global economic downturns that have occurred during this time but even when it embarked on its RPC 2010 consolidation programme in the wake of the 2008 fi nancial crisis, it did so from a position of strength. And from this emerged RPC’s ambitious Vision 2020 strategy which is taking the business to the next level of growth and expansion.
Packaging is one sector that very much refl ects market trends and consumer requirements. Another of RPC’s strengths has been in not just meeting such trends but taking the initiative to drive the development of appropriate solutions.
For example, the company has continued to pioneer the introduction of a range of barrier technologies for long ambient shelf life foods, offering modern alternatives to glass and tin. Other examples of RPC’s design and technical expertise include airless systems and dual wall crème jars for the cosmetics and personal care sector, inhalation systems for pharmaceutical and healthcare, capsules for single-serve beverage systems, and a wide variety of products and components that go into the making of vehicles.
Sustainability has also played a signifi cant role in new product development from the company’s early days. In 1991, RPC was already producing a container made out of 100% recycled industrial plastic and its fi rst packs to include 25% post-consumer material made their debut in 1992. Since then the incorporation of PCR has been accompanied by other important initiatives such as the continual lightweighting of containers to deliver the same performance while reducing transport and energy costs.
And in the ongoing debate about plastics and the environment, RPC has always taken a proactive role. From the very start, the company worked to establish plastics’ recycling credentials, setting up one of the fi rst plastics collection and recycling schemes in the UK. Since then RPC has sought to widen the focus and point out some of the other sustainability benefi ts of plastics, such as its light weight and ability to preserve food and reduce waste.
So as RPC embarks on its next phase of growth, the same skills, focus and entrepreneurial drive that have characterised its success up until now will remain very much in evidence.
1991… AND ALL THAT FOLLOWEDThere were a few raised eyebrows when the management buyout of the Reedpack Plastics Group from Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA) that created RPC Containers was announced in March 1991.
REWARDING EXCELLENCEThe winning of awards has featured prominently in RPC’s history over the years.
While many of these have recognised the company’s skills in design and engineering, it is also pleasing that we have received several from our customers, underlining our commitment to high quality service and support.
RPC MattersRPC – THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT
SPECIAL EDITION - 25 YEARS
CELEBRATING
25 YEARS
First major acquisition with the purchase of the UK packaging
business of McKechnie plc
End of Apartheid in South Africa
First free elections in Russia after Soviet Union collapse
Ayrton Senna wins third and fi nal Formula One World Championship
RPC Containers Ltd is established as an MBO of 5 manufacturing
sites in the UK from SCA (Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget)
1991 to 2000
RPC’s pro-active strategy of acquiring complementary
businesses continues with the purchase of Dutch thermoforming operation AEP Rigid Packaging
RPC wins Rigid Plastic Supplier of the Year for the fourth year running at the Packaging Industry Awards
Acquisition of the Wiko Group of companies
Bill Clinton wins US Presidential election
First text message sent
Compact discs surpass cassette tapes as preferred medium for recorded music
Northern Ireland Good Friday Peace agreement
Google founded
World’s largest airport opens in Hong Kong
Divorce of Prince Charles and Princess Diana
Dolly the Sheep becomes fi rst successfully cloned mammal
England hosts Euro 96
Channel tunnel opens
First episode of Friends airs
First GM tomatoes produced
First cloning of a human embryo
Buckingham Palace opens its doors to the general public
Jurassic Park breaks box offi ce records worldwide
1991
1996
1998
1994
1992
Transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from UK to China
Death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Labour win landslide majority in UK General Election
RPC lists on London Stock Exchange
World Trade Organisation formed
Windows 95 launched
Worldwide launch of Sony PlayStation1995
RPC acquires Continental Plastics Europe (12 sites)
from Schmalbach-Lubeca, establishing a presence
in mainland Europe
1
The Euro is introduced
The world worries about the Millennium Bug
First meetings of new Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales
1999
The human genome is deciphered
Vladimir Putin elected as Russian president
London Eye opens
1997
23:59:59DEC 31 1999 FRI
59
2000
1993
2001 to 2010
Acquisition of 11 manufacturing sites from Rexam and Nampak
Named Packaging Business of the Year at the Starpack Awards
RPC’s annual results see sales exceed £500 million for the
fi rst time
Opening of fi rst manufacturing facility in the USA
September 11th attacks in USA
First iPod launched
Dennis Tito becomes fi rst offi cial ‘Space Tourist’
Mars Odyssey fi nds signs of water and ice deposits on Mars
Seven new Eastern and Central European nations join NATO
Former US President Jimmy Carter wins Nobel Peace Prize
Saddam Hussein captured by US forces
Concorde makes its last commercial fl ight
Highest ever UK temperature recorded in Faversham, Kent (38.5)
Boxing Day tsunami
Facebook launched
The Queen Mary, the world’s largest cruise liner, is launched
7/7 bombings
Angela Merkel becomes German Chancellor
Hurricane Katrina hits the US
NASA launches New Horizons probe
Twitter launched
Mumbai train bombings
iPhone launched
The fi nal Harry Potter book is published
UK smoking ban comes into force
Global fi nancial crisis
China hosts Olympic Games
Assassination of Benezir Bhutto
Barack Obama becomes US President
Death of Michael Jackson
Swine Flu declared global pandemic
Spain wins World Cup
World’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, opens in Dubai
Rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners
2010
2003
2006
2007
2008
2009
2004
2005
Launch of RPC 2010, a programme of amalgamations
and divestments
2001
RPC beauté established following the acquisition of
Crown Risdon Europe
2002
Death of Nelson Mandela
Lance Armstrong confesses to doping
Large meteor crashes into Russia
g
At the forefront of responsible packaging solutions www.rpc-group.com/sustainability
July to September 2013
Bringing Packaging to Life
FROM MARGARINE TUB TO PAINT CONTAINER“Used plastics are a valuable resource. We need them – recycle them!”
