The Oerlemans Packaging Group has a strong position in the Dutch packaging industry with eight production locations in the Netherlands. The Koninklijke Verpakkingsindustrie Stempher, founded in 1890, produces paper bags and polyethylene bags, tube and films for various market segments at two production locations in Rijssen.

“This acquisition further expands the product portfolio of the Oerlemans Packaging Group and enables us to serve our customers even better with a wide range of packaging solutions and films,” Hanegraaf says; “We see that the culture and mentality of the companies fit well together in terms of values and standards. For example, Stempher is also very active in the field of sustainability – in line with Oerlemans Packaging’s credo – “the Sustainable Innovator.”

Paper bags

Van de Werve is also enthusiastic: “In addition to broadening the product range to include paper bags, we also have a lot to offer in terms of innovation and quality. With the Oerlemans Packaging Group as the new owner, we are creating a unique position with six sister companies. We have tremendous confidence in this company for these reasons!”

The acquisition has come about after a careful process of consultation with the involved shareholders of both parties. Because of the new situation Stempher will also cooperate with the Oerlemans Technology Centre and the Oerlemans Repro Centre, which will enable developments in the field of research, product innovation and reprography to be further accelerated. In this way, everyone at the Oerlemans Packaging Group is working on the further growth of the company, which by this reinforcement consists of almost 750 committed professionals.

Stempher’s profile

Stempher’s products are supplied worldwide in a wide range of product-market combinations: Dairy (milk/ whey powder), food, feed, pet food, agricultural industry, potting soils, peat and fertilizers, chemicals, building materials, sand and gravel and the wood/straw fiber industry. These include paper open mouth/cross bottom and valve bags, mono- and co-extruded flat film, tubular and heavy duty bags and bales. The quality standards are according to the ISO 9001, HACCP/ BRC and the ISO 26000 standard. A total of about 120 employees work at the two production locations in Rijssen (Overijssel).