Top quality packaging is a growing trend in China. In order to meet the constantly high demand, Wipak has opened its Chinese factory to focus on the production, printing and laminating of high-quality composite films for the food and healthcare markets.

Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, Chairman of the Board of Wihuri Packaging, in his inauguration speech highlighted this was “an important milestone for the growth of the Wipak Group“. Matti Rovamaa, Vice President & General Manager of Wipak Group emphasised: “This factory is ideally positioned to support the Wipak Group’s growth strategy in the fast growing Asian markets“.

Construction work begun in mid-December 2013. In the first phase, the factory covers an area of about 5,000 sq m, which can be expanded to as much as 21,000 sq m in the future. Wipak Changshu covers the full range: production, printing, and slitting. The Changshu factory has been certified according to ISO 14644-1 and classified as clean room class 8.

Managing Director Jari Tevajärvi said, “Our customers benefit from the additional capacities, from the available technical options, and from a constantly high quality. Our packaging materials meet all international hygiene and food standards“. In addition, the new factory will act as a vital service platform. “We are now much closer to our customers, we can expand our service offer, and we can quickly and flexibly meet individual requests, not only for our Chinese customers, but also for customers from all over Asia. The new facility offers ideal conditions in order to serve our existing and also potential future customers in a region that represents one of the leading markets. Wipak faces an exciting future. Our strong brands such as e.g. Steriking are established on the market for many decades. The new production facility will now improve the marketing of our products. At the same time, we will also drive the Wipak brand and its associated corporate values – innovative and secure packaging. This first unit that we are opening today in China, and also in the Asia Pacific region, offers the potential for Wipak’s further growth.”

A part of the Finland-based Wihuri Group, the Wipak Group manufactures multilayer films (in particular barrier films) and high-end packaging solutions in Europe, especially food and medical packaging solutions. Together with its North American sister company Winpak, it provides a vast array of products and services to all significant markets. Wipak and Winpak have a global workforce of around 3,600 employees.