That is the key message of a new YouTube video produced by RPC and leading plastics recycler Regain Polymers Ltd.The objective of the video is to depict in a fun and
accessible way the fact that plastics in general and polypropylene in particular – which is used extensively in the manufacture of pots, tubs and trays (PTTs) for a wide variety of applications – are fully recyclable and used to manufacture new packaging, the example shown in the video being plastic paint containers.“We think that many consumers are aware that polyethylene milk bottles and PET drinks bottles can
be recycled, but there is less understanding about the recyclability of PTTs,” explains Katherine Fleet, RPC Group’s Sustainability Manager.“Consumers like these types of packs for their convenience
and ease of use, so we need to demonstrate that there is no stigma attached to using them, and that when they are finished with, they still have a valuable role and are not merely destined for landfill.”The video shows how instead of being thrown away, a margarine tub is placed into a recycling bin. The viewer is then taken through the stages of the recycling process that convert the tub back into pellets which are used to manufacture the paint container. The video ends with the new paint can being purchased and taken to the home where the margarine tub came from.“We hope that the video will not only help consumers
appreciate that all plastics can be recycled, but also encourage them to lobby for recycling facilities for these types of containers where they do not currently exist,” says Katherine Fleet.“Part of the problem is that there is no co-ordinated approach among local authorities when it comes to the collection of PTTs. Currently in some areas, people are asked to recycle PTTs along with bottles, in others PTTs have to be separated from bottles, while some regions do not collect them at all. We need to see a much greater
focus on the collection of this material going forward.”Without this manufacturers and retailers will have little chance of meeting the Government’s challenging new recycling targets for 2017. Equally important, there is strong demand for the material.“The RPC paint containers shown in the video currently
incorporate 25% recycled material and we are already working on increasing this content – but ultimately the success of this development work will be dependent on a regular supply of quality used plastics, so it is vital we take every opportunity to spread the plastics recycling message as loudly and widely as possible,” concludes Katherine Fleet.You can view the video at http://www.rpc-group.com/sustainability/
PLASTICS WELL PLACED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF COURTAULD 3The new RPC/Regain video and on-going RPC development work such as lightweighting and barrier technologies are important initiatives that will help industry achieve the objectives of Courtauld 3.Launched in May, Courtauld 3 aims to reduce food waste by 1.1 million tonnes by 2015. Two key areas of the plan focus on optimising packaging and improving recyclability.RPC barrier packaging offers a variety of solutions which
can deliver an extended ambient shelf life of as much as 24 months depending on the product and application. This makes an important contribution to minimising food waste. Barrier packs can also be recycled after use.At the same time, continuing enhancements to manufactur-
ing techniques have enabled packs to be made lighter while still delivering the required performance, providing valuable savings in material and energy consumption and meeting the requirement to optimise packaging.Even for non-barrier packaging, plastics’ light weight
means it can help manufacturers optimise packaging by replacing more traditional heavier materials.And the RPC/Regain video marks an important step in
educating consumers about the valuable role plastics can play in the recycling process and encouraging greater collection rates.“Courtauld 3 recognises that optimised packaging contributes to minimising waste,” comments David Baker, General Manager RPC Bebo UK, who leads RPC’s sustainability team.“Plastics offer tangible benefits in this area and we will continue towork with5 LI
Recycling of Plastics
2011 to 2016
RPC acquires Superfos, increasing group turnover to over £1bn
Admission to FTSE 250
RPC acquires Ace Corporation, a Hong Kong
company with fi ve manufacturing sites
in China
The acquisition of Global Closure Systems sees RPC Group turnover surpass £2bn and establishes the Group's manufacturing capability
in 28 countries
Queen celebrates diamond jubilee
Mayan calendar ends but world doesn’t
After 244 years since fi rst publication, Encyclopedia Britannica discontinues
print edition
Germany wins World Cup
Malaysian Airlines fl ight MH370 disappears
Scotland votes to remain in UK
Queen becomes UK’s longest reigning monarch
China ends one child policy
Terrorist attacks in Paris
2014
Egyptian revolution and Arab Spring
Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Osama Bin Laden found and killed by US military
2011
CLIP JARS SPICE UP PRODUCT IMAGE
Bart Spices, one of the UK’s leading ingredients suppliers, has selected the 350ml size Clip Jar
from RPC Bramlage for a specialist gourmet spiced sugar, produced for a leading food retailer.
