News

Stark Partner, a company in the Plast-Box Capital Group, a manufacturer of plastic packaging, has started the process of shifting from polystyrene (PS) to polypropylene (PP) materials in its thermoforming technology. It involves the modification of certain product models and new investments needed to comply with the changing regulatory requirements aimed at reducing the environmental impact.

New legal regulations limiting the use and sales of single-use plastic for which alternatives are available favour the implementation of new solutions by Stark Partner, and are in line with the circular-economy strategy being pursued by the Plast-Box Group.

“As a result of top-down restrictions on certain categories of single-use products, we receive enquiries from the market about the possibility of implementing new solutions. Many of our clients have big ambitions in terms of effecting a sustainable-development policy. We can help them achieve their goals by providing the appropriate packaging solutions. So, we have already decided to launch the process of moving away from PS, and have started preparations for the first PP projects in the thermoforming process,” says Artur R. Skonieczny, Sales Director of the Plast Box Group.

The programme covers various sizes of packages, from small to large capacities, which are perfect for storing and transporting various kinds of foodstuffs, e.g. ice-cream (artisanal and mass-produced ice-cream, ice-cream roulades, impulse ice-cream), dairy products (e.g. yoghurt, cream, cream cheese, margarine, butter), and fish and fruit preserves (e.g. jams, marmalades and salads).

Stark’s latest initiative is the result of Plast-Box Group’s ongoing commitment to promoting sustainability. The Group is continuously developing innovative packaging which can be fully recycled or reused, optimises every material in the production process, and provides alternatives to problematic plastics.

“We are changing the image of packaging to meet the challenges of an evolving world. We are responding to societal expectations, and regulatory and market changes, and are firmly committed to working towards a circular economy. Thanks to the values we have adopted, we are constantly setting new challenges for ourselves and our customers, the aim of which is to use packaging of a more-circular nature,” concludes Artur R. Skonieczny.

Plast-Box Group, one of the leading manufacturers of plastic packaging in Poland and Europe, has opened a new warehouse and logistics centre near Warsaw, with an area of over 3,800 square metres. It is an excellent logistics offer for customers from central Poland.

The new centre serves as a hub for the Group’s Polish brands – Stark Partner and Plast-Box. It will mainly be responsible for handling deliveries in south-eastern and central Poland. The warehouse is located in Stara Wieś near Nadarzyn, at the intersection of two major thoroughfares in the region – the A2 motorway, connecting eastern and western Poland, and the S8 expressway, connecting Białystok and Warsaw with Łódź and Wrocław, the third and fourth largest cities in Poland respectively.

– Due to the rapid development of our companies we were looking not only for a large warehouse and logistics space but also one that we could manage flexibly. We decided to rent a space in the central part of the country because of the convenient location and the possibility to adjust it to the highest standards – states Artur R. Skonieczny, Sales Director of Plast-Box Group.

The modern and larger warehouse space will allow Plast-Box Group to further increase product availability and respond more flexibly to customer calls. The warehouse has a capacity of nearly 4,300 pallet places in high storage racks.

– The Group’s development also requires an appropriate warehouse infrastructure and an efficient distribution network, which will ultimately allow us to quickly reach our customers in the so-called just-in-time mode. The Group’s additional storage space and its logistically attractive location is the key to optimising the supply chain and bringing us closer to our customers – concludes Artur R. Skonieczny.

The Plast-Box Group, the producer of plastic packaging, has completed an investment project related to the expansion of its production base in the subsidiary Stark Partner in Urszulin. The investment includes the separation and construction of a new production department with a social and accompanying infrastructure, as well as the equipping of it with a modern thermoforming machine. Thanks to this investment, a significant reorganisation of the technological cycle has been facilitated, which will definitely increase the Company production capacity by at least 50%. This project has seen the Group invest nearly PLN 3.5 million.

“As a result of the expansion, Stark has significantly increased its production potential, which will allow the Company to quickly finalise its plans related to the expansion of its product range”, says Grzegorz Pawlak, CEO of the Plast-Box Group. “The key to success in today’s market is a modern and flexible organisation in which innovation is written in its DNA. Such a Company is precisely what Stark Partner is, with all the advantages necessary to gain new markets with the expansion of the scale of its operations” affirms Mr Pawlak.

