In collaboration with a Russian partner, Germany's leading manufacturer of tin-plate packaging is building a facility in the greater Moscow region to produce tin-plate packaging for the industrial chemicals sector.

Following extensive market research, the management and supervisory board of the family-owned company, based in Öhringen in Germany’s Württemberg region, have decided to build a production facility in the greater Moscow region with state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. “Our research has clearly shown that there is a strong demand for western-standard tin-plate packaging, particularly in the market segment for paints and lacquers”, said a spokesperson for the company management, explaining the move into a new market.

With an 85% stake, HUBER Packaging Group will take management responsibility for the joint venture with a Russian partner company. The joint company will operate under the name OOO HUBER Packaging Group.

The machinery and equipment required will be manufactured at a specially constructed production facility operated by OOO TOKK.

The company TOKK, which will handle the contract printing work for the joint-venture using its own highly efficient printing facility, is the market leader for aluminium bottle tops and also produces twist-off caps and three-piece tin-plate cans for the food and beverages industry.

Expectations for the Russian market are high. Once the plant has reached the level of expansion currently planned, which will involve a substantial level of investment, it will employ 150 staff manufacturing high-quality packaging for paints and lacquers. Production will commence at the start of 2008. A strategy of gradually opening up export markets in surrounding countries will be pursued.

With this development, HUBER Packaging Group is continuing its expansion and taking advantage of the dynamic trends in high-growth markets to boost its international profile. After Austria and Hungary, the Russian operation will now be Huber’s third production facility abroad. Since the change of name in January 2007, more consistent attention has been paid to varying market requirements, both in domestic and international markets, with the establishment of the three group divisions, INDUSTRIAL for industrial packaging, BEVERAGE for party kegs, and DECORATIVE for high-quality decorative packaging.