Part of RPC Bramlage’s standard range and available in
four sizes – 50ml, 125ml, 200ml and 350ml – the Clip Jar
offers a modern and robust plastic pack that echoes the
look of the traditional glass storage jar.
The clarity of the PET enables products to be easily visible
and together with the jar’s distinctive design help to create
a high quality image and strong on-shelf impact and
appeal. Individual branding can be achieved through
quality decoration including top labelling of the lid and full
colour printing.
The jar is lightweight, easy to handle and shatterproof,
offering consumers valuable convenience and safety
benefits in the kitchen. A further advantage is that the jar
is re-usable.
A metal clasp and hermetic seal ensure product quality and
freshness are maintained.
“For this project, we wanted to help our customer create
an effective on-shelf presence with an attractive, added-
value pack,” explains Joanne Love, Assistant Brand
RPC Bramlage
+49 (0) 4442 881 0
RPC Bramlage-Wiko UK
+44 (0) 870 751 6670
RPC Bebo France
+33 (0) 3 88 71 7800
DIDDEN CONTINUES TO INNOVATE IN
RPC SQUEEZE BOTTLE
Traditionally prepared cold sauces from Belgian
manufacturer Didden are being introduced in a new
plastic head-standing squeeze bottle from RPC Kerkrade.
The success of Didden started in 1925 with the production of mustard.
Over the years the company has continuously developed, with
mayonnaise and other cold sauces added to the range.
ces have traditionally been packed in glass jars. However
to buy more and more
DAIRY CREST LOOKS TO RPC FOR NEW
CHILDREN’S CHEESE SNACK PACK
The latest entrant into the UK’s buoyant children’s cheese snack market has
gone on shelf in a pack from RPC Bebo UK.
It follows a two-year collaboration between RPC Bebo
UK and the UK’s largest dairy processor, Dairy Crest, to
develop the packaging for its Cathedral City Chedds
Cheese & Toasties.
Chedds Cheese & Toasties consists of six slices of real
mild Cheddar cheese and six mini Melba toasts, foil
wrapped for crispness in a specially-designed PP/EVOH
pack which is heat sealed. Three snack packs at a time
are then sold inside a cardboard sleeve.
With parents under continued pressure to offer healthy
lunchbox selections, Chedds is the only brand to provide
cheese snacks made from 100 per cent mild Cheddar.
Dairy Crest has backed Chedds with a £3m advertising
campaign, with a view to rivalling the three leading
RPC Bebo UK
+44 (0) 1536 272945
children’s cheese brands, Dairylea, Cheestrings and
Babybel.
Cathedral City Chedds is in all the major retailers in the UK
and sales have been strong since it hit the shelves in
August.
Dairy Crest is confident that with the backing of the well-
established and trusted Cathedral City brand, Chedds will
stand out from other cheesy snacks for children.
The children’s cheese snacking category is currently worth
in excess of £185m annually and growing at a rate of
1.5 per cent.
RPC’S EURO SQUEEZE RANGE EXPANDS
RPC Containers is seeing growing success for its range of Euro Squeeze
bottles, which now includes two extra sizes.
The 500ml version, launched in 2011, has proved highly
popular and the range is now even more versatile, with the
company witnessing growing interest in the 250ml size
ideal for mustards, sauces and dressings.
The larger 750ml variety is also in high demand for a range
of household products, and is suitable for a variety of
applications.
The Euro Squeeze range is
manufactured in PP using a multi-layer
process with a special barrier layer,
protecting contents against the
excessive penetration of oxygen and
water vapour. The bottles are suitable
for hot filling and can be autoclaved at
up to 120°C.
The cap design allows the bottles to
stand inverted and the product to be
squeezed out easily through different
sizes of openings, helping to ensure
correct dosing. Another advantage is
that the cap sizes are allocated
proportionally to the bottle sizes,
offering a better cost ratio for
the total pack.
Production of the bottles is taking place at three RPC
plants - Corby (UK), Kerkrade (Netherlands) and
Kutenholz (Germany). Caps, including a non-drip option,
are manufactured by RPC Halstead.
