Following its acquisition of PAK in Poland last year Impress continues to demonstrate its commitment to growth in Eastern Europe through the formation of Impress Ukraine.
The new company, in Kiev, began producing and selling paint and aerosol cans this April, and has now purchased production assets from the original owners, Himpak, a company formed in 1996 and the Ukraine leader for general line cans. The business will retain Himpak's founder, Anatoliy Rozman, as md, to ensure continuity with the existing customer supply base and retention of local knowledge.
Impress Ukraine can now offer several aerosol and paint can sizes and opening systems from local production.
The Impress Group has also laid the first foundations of a new factory in Casablanca, Morocco. To be operational in the second quarter of 2007, it will produce steel and aluminium seafood cans; Morocco is reportedly the world's largest market for sardine cans.
Impress has supplied the Moroccan market for over 20 years from its factories in France, Spain and Italy.
“We have chosen a greenfield approach for this investment in Morocco so we can achieve good productivity rapidly in a market which is already high volume,” says Dominique Kieffer, md of Impress's Seafood division.” This is a strategic investment for Impress, and will allow us to extend our coverage of the major fishing zones in the world. Following our 2005 acquisition of Black's Harbour, it will also consolidate our position as the world's leading metal packaging supplier for sardines.”
