WEPA Group has acquired the stock preparation division of insolvent German papermaker Kübler & Niethammer Papierfabrik Kriebstein (K&N).
All land, buildings, and the production facilities in the stock preparation area and the power plant have been taken over.
The German tissue producer said the move will enable it to expand its WEPA Kriebstein site by integrating K&N’s fibre processing division.
The plant will then be able to manufacture recycled tissue products in an integrated way.
Martin Krengel, Chief Executive of the WEPA Group, said: “The Kriebstein site is an important part of the WEPA Group and our competence centre for folded products.
“By integrating Kübler & Niethammer’s stock preparation into our WEPA plant, we will manufacture recycling products in an integrated manner.
“We can also offer recycled paper to third parties in addition to our own needs.”
The company has hired 40 employees from K&N in the past few weeks and now as part of the takeover of the plants.
WEPA Kriebstein is the centre for the production of handkerchiefs and cosmetic tissues for the company, which operates throughout Europe.
Harm Bergmann-Kramer, Chief Operating Officer of the WEPA Group, added: “WEPA has designed a long-term and future-oriented site development plan for the use of the additional areas, buildings and sub-systems.
“With our investment, we are underlining that we are firmly convinced of the future viability of Germany and Europe as industrial locations.
“Our orientation for the location is also an important signal for the region.”