RPC Kerkrade
+31 (0) 45 543 6643
[email protected] RPC Corby
+44 (0) 1536 263488
GOOD VIBES PACKED BY RPC SUPERFOS
Successful French food producer Michel & Augustin needed packaging with a smile to match its
latest off-the-wall product promotion – and UniPak from RPC Superfos was perfect for the task.
The company identified a gap in the French market for
yogurt sold in family-size 1kg pots. The pack also needed
to offer versatile and colourful decoration possibilities
which matched the company’s fun image.
Michel & Augustin’s Head of Communication, Christopher
(the company doesn’t use surnames), says: “In our eyes it
is essential that our customers get a sense of quality when
they are in contact with the packaging.
“We like the fact that a big pot is economical,
f haring and enjoying
for playing at the beach. Also included was a voucher
for a drinking yogurt, a cookie as well as a donation to a
charity. It was a limited edition and stocks didn’t last
long!”
He adds: “We felt that RPC Superfos were just as
excited as us about the idea and clearly felt like doing
something special and extraordinary, just like Michel &
Augustin.”
Michel & Augustin started in 2005 baking traditional
biscuits. The next step was to produce a healthy
t called ‘La vache à boire’ (’the cow you
d nd a
Manager of Bart Spices. “The Clip Jar from RPC
Bramlage combines aesthetics and practicality to
deliver an ideal packaging solution.”
RPC BEBO FRANCE CUSTOM POT EXTENDS
SHELF LIFE FOR SOUP ON THE GO
A leading French food brand has selected a custom pot from RPC Bebo
France for the launch of a healthy, organic soup range.
The Bouxwiller site was chosen by Délices de la Mer
because of its ability to provide a suitable custom pack
rapidly, in accordance with the customer’s short deadline.
The 400ml microwaveable pot is supplied in a diameter of
95mm and utilises PP/EVOH/PP barrier technology. It has
been designed with customised cavities to allow for
product sterilisation, delivering an extended shelf life of 12
months.
RPC provided a complete solution with the supply of the
pot, thermoformed cap and the spoon to allow eating on
the go.
The soup, which is being sold under the popular Bjorg
brand name, was launched in October in two flavours –
‘Sweet potato & coconut’ and ‘Minestrone with vegetables
& epeutre’.
Longer shelf life
Longer shelf life
Weight reduction
RPC Kutenholz
+49 (0) 47 628 90
RPC Halstead
+44 (0) 1787 473224
Matters 1.12 (ENG) 08/12/2011 12:07 Page 2WINNING RPC CORBY JAR SHOWS
‘EXEMPLARY INNOVATION’
RPC Containers Corby’s Ultra Retortable Barrier Jar was the winner of the
prestigious Horners Bottlemakers Award 2011.
The jar is part of RPC Corby’s enhanced range of retortable
barrier plastic jars for catering applications which combine
a mix of food-safe, long-life and lightweight food storage.
The awards organisers said its design strengths, owing to
the properties of barrier plastics, were the cost
effectiveness and high standard of product protection,
allied to enhanced convenience and safety. Typical shelf
life is 18 months unopened and once open it is easily
resealed and stored in the fridge without the need to
transfer the contents into a separate container.
Peter Davis, Chairman of the Horners Award Committee
said the Ultra Retortable Barrier Jar “demonstrated
exemplary innovation and comprehensive product design.”
He added: “The panel was unanimous in concluding that
the benefits of the product, especially within the catering
industry, will help to promote the contribution that good
design can make. It is a solid example of the significant
role of plastics in wider society.”
RPC MARKET RASEN BOOSTS AIRLESS
DISPENSING RANGE FOR RIEKE
Containers and pistons produced by RPC Containers Market Rasen mean Rieke Dispensing can
now offer the world’s broadest range of airless dispensers for the pharmaceutical and personal
care markets.
Rieke’s Airless HVDS (high viscosity dispensing system)
offer now provides maximum choice and flexibility for
manufacturers.
Airless HVDS dispensers must be able to handle products
with very high viscosities which are therefore difficult to
dispense effectively. Rieke says Airless HVDS can achieve
a minimum of 98 per cent product evacuation, offering
important cost savings for both manufacturers and
consumers
RPC Market Rasen injection moulds a container and stable
piston designed to pump air via a unique valve system. The
pistons are then inserted to a pre-determined height. The
containers are made in block copolymer polypropylene
while the piston is moulded in HDPE. Both meet European
d s
STARRING ROLE FOR RPC BLACKBURN’S
SNACK POT
Symington’s launched a major UK movie tie-in to promote
Golden Wonder: The Nation’s Noodle in a Snack Pot from RPC
Containers Blackburn.
The instant hot noodle snack makers became an official partner for The
Inbetweeners movie.
