Walki Group, the leading producer of protective packaging materials and technical laminates, announces today that it will expand its production network in Europe by opening a new state of the art manufacturing plant in Wroclaw, Poland. The new plant, which is to commence its production during the third quarter of 2013, will be Walki’s third production site in Poland.

Initially, the plant will focus on serving the customer segments, Forest industry and Consumer packaging. The investment corresponds to a commitment of close to 10 MEUR. In the start-up phase, the plant will employ about 50 people.

“With this investment, Walki is showing its strong commitment to its fast growing customer base in Central and Eastern Europe by providing more efficient and sustainable supply chain solutions and better customer service capabilities. Being close to our customers has always been paramount to Walki and with this green field facility we will now be able to offer shorter lead times and on a longer term a wider product offering”, says Leif Frilund, President and CEO.

“By setting up this world class manufacturing unit, we are creating a platform to expand our operations as we continue to grow. Further, we will have more opportunities to optimize our European production activities and to get access to new raw-material sources” says Timo Finnström, Executive Vice President – Operations.

The site is strategically located in Wroclaw in the south west of Poland with excellent highway access and proximity to major markets.