As part of an accelerated capital investment programme, Smurfit Kappa is set to invest over €25 million at its Pruszkow ‘mega-plant’ located in central Poland.
This investment follows the company’s €660 million equity capital raise which took place in November 2020. This latest investment will double the output from the facility and result in the creation of 25 new jobs, bringing employment to more than 230 staff at the location.
Construction is due to commence in July of this year and be completed during 2022. Upon completion, the newly expanded facility will be 37,500 metres2, making it Smurfit Kappa’s largest facility in Poland and one of the largest facilities for Smurfit Kappa in Europe.
The customer portfolio includes some of the leading brands in the FMCG food and beverage sectors and serves both international and local customers. Saverio Mayer, CEO for Smurfit Kappa Europe said, ’This significant investment marks Smurfit Kappa’s strategic commitment to its presence in Poland and in Eastern Europe. The Pruszkow plant is integral to our business, and this expansion will enable us to further meet the evolving needs of new and existing customers in key sectors, efficiently and sustainably.’
Construction will include the installation of a new high-tech corrugator, new converting equipment, logistics optimisation and a finished goods (FG) warehouse that has the capacity for 12,000 pallets.
The expanded plant will also reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 55 tonnes per annum. Smurfit Kappa Poland CEO, Jacek Nieweglowski said, ‘This investment allows us to expand the range of high value products that we offer to our growing customer base, enabling us to better serve our customers and improve our competitiveness. The expanded employment underscores our continued commitment to the local community, both as a valued and reputable regional employer since 1998.’