Golden Wonder: The Nation’s Noodle was launched in 2009, followed in 2010
by The Nation’s Normous Noodle, 25 per cent larger than the standard size.
The visual appeal of the brand was strengthened by RPC Blackburn’s use of
distinctive black polypropylene and Golden Wonder: The Nation’s Noodle is
already worth in excess of £8 million less than three years since its launch.
RPC Blackburn supplies Symington’s with Snack Pots in 430ml and 550ml sizes.
The custom pots are injection moulded and feature vertical flutes to help disperse heat from the top of the container,
ensuring safe handling.
The pack also features a generous labelling area, allowing
prominent branding opportunities to enhance on-shelf presence.
Protecting foodcontent
RPC Blackburn
+44 (0) 1254 682298
The winning jar uses a unique construction of thermic
ribs which facilitate expansion and contraction during
the heating and cooling stages. The product’s wide-
mouth neck and robust shape mean it can easily be
hot-filled and processed using existing machinery, while
the lightweight construction reduces the amount of
packaging used.
Michael Stegeman, General Manager of RPC Corby,
says: “We are thrilled to have been chosen as the
winner of the 2011 Horner’s Bottlemakers Award. We
strive constantly to create genuinely innovative products
and it is exceptionally gratifying for our work to be
recognised in this prestigious way.”
This is the second recent accolade for RPC Corby, which
was also awarded Bronze in the 2011 Starpack awards
for its M&S Pickled Vegetables pack, part of the British
Groceries range.
RPC Corby
+44 (0) 1536 263488
RPC PAIL PROVIDES CLEAR PATH TO
SUCCESS FOR DE-ICING SALTS
RPC Containers Oakham’s expertise in combining pack manufacture and effective decoration
has been recognised by the makers of KelKay De-Icing Salt.
RPC Oakham
+44 (0) 1572 723771
A 7.5 litre pail from RPC Oakham is being used to
market the clean, white, pure salt designed for the rapid
clearance of snow and ice from paths and driveways, to
help prevent slipping during wintry conditions.
The product also prevents unsightly brown marks being
trodden into entranceways and carpets, which can result
from other brown rock salts or sand-based products.
The 7.5kg pail with a resealable lid is ideal for keeping
in a car boot and comes with a handy plastic scoop for
easy distribution.
It is decorated with a striking two-colour print and RPC
Oakham’s ability to deliver a pail with effective
decoration provides the added benefit of giving KelKay
a strong, visible retail presence.
Deborah Dugher of KelKay says: “RPC were able to
supply competitively priced, high quality pails, with
good print decoration.
“Because this is a seasonal product, we needed to be
able to work closely with a supplier who could enable
us to respond to sudden uplifts in demand.”
KelKay De-Icing Salt is now available from major home and
garden retailers.
Fans of German football club FC St Pauli are enjoying their favourite
pre-match snacks served with curry ketchup in a plastic bottle from
RPC Containers.
Körrisaft has been the official ketchup of FC St. Pauli in Hamburg since summer 2008. Its
curry ketchup was first launched in a glass bottle with a clamp top, but since February 2011
has switched to a standard 520 ml Eclipse multilayer PP bottle, filled at Farmhaus
Produktions und Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG in Düsseldorf.
The new plastic bottle not only appeals to a wider audience but also takes into account
safety concerns in the football stadium.
The bottles feature a special barrier layer which protects the gourmet sauce from
excessive oxygen penetration, guaranteeing a longer shelf life. The striking sleeve
by Riviera NL-Drachten features the club’s brown and white colours to ensure a
strong on-shelf presence.
The curry ketchup was initially intended as a limited edition but has now become a
long-term favourite. Curry ketchup is enjoyed not only in the stadium but makes
chips at home a real taste experience. As well as a special mixture of spices, the
ketchup is flavoured with caramel, aloe vera juice and chillies.
In parallel with the introduction of the squeeze bottle, the ketchup has an expanded
sales network including Metro Deutschland, REWE, Edeka and GLOBUS.
RPC Halstead
+44 (0) 1787 473224
[email protected] Corby
+44 (0) 1536 263488
RPC Kutenholz
+49 (0) 47 628 90
RPC CREATES A JEWSON GOOD-LOOKING
PACKRPC Containers UK Injection Moulding
is supplying 2.5 and 5 litre paint cans
and 10 litre pails as part of the launch of
new-look own brand products for
Jewson, the UK’s leading supplier of
sustainable timber and building
materials.
RPC Blackburn682298
The new packaging, which features loyal Jewson
customer Shane Wood, has been developed to
clearly convey the quality of the product inside.
Natalie Davenport, Private Label Manager at
Jewson comments: “The new packaging uses
colour coding, icons and product information to make it
easy for our customers to recognise the quality and
benefits of the product and choose the correct product
for their job.”
