Ceepackaging

Earlier this year Russia submitted a draft agreement on a visa free regime between Russia and the EU. According to official statements from EU member countries the block is positive towards such an agreement, but believes that ‘that talk of an agreement is still too early’.

With Moscow sweltering with temperatures touching 40C, the finance ministry is also in hot water as Russia announces its largest sell off programme since the early 1990s with as much as EUR23bn going up for privatisation.

The recession in Russia is over or at least it is according to Vladimir Putin who pumped RUR3 trillion (EUR85bn) in stimulus spending into the economy. This opinion is shared by Bank of America Merrill Lynch who stated that the country ‘is poised for the world’s “biggest bounce”’ and estimates output may grow seven percent in 2010 as companies rebuild stocks and stimulus spending supports demand.

Unsafe road traffic conditions in the countries of Europe and Central Asia (ECA), including Ukraine, have tremendous adverse implications for their economic and social well-being, says a recent World Bank report presented today in Kyiv. Treating road safety victims is imposing an increasingly unbearable burden on these countries’ health and social services. Road traffic injuries are a major cause of death and disability, affecting young and working-age groups of society in particular, and ECA countries need to act now to prevent injuries and save lives, suggest World Bank experts.

Sales are also declining in the formerly strongly growing East European beer markets of Russia and the Ukraine.

According to an article in Pravda published last week, the Russian economy, out of recession for the past six months, is likely to rebound strongly and is attracting much western capital.

Odary, a new umbrella brand from Agroprodukt in Kazakhstan, claims to have created of 30% per month by using reclosable packaging for its cottage cheese.

Russia is promising maximum cooperation with Brussels on removing visas for EU citizens which would be a welcome boost to business.

Branding agency Depot WPF have created a new packaging design for Mongolian beer Fusion.

The Weidenhammer Packaging Group, a supplier of composite cans, composite drums and plastic containers, has launched a new composite can production operations in the Russian city of Vladimir near Moscow. Composite cans for the Russian market will initially be produced on one production line. Customers include international food companies as well as local market leaders. The production facility is operated as part of a joint venture with Greiner Packaging Russia. Vladimir is the first Weidenhammer plant in Russia and the company's twelfth production facility worldwide.

Leaky bag-in-box producer Rapak has established DS Smith Vostok OOO, a subsidiary of DS Smith Plc solely dedicated to the Russian market.

Russia’s exposure to the global financial crisis had become unquestionable by the end of 2008. After years of dynamic development, a result of the country’s stable economic growth, rising incomes and expansion of modern retail channels, the Russian economy started slowing down to encounter severe after-effects of the economic downturn in 2009.

UPAKOVKA/UPAK ITALIA, the international trade fair for packaging machinery, packaging production and packaging material, will open its doors in the Moscow exhibition centre Krasnaja Presnja from 26 - 29 January 2010. In spite of the effects of the global financial crisis, which has also hit Russia and neighbouring regions, the signs for the future indicate cautious optimism.

According to the October edition of the Aeroflot in flight magazine, PriceWaterhouseCoopers are predicting growth in Russia at over five percent this year!!!!

easyFairs, the leading organiser of time & cost-effective trade shows, has introduced its brand to Russia with easyFairs® EMPACK, which took place at Lenexpo, St Petersburg on 6 & 7 October 2009.

In the Russian capital numerous experts from the pharma & life science industry gathered at a very special event: for their East European customers the Gerresheimer Group organized the ‘Gerresheimer Pharma Day Moscow’ on September 23 and 24, 2009. In ten specialist talks the advanced program provided background knowledge about pharmaceutical primary packaging and drug delivery systems from various viewpoints. Across the field of glass and plastic the focus was on future-oriented production technologies for ampoules and vials as well as the filling of sterile syringes, specific requirements for primary packaging materials for biopharmaceutics and the application of eye drops.