The completed investment will increase the flexibility of Stark’s production facility, preparing the implementation of further expansion, and the constant evolution of the brand’s portfolio. Forming on the latest generation thermoforming machine the creation of packaging from small to large dimensions, of various thicknesses, and of repeatable form and high quality. A great advantage is the ability to personalise the pattern to the individual needs of the client, as well as ultra-fast execution of high-volume orders thanks to the efficiency of 1 million pieces per day. The short production cycle and the use of multiple moulds also generate profitability on small-lot orders.

The new thermoforming machine ensures faster prototyping, which significantly speeds up the time-to-market of new packaging. In addition, it gives the freedom to choose the raw materials for forming, and great possibilities to produce various types of packaging, trays, plates, cups, lids, containers, etc., including those requiring very-high quality and dimensional accuracy intended for automatic filling lines. The investment is mainly directed to the food industry, including dairies, meat plants, delicatessen and catering outlets, and other companies in the horeca industry. The thermoforming machine is universal, so it will be perfect for the production of packaging intended for the chemical industry, e.g. industrial chemicals, gardening products.

“The quality of the services provided, the experience and equipment of our production plants, supplemented by the potential of the plant in Urszulin, all create a platform for the effective implementation of even-more complex projects, and providing our clients with flexibility in the fulfilment of orders. By increasing the production potential, we intend to gain market and production strength, enabling us to compete with the global players in this industry”, explains Artur R. Skonieczny, Commercial Director of the Plast-Box Group. “As part of the further dynamic development of the Group, we also want to maintain what has always been our strength: organisational flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to market needs and to meet the expectations of customers, both those with the requirement for large-scale products and those who place individual orders”, adds Mr Skonieczny.

The purchased thermoforming machine is energy-efficient, and ensures low rates of waste. The eco-efficiency of the device is in line with the Group’s priority business goals in the field of sustainable development.

Stark together with Plast-Box presented its product range at the 29th International Specialised Exhibition BELAGRO 2019, which took place on 4-9 June in Minsk. The stand was organised by Plast-Box East, a company operating in Belarus.
The international agricultural fair Belagro is the biggest and the most important event in Belarus. The event’s main focus  is on the agri-food industry in the broad sense, covering all its aspects – from cultivation, management, production, packaging to distribution.
The Belagro fair is held every summer and offers visitors a comprehensive overview of the latest innovations and developments in the agricultural industry for both local and foreign producers. It provides the opportunity to establish business contacts with partners from Belarus, Central and Eastern Europe, and the whole world. Every year Belagro becomes one of the main platforms for business negotiations. Participation in this exhibition is an opportunity to find new partners, learn about current trends in the industry, share experiences, and to present ones products and innovations. The current edition of the fair attracted over 500 exhibitors from 29 countries.
At Belagro, Plast-Box together with Stark presented its strengthened production and sales potential. Stark’s product range significantly diversifies the Group’s product portfolio. Plast-Box. Apart from the basic assortment of technologically advanced buckets, the Group presented a wide range of smaller packaging, as well as transporters for the food industry and other utility products sold in retail chains.

We encourage you to watch the report from the fair – an interview with the Sales Director of Plast-Box S.A. Artur R. Skonieczny, given to Belarusian television.

Plast-Box, one of the leading plastic packaging suppliers  in Europe, has acquired 100% of shares in Stark Partner Sp. z o.o., a company that specialises in the production of packaging for the food industry.

Stark Partner’s product range extends the Plast-Box Group’s portfolio with innovative products and solutions for the packaging industry. Together with Stark, Plast-Box offers its customers a diversified product portfolio, introducing to the Group’s product range small packaging for use in the food industry.

The Plast-Box Group, specialising in the production of technologically advanced buckets, is constantly increasing its presence in the developing packaging market. The company’s current market trend accounts for more than 50% of sales in the food industry. The introduction of Stark increases the scope of new competencies in the packaging sector, and provides resources which make it possible to extend the scale and scope of operations in the Plast-Box Group.