As part of this process the RPC packs, which are
produced at the company’s RPC Barplas site in Bradford,
feature enhanced decoration using colour offset litho
printing to create an effective presence and customer
appeal on-shelf.
The new designs include an eye-catching vignette effect
showing Shane Wood decorating together with
graduated blue shading that ensures that the Jewson
brand and product name stand out.
Th roven RPC Paintainers and Pails also offer
i ht weights for
“The RPC packs are practical and user-friendly and these
benefits, combined with the stylish new decoration, reflect
the quality and value of the paints they contain,” explains
Natalie Davenport.
The Jewson paint range includes everyday trade products
such as Contract Matt emulsion and Vinyl Silk or Matt
emulsion, plus more specialist products such as Acrylic
Eggshell, Masonry paint and Floor paint.
Mr Wood, of Shane Wood Building Contractors has traded
with Jewson throughout his career and is now appearing
on over 2000 products in more than 500 branches across
the UK. This is a reflection of the Jewson commitment to
work closely with local builders and offer them the best
value on both products and customer service overall.
KÖRRISAFT AND FC ST PAULI SCORE
WITH RPC
Matters 1.12 (ENG) 08/12/2011 12:07 Page 3
Launch of Vision 2020 strategy
RPC acquires M&H Plastics
2012
At the forefront of responsible packaging solutions www.rpc-group.com/sustainabilityApril to June 2014Bringing Packaging to Life
@rpc_group
As one of the major global packaging exhibitions, Interpack
provides the ideal platform to demonstrate the diversity of
the RPC Group, with its extensive choice of manufacturing
processes and polymers that enable the company to tailor
a pack to the precise requirements of each customer.
A key focus of the impressive RPC stand at Messe
Düsseldorf Hall 10, Stand D21 (8-14 May) will be
demonstrating how its market-leading technologies and in-
depth knowledge and experience have made a difference
across a number of key sectors.
Examples include different solutions for single-serve
beverage systems; the combination of design and technical
skills that lead the market in airless dispensers, cream
jars, deo sticks and lip care packs; the choice of barrier
technologies to deliver extended ambient shelf life for
food products and technical innovations in pharmaceutical
dispensing and dosing systems.
Among the brand new products on display will be Bebo
Swing, developed by RPC Bebo Plastik to integrate easy-
opening, reclosing and tamper-evidence, for a variety of
spreadable products such as cheese, margarine and butter.
The patented design can be designed for various shapes
and is suitable for products both with and without lidding
fi lm. Bebo Swing can be manufactured in monolayer or
multilayer PP where EVOH provides a barrier against
oxygen ingress for extended ambient shelf life. A light
RPC AT INTERPACK - ADDING VALUE
RPC’s impressive stand at Interpack 2014 highlights the Group’s capabilities and expertise across a wide range of end markets, and the
company’s ability to deliver added value through innovative packaging solutions.
barrier can also be incorporated for light-sensitive
products.
And for pharmaceutical markets, RPC Formatec has
introduced a new cost-effective system that enables users
of PMDIs (pressurised metered dose inhalers) to easily
countdown the number of doses taken from their inhalers.
The Single Dose Counter allows users to keep track of
their medication and alerts them when the inhaler needs
replacing.
RPC Emballages Moirans has launched the fi rst UN
certifi ed 20 litre container to weigh just 700g. The new
320 range, blow moulded in HDPE, is part of an ongoing
enhancement programme at the site which over the years
has seen the weight of its 20 litre UN container reduced
from 900g to fi rst 800g and now 700g.
Key to the success of this project has been RPC’s ability
to reduce the amount of material required to manufacture
the container, while ensuring that it retains the necessary
robustness and strength to safely handle and transport
hazardous products.
SuperLock® from RPC Superfos combines an oxygen
barrier on all surfaces with a membrane seal to ensure an
almost non-existent oxygen transmission rate, providing
an ambient shelf life of up to 24 months. RPC Superfos
has also developed a new pack for pet food producers
to replace aluminium trays. It offers longer shelf life,
Hall 10Stand D21
IN THIS ISSUE...
AND ALSO AT INTERPACK
ACQUISITIONS DEMONSTRATE RPC’S CUSTOMER-FOCUSED
GROWTHThe latest arrivals into the RPC Group – M&H Plastics and Helioplast – underline the company’s commitment to continue to strengthen its business
in its particular areas of expertise, and to expand its global footprint in order to be able to deliver a localised service to its growing worldwide
customer base.
M&H is a major supplier of added-value packs for the
personal care, healthcare and selected food sectors. The
company offers an exceptionally wide range of personal
care standard designs – using both injection moulding and
blow moulding technologies – along with a bespoke design
service, supported by high quality decoration capabilities
and an extensive in-house tool library.