If you will be attending the AgroProdMash trade fair in Moscow as from Monday, 12 October and would like to speak to Central and Eastern European Packaging about your business in the region, please telephone Alan Heath on +7 926 030 7410.

Once touted as a unique combination of high growth markets, the BRIC nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China have enjoyed varying fortunes during the great economic downturn of 2009. Projections after the first half of the year from Canadean’s new Quarterly Beverage Tracker, point to China and to a lesser extent India already shrugging off any financial woes with both countries set for healthy volume rises in 2009. Beverages in Brazil are set to rise by a more modest 2% this year but demand in Russia is set to contract by 2%.

Vitrina A Group is one of the top Russian market leaders in POS Solutions. A new strategic partnership with then expands STI’s international network by adding a competent partner in Russia and the CIS markets (Commonwealth of Independent States).

Rexam is to close its Moscow beverage cans plant because of the weak Russian market.

PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, plans to invest US$1 billion in Russia over three years, together with its partner The Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG).

RPC Verpackungen Kutenholz is producing PET bottles in different designs, colours and sizes for Schwarzkopf & Henkel Production Europe.

Rexam and Amstel have been working closely to bring a new can design to the market. The new can uses two of Rexam’s added value techniques to give a contemporary and innovative feel, whilst not compromising on convenience for Amstel’s loyal beer consumers.

Düsseldorf-based etma - european tube manufacturers association is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation this year. Despite the economic crisis, the association’s 52 member companies from 19 European countries reported good figures for 2008. But the association will not only be celebrating at its annual congress, which will be held from 10-12 June 2009 in Istanbul. Innovative strategies and greater flexibility are called for in order to successfully master the increased challenges that European tube producers are now facing.

Sibirsky Bereg, a recognized leader in the Russian snack foods market, has chosen Amcor SerialCoding for the recent promotional campaign for its well known brand Kirieshky. Kirieshky is a dried rye bread snack that is available in nine different flavours: red caviar; smoked salmon; cheese; bacon and cheese; bacon; salami; jellied meat and horseradish; chicken; and pizza.

According to real estate consultants Jones Lang LaSalle, some retail chains in Russia have begun to experience problems with financing their operations and paying suppliers, resulting in the closure of weaker performing shops.

For a long time, Russian confectioner Landrin has been known for its chocolate eggs filled with a surprise for children. With its new Waferatto range, Landrin is targeting a new, adult consumer segment that longs for premium confectionery to indulgence themselves. Together with Amcor Flexibles, Landrin has developed a new packaging for their new sweet waffle candies, which come in three flavours: coconut, cream and chocolate.

The economy of Russia, the world’s biggest energy exporter, will contract in the first three quarters of next year as oil prices decline and the global credit freeze crimps investment, Barclays Capital said in a report.

The 2008 BEST OF PACKFORUM AWARD took place on 17 September 2008 during the fifth Retail Press Day. The contest invites international chief editors of retail publications to vote for the best Packforum® packaging amongst 15 innovative European retail packs. Editors are asked to evaluate each pack, giving a score between 1 and 10 for each of the following criteria: convenience, presentation appeal, food safety, merchandising and environmental impact.

Rot Front, one of the market leaders in the Russian confectionery market, has chosen Amcor TwistAll for its latest line of individually wrapped chocolate covered Halva. The candy sized Halva comes in three different varieties: almond, cappuccino and sesame.

NORDENIA INTERNATIONAL AG is strengthening its position as the leading manufacturer of flexible packaging in Russia. The globally operating film and packaging company is investing around EUR 25 million into its Russian plant. “This means that we will further be able to expand our excellent position in Russia’s dynamically growing market with globally active consumer goods manufacturers and among local customers,” explained Ralph Landwehr, Chairman of the Executive Board at NORDENIA INTERNATIONAL AG, during the recent opening celebrations in Pereslavl Zalesskiy, 130 kilometers north-east of Moscow.

