Page 25 - Packaging News Nov-Dec 2019

November-December 2019
www.packagingnews.com.au SCHÜTZ AUSTRALIA
COVER STORY
25
FACTS ABOUT SCHÜTZ
• Schütz is a leading international producer of high-quality transport packaging (IBCs; PE and steel drums).
• The Group’s headquarters are in Selters, Germany.
• Founded in 1958, Schütz employs over 6000 people at more than 50 production and service sites around the world (including licensees).
• The four Schütz business units, Packaging Systems, Energy Systems, Industrial Services, and Composites, each hold leading positions in their respective markets.
• The Group’s turnover in 2018 was 1.8 billion euros.
• With the Schütz Ticket Service, a closed-loop cycle of speedy collection and reconditioning for used Schütz IBCs, Schütz provides
all of the world’s
major industrial
nations with a
service that
fully complies
with the
Group’s
sustainability
philosophy.
MAIN: The new plant at Yatala, Brisbane has the capability to blow-mould and recondition IBCs.
TOP LEFT: Chasing new opportunities: Schütz Australia GM Alan Barham (right) and Jonathon Lockhead (left), head of sales and business development.
BOTTOM LEFT: At the Yatala plant opening, from left, Schütz Australia GM, Alan Barham; Schütz Group CEO Roland Strassburger; and Schütz business unit manager
Asia Pacific, Andreas Wolf.
BELOW: The Schütz facility in Laverton, Melbourne.
which, compared to a new IBC, saves around 100kg of CO2 in production.
FOCUS ON FOOD
With the downturn in the Austra- lian mining and manufacturing sectors, and the effects of the drought starting to bite, companies like Schütz have had to look further afield for opportunities.
Barham has focused attention on growing the business in a sustain- able manner, and identified food as a growth sector. In line with this, Schütz is aiming to strengthen its current HACCP accreditation with the addition of Food Safety System Certification 22.000 by the end of 2020. Food manufacturers, wine- makers and distillers, and pharma- ceutical clients are now all within Schütz’s sights, with the company focusing on building alliances within those industries to demon- strate proof of concept.
GLOBAL SUPPORT
“The company’s commitment to investing in Australia isn’t solely tied to the state of the market,” says Alan Barham. “Schütz is seri- ous about supporting its three Australian sites with solid com- mercial investment.”
He notes that Australia is quite a mature market and Schütz’s extensive outlay proves quite distinctive in the industry.
“The private structure of the glob- al group means the business can make quick decisions on long-term investments,” Barham says. “Sur- plus revenue gets re-invested in the company – and the Australian economy – for more innovation, expansion or equipment upgrades.”
Apart from the Yatala facility, investment in its other plants is ongoing. Recently, the Melbourne business invested in new automated welding machines that reduce con- struction time for the IBC frames, in- creasing the manufacturing capacity.
With investment Schütz is entering a new phase, where manufacturing capabilities and innovation are shift- ing the company to a position of sus- tainable long-term growth. Schütz is fully committed to a corporate and management culture that continually strengthens the company’s ability to compete and generates long-term value. Now, and in the future, Schütz aims to continue to embrace sustain- able business principles in order to be a dependable and responsible partner for its customers, its employees, and society at large. ■