M&H supplies customers throughout the UK, mainland
Europe and the USA as well as further afi eld and, as an
independent business within the RPC Bramlage cluster,
will enhance RPC’s comprehensive personal care product
offering. In particular, as well as its main manufacturing
site in Beccles in the UK, it is enjoying a growing presence
in the US through its operation in Winchester, Virginia, and
this will contribute to a stronger platform for RPC in this
important market.
Based in Bosnia and Herzegovina and operating from a
new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Helioplast
is a leading supplier of injection moulded rigid plastic
packaging to the food industry. Its wide range of designs is
supported by an in-house tool shop and further enhanced
by the company’s expertise in in-mould labelling for high-
quality decoration.
Helioplast joins the RPC Superfos cluster to extend
its geographical reach – as well as long-established
ustomers in Bosnia and Croatia, Helioplast has recently
h t the Balkan and wider
south eastern European regions. This will also allow the
introduction of Superfos’s industrial product range into the
market while extending Helioplast’s food product range.
“A key part of our Vision 2020 programme is to grow our
business in line with customer needs,” comments RPC
Group Chief Executive Pim Vervaat.
“In an increasingly global market place, we need to make
sure that we follow our customers as they expand their
operations. At the same time, our autonomous structure
will ensure that we retain the high levels of expertise in
specifi c technologies and market sectors for which we
are renowned, and this also gives us the fl exibility to
support all types of companies, from small and medium
enterprises to multinationals.”
recloseability and high-speed fi lling.
At the same time, as well as its excellence in bespoke
projects, RPC will also underline how it uses the same
design and manufacturing expertise to help customers
create product differentiation and on-shelf impact
throughout its comprehensive standard ranges.
Equally important, the company’s many initiatives in
weight and energy savings during manufacture help to
deliver carbon reductions and valuable sustainability
benefi ts.
PLASTIC JAR HELPS TO KEEP WOOD BEAUTIFUL,
Page 2
SUN RISES ON NEW NIVEA BOTTLE,
Page 2
RPC SUPERFOS INTRODUCES FIRST CLASS PET FOOD
PACK, Page 3
RPC BOTTLE ADDS TO ROUNDUP RANGE,
Page 3
RPC acquires Promens Group AS, which adds 40
operating sites to the Group
Brussels terrorist attacks
UK holds referendum on EU membership
Leicester City wins Premiership title
CELEBRATING
25 YEARS
RPC Promens Consumer
+45 22488935
RPC Bramlage
+49 (0) 4442 8810
RPC Superfos UK Region
+44 (0) 1572 723771
PET Power
+31 (0) 76 503 8283
[email protected] RPC Promens Industrial
+44 (0) 1933 411221
RPC – The Essential IngredientApril to June 2016
At the forefront of responsible packaging solutionswww.rpc-group.com/sustainability
RPC VERSATILITY IS A ROARING SUCCESS
RPC’s multi-process capabilities across its divisions has enabled newly-established car
care and fi nishing specialist Roar Advanced Finishing to source the majority of its packaging
requirements from one supplier.
CLOSURES ENHANCE THE RPC OFFERING
The arrival of Global Closure Systems (GCS) into the RPC Group will enable RPC to enhance its
packaging offering to customers with the ability to provide a combined container and closure
solution in a variety of end markets.
GCS is an established and highly respected manufacturer and provider of closures and dispensing systems, with 21
production sites and two mould shops in 13 countries.
As well as further broadening the RPC product offering, GCS’s international network of factories will also support RPC’s
commitment to increasing its global presence in order to be able to serve customers on a local, national and international
basis.
“This is another important development in our growth strategy,” comments RPC chief executive Pim Vervaat.
“We now have an even more comprehensive product range and a wider international network of factories, both of which
will assist existing and new customers in meeting their existing requirements as well as their own growth targets.”
RPC Superfos UK is supplying 1 and 2.5 litre polypropylene
Paintainers®; RPC Promens Industrial Rushden is producing
a 1 litre HDPE bottle; and PET Power has been able to meet
Roar’s need for a 1 litre PET bottle as well.
Established by a group of professionals with over 30
years’ experience within the car refi nish, automotive and
composite fi nishing industries, Roar has developed a wide
range of both professional and consumer products for the
global market.
The variety of products calls for a number of different
packaging formats but essential requirements for all
packs are that they are practical, functional and refl ect the
quality image of the company, as director Rob Wilkinson
explains:
“For these types of specialist products it is particularly
important that the packaging is robust and provides
effective protection. At the same time, the packs need to
look good and be easy to use. Having worked with RPC
before, I knew we could rely on the company to meet these
requirements reliably and consistently.”
The packs are being used for products such as Extreme
Wax (the PET bottle), Extreme Fine Grade for removal of
swirl marks (the HDPE bottle) and Speed Cut Compound
for removal of sanding marks (the Paintainer®). All
feature Roar’s distinctive orange and black colours to
create high impact branding and effective on-shelf
presence.