Today, the use of screw-feeding multihead weighers is well-established and appreciated with many manufacturers of fresh and sticky products. Cabinplant developed the first screw-feeding multihead weigher as a solution to a specific customer request and now multiple manufacturers of fresh and sticky products have recognised the value of this solution and the experience that Cabinplant has built up. Over the years, Cabinplant screw-feeding multihead weighers have been installed with more than 30 companies from Chile to Russia.

Alexander Puzikov is head of Packmash, the Russian packaging machinery association. Here he tells us of the growth in the market, running at around twenty percent per year.

As of April 2008, Ronny Voigt is responsible for Russia/GUS markets at the manufacturers of office and environmental technology HSM GmbH + Co. KG at Lake Constance.

Starlinger, the world’s leading supplier of production technology for FIBCs of various sizes and types and of machinery for load testing of the finished container bags, recently became the newest member of EFIBCA, the European FIBC Association.

Will the change in president in Russia effect our business? The answer is almost certainly no. Anything that may effect the packaging sector in western Europe may – absurdly – aid economic growth in Russia. That is the cost of energy. One of the most important mainstays of the Russian economy for the past eight years has been oil but it is not the only mainstay as many seem to believe.

Russia has experienced strong economic growth, underpinned by growing disposable incomes and consumer spending. However, economic development has not affected all of the Russian Federation in the same way with many regions dependent on the central budget. Big urban centres, such as Moscow and St Petersburg, offer firms a big labour pool and large consumer markets. Underdeveloped parts might become magnets for investment, as the government plans to improve infrastructure and attract more funding.

Optima Group Consumer offers leading packaging solutions for the growing Russian market. Especially new developments, such as the converting and packaging machine for the innovative Cyclero® softcan or the leading dosing and packaging technology of Optima for portion packs, e.g. for coffee, are but a few examples. The Optima dosing technology convinces by maximum filling accuracy, gentle product handling and reliability.

Heinz, the US-based global food company, is a chosen supply partner of fast food restaurants chain McDonald’s in Russia for the production of liquid products. These products include ketchup, mayonnaise-based sandwich sauces, syrups for milk shakes, ice cream toppings and dipping sauces. Similar packaging formats are used by McDonald’s in other markets. As a result, global cooperation in production and packaging is key. Heinz already works with Sealed Air Cryovac in other parts of the world, but there were additional reasons why it chose to work with them also in Russia.

Troubles in the credit markets are not dampening corporate plans for new foreign direct investments, says the first detailed survey of top executives conducted since the sub-prime crisis began this summer.

President Vladimir Putin's party scored a landslide win in Russia's election, results showed on Monday, but the opposition vowed to challenge an outcome that could help Putin keep a grip on power after he leaves office.

Early results of the Russian parliamentary elections show United Russia, Communists, two other parties make it to the new State Duma.

A rail strike and snow storms marked the start of BRAU Beviale 2007 in the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg (14-16 November), but this did not deter the 34,456* trade visitors (2006: 36,260*) at this year’s most important capital goods exhibition for the beverage industry. The share of international visitors rose in both percentage and absolute terms. 28 % came mainly from Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Italy and other growth markets in Central Eastern and Eastern Europe to source information about beverage raw materials, technologies, logistics and marketing from the 1,416* exhibitors (2006: 1,437*) – almost 40 % of them international.

Russia is experiencing a dynamic consumer boom. Millions of citizens today can afford to shop until they drop - like their western peers. And at the moment, there appears to be no end in sight. But Russia's economic miracle is not without complications. Inflation, growing income disparity, limited savings, and the persistence of corruption are challenges to be overcome.

SCHOTT Pharmaceutical Packaging, a leading worldwide supplier of parenteral packaging to the pharmaceutical industry, has decided to build the company’s first production facility located in the Russian Federation. The new plant is expected to become operational in 2009. The facility will be based in Bor, a city located near the fourth largest city in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod.

