Coveris Celebrates 110 Years at Neuwied Site | Open Day Highlights Packaging Production & Sustainability

Site further strengthened through investments in technology and production capacity

Packaging manufacturer Coveris is celebrating its 110th anniversary at its Neuwied site. To mark the anniversary, the long-established company is inviting interested parties from the region to an open day at the plant on 17 September 2022. The event will not only provide insights into the production of packaging for coffee, tea, pet food, chocolate and other confectionery, but will also focus on the company's commitment to sustainability.

The original company in Neuwied was founded by Paul Reuther in the summer of 1912. Reuther took a bold approach to equipping his company and soon attracted attention with unique packaging solutions for the time. Today, 110 years later, Coveris still attaches great importance to innovation and the use of state-of-the-art production facilities. Most recently, extensive investments were made at the Neuwied site in the area of control technology and production capacity.

Strong focus on the future

On its anniversary, however, packaging manufacturer Coveris is primarily looking to the future. The company has set itself a clear ‘no waste’ vision with the aim of avoiding product waste, packaging waste and operational waste. The conservation of scarce resources is also a logical consequence of Coveris' sustainability strategy. The company continuously invests in research and development in order to minimise the use of materials and make packaging partially or fully recyclable. For example, the PaperBarrier Seal product series is manufactured in Neuwied. This is an easily recyclable paper packaging with very good barrier properties against moisture or grease.

‘The production of packaging is an ultra-modern business with a high degree of digitalisation. Robots have been in use at our plant since 2019 and we are constantly implementing new software solutions that help us to expand our product range and optimally fulfil individual customer requirements,’ says Frank Heling, Managing Director of Neuwied. ’This also opens up exciting prospects for experienced specialists and apprentices alike.’

Close networking

As a company, Coveris is closely networked with the city of Neuwied. This is why the focus on sustainability is also supported in local projects, mostly initiated by employees. This recently resulted in a reforestation campaign near the plant. A team of Coveris employees planted 1,000 new trees to minimise the damage caused by bark beetle infestation and drought. A valuable contribution, both for climate protection and for local recreational areas.

Networking is also at the centre of the anniversary celebrations for Coveris Neuwied employees. Together with the staff from the Coveris plants in Halle, Warburg and Bruchsal, they will be spending a very special day, the highlight of which will certainly be the traditional ‘Gautschen’ (tobogganing) of the printers and media designers from all the German sites.

‘The ‘Gautschen’ is an old custom in which the apprentices are ‘washed clean’ of their apprenticeship sins after passing their final exams. As part of a humorous ceremony, they are immersed in a vat (barrel),’ explains Heling, who, with a twinkle in his eye, wishes for a pleasant outside temperature on this day.