The HDPE and PET bottles are produced in orange
and black respectively and both incorporate a large
decoration area for glossy wraparound labels. For the
Paintainers®, the use of in-mould labelling provides
all over coverage for a high quality decorative effect
combined with room for detailed instructions on usage
of the product.
“Plastic has proved to be a highly versatile material in
meeting the needs of many of our products,” concludes
Rob Wilkinson.
“RPC is equally versatile in
enabling us to source so
many different pack types
from one supplier and the
pedigree of the company’s
technical abilities is evident
in all these containers.”
BIO POLYMER ‘MIX’ BOTTLE IS A
EUROPEAN FIRST
RPC Promens Consumer Nordics has developed a one litre milk bottle made entirely from a non-
oil based bio polymer produced from sugar cane.
Uniquely, an additional feature that is now being
developed and which is believed to be a fi rst in the
European market, will see the polymer mixed with a
special mineral fi ller. This reduces the amount of polymer
required for each bottle without impacting on its strength
and performance, which will further enhance its positive
environmental profi le.
In its fi rst commercial application, the new Modul bottle
has been selected by leading Swedish dairy company
Skånemejerier for its range of non-homogenised milk.
“Sustainability is a vital consideration throughout all our
operations including our packaging, where we always
seek to choose a solution with minimal impact on the
environment,” comments Armina Nilsson, sustainability
manager at Skånemejerier.
“The new bottle from RPC Promens is ideal for our milk,”
confi rms Thore Bengtsson, the company’s strategic
purchaser. “We have an excellent working relationship
with the company and their ability to handle the tight
deadlines for this project was particularly benefi cial.”
RPC Promens says that as consumers have taken a
greater interest in the types of foods they are buying,
their focus has started to switch to the packaging as well.
“According to Euromonitor one of the top ten global
trends in 2016 is greener food,” explains senior sales
manager Jan Weier. “Certainly there has been strong
growth in organic food products in recent years and this
has now led to more attention being paid to how they
are packed. By using this new material, we can offer our
customers a renewable and sustainable solution.”
The 1 litre white blow moulded Modul bottle is available
with a choice of closures and features a four-sided label
applied by RPC Promens.
CLEANSING MILK GETS THE MAGIC TOUCH
The stylish and practical Magic Star
dispenser from RPC Bramlage has shown
the ideal choice for the new Viscontour®
cleansing milk from Sanofi -Aventis.
Like other products of the Viscontour® range, the new
product contains hyaluronic acid. The volume of the
body´s own hyaluronic acid decreases over the time of
aging. The Viscontour® products help to compensate
this defi cit.
Available at pharmacies the Viscontour® cleansing milk
cleans the skin and helps to improve the appearance of
the skin.
The 204ml Magic Star offers the convenience of
a precise dose with the airless system’s effective
protection of the sensitive ingredients. Its modular
construction, with separate body and dispensing head,
ensures fast and easy fi lling.
The dispenser is injection moulded in polypropylene. For
Viscontour®, the white container is complemented by a
warm grey dispensing head and blue screen printing of
the brand name to provide a sophisticated look while
conveying the health benefi ts of the product.
RPC CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
The RPC Group is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2016.
The fi rst edition of RPC Matters appeared in 1991
Formed following a management buyout from Svenska
Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA) in March 1991, RPC
originally comprised just fi ve UK factories. Since then
the company has continued to expand, combining
organic growth with a series of strategic acquisitions.
And while remaining a specialist plastics business, RPC
has also successfully diversifi ed its wide-ranging design
and engineering skills to serve both the packaging and
non-packaging sectors.
“This is a signifi cant milestone for RPC,” comments
chief executive Pim Vervaat. “The company has
achieved a huge amount over the past 25 years.
Although the business has grown and changed a lot
during this time, we have maintained our specialism in
rigid plastics technologies and our in-depth knowledge
of the many different markets we serve. This has
ensured that we are able to deliver the highest
standards of service to our customers, whether on a
local, national or international basis, and will remain
fundamental to our growth in the future.”
A special commemorative edition of RPC Matters will
be published later this year to mark the anniversary.
Bio Polymer Bottle
Manufacturing countries Countries we sell into
RPC in 2016
Published by RPC Group Marketing Services, Sapphire House, Crown Way, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 6FB, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1933 416528 Email: [email protected] Website: www.rpc-group.com Written and produced for RPC by Nielsen McAllister PR Limited, Derby, UK
RPC in 1991
BlackburnOakhamCorbyRaundsRushden
2015
RPC Superfos UK is supplying 1 and
Paintainers®; RPC Promens Industri
a 1 litre HDPE bottle; and PET Powe
Roar’s need for a 1 litre PET bottle
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range of both professional and co
global market.
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packs are that they are practica
quality image of the company, a
explains:
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