Since the end of June 2007, B&R is being represented by a new subsidiary in Russia. Pavel Tikhon (33) is the managing director of the Moscow-based company. Mr. Tikhon has extensive experience in the automation and process industry and also has an excellent understanding of the market. In addition to sales personnel, there is also an outstanding team of engineers available for training, application and service work in Russian, German and English languages.

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.

15 years of German Federal Trainee Exchange Program: The German Federal Ministry for Nutrition, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) organises German-Russian Forum during the Russian Agricultural Exhibition „Golden Autumn“ in Moscow

A World Bank report has found that the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are experiencing a third transition, a transition that overlaps with their recent political and economic transitions. In 2025, more than one in five Bulgarians will be more than 65 years old—up from just 13 percent in 1990. Ukraine’s population will shrink by a fifth between the years 2000 and 2025. And the average Slovene will be 47.4 years old in 2025—among the oldest in the world.

Grafobal Vilnius chose Frövi Bright for Gillette’s gift packs for the Russian market with Christmas 2006 at hand. And they are not alone. More and more brand-owners and converters choose Korsnäs cartonboard for their promotional packs. The reason is a combination of designability and print result in the material.

Many Western experts predict forthcoming replacement of obsolete LDPE with new, more efficient LLDPE. The world LLDPE consumption during 2006-2010 will be increasing in average by 7.9%, whereas the LDPE consumption will be growing by only 1.9%. Today, the replacement process is going on in the USA and Western Europe. This scenario is expected in the market of Eastern Europe and Russia.

Russian linear polyethylene market grew by 75% in 2006 to over 59 thousand tons with over 80% being composed of the grades used in the stretch film production.

A part of the magic of Christmas is the repetition that is involved. It should be like it always has been, otherwise it is just not Christmas.

Russians would appear to be among the least convinced on the value and quality of private label products that can be increasingly found on the shelves of Russian supermarket chains. Unaware of the private label concept, Russians attribute the notable price difference between retailer and manufacturer brands to the poorer quality of the former and tend to regard them as the choice for shoppers on a tight budget - in direct contrast with their counterparts in the developed markets, according to a Global Online Consumer Survey by ACNielsen, the world’s leading marketing research and information company.

AgroProdMash 2006 in Moscow was a huge success for the participating companies. The exhibition for food-processing industry attracts exhibitors and specialised visitors as well and proved again that it is the key event for the branch. In the pavilions the whole product range is present, from processing to storage and packaging.

The 8th Moscow International Exhibition “Pharmtech – Technologies of Pharmaceutical Industry 2006” will take place in Expocentr from the 20th to the 23rd November 2006. This is the only specialised event in Russia and CIS dedicated to pharmaceuticals production. For the first time the exhibition will be held in a new venue, modern architecture and developed infrastructure of which provide for holding events up to the highest standards.

From October 9th-13th companies from all over the world met each other in Moscow at AgroProdMash, the leading exhibition for food processing and packaging technology. Over 40.000 specialized visitors had the opportunity to inform themselves about the latest developments and machinery.

With the recent addition of two HyPET 300 systems, Retal Industries, a major packaging and component supplier in Russia and Eastern Europe, has extended its reliance on Husky Injection Molding Systems. From the initial machine supplied to their plant in the Czech Republic in 1994, followed in 1999 by the first machine supplied to Russia, Retal Industries has installed a total of 69 Husky systems to date. The company designated Husky as the main supplier for their PET preform systems more than five years ago.

IPPON design has redesigned the packaging for Rolben tea, a popular brand in Russia, representing one of a series of projects by the brand owner Rollton.

Despite an increased focus on markets in Western Europe, drinks giants Coca-cola and Pepsi-Co will continue expanding eastwards to offset their smaller market shares, according to a new report by research group Euromonitor.

Moscow is to host Russia’s first ever conference for private label goods, in a bid to cater to a growing demand for discounted goods in the country.