Makoter d.o.o., the Slovenian producer of polyethylene foils and bags, has earned a reputation as a reliable and trusted supplier of high quality packaging materials to renowned brands. In line with a growing focus on sustainability, the company has been adapting its processes and products to suit the current market requirements. Romana Moares reports.
The last few years have been a time of investment and growth for the Slovenian producer Makoter d.o.o. In 2018, the company increased production capacity by installing a new ink dispensing system and acquiring two new machines for plastic bag production, in line with its strategy to shift focus from consumer to industrial packaging.
Makoter d.o.o. is set to continue to develop its key competence - production of polyethylene packaging materials - building on a tradition that started back in the 1980s. “The company’s core business has always been more or less the same since its establishment in 1981, although the product applications have changed - our first products were predominantly plastic bags for refrigerators. Following investment in new technology, another product group - plastic shopping bags - was introduced, later on followed by bags for industrial packaging,” says Mr Bostjan Jeric, the company’s commercial manager.
Quality has always been the topmost priority of the company’s management as a key prerequisite of a long-term successful business operation. The company is ISO 9001 certified and in terms of quality and reliability, fully meets requirements of its demanding clients in the western markets.
Credit: Makoter
Modern packaging material
Currently employing about 140 people, Makoter d.o.o. is located on a single site with enough premises to allow for potential further expansion if required. This may soon be the case as, despite the current anti-plastics campaigns, demand for plastics as a safe, hygienic and convenient packaging material is not in decline - there will always be sectors where plastic materials are irreplaceable because of their unique properties.
Makoter’s product range may be divided into two categories - polyethylene bags and foils. The bags, representing the largest product group, are applied mostly as packaging materials for paper products (toilet paper, kitchen towels). The company also produces carrier bags though production of these is being gradually reduced. Today, plastic carrier bags represent just about 10 per cent of Makoter’s total output.
Polyethylene foils, accounting for around 30 per cent of total output, include construction foil, foils for machine packaging, stretch foils and thermo contractile foils. Some of the foils are used for laminating with aluminium or paper to be used for food packaging.
Credit: Makoter
Reflecting the trends
Mr. Jeric explains that innovations are an integral part of the company’s development. “We are now working with one of our clients to improve the materials in terms of reduced thickness, and also start to test bag production reflecting post-consumer waste. The waste is never the same and always depends on the different types of foils. Any innovation is always discussed with customers as their machinery requirements and capabilities must also be reflected in any potential changes,” says Mr. Jeric.
With the ever-increasing focus on sustainability and environmental protection, Makoter d.o.o. is now researching the use of recycled materials and installing machines producing minimum waste. Biodegradability is another buzzword of today but for the time being Makoter d.o.o. is not likely to pursue this path, as Mr. Jeric explains: “We will see what the future brings. As most of these biodegradable materials are made of agri-products, we have decided not to support the notion of crops being used for making plastics.”
“We hear a lot about plastics polluting the planet but it must be pointed out that is it not the plastics but the people that are responsible for the pollution. Therefore, the focus must be on plastics recycling rather than overall reduction - in the foreseeable future, plastics will continue to play an indispensable role in many industries, as there is simply no other material that would provide comparable benefits.”
Credit: Makoter
Sustained leadership
Over the years, Makoter d.o.o. has established a prestigious customer base including some of the leading brands in the paper industry, such as Essity, Paloma, Fripa, Metsä, SHP Harmanec and others. “At the moment, 70 per cent of Makoter’s total output is sold in export markets, mainly in Germany and Austria, but also in Slovakia as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina,” says Mr. Jeric.
With the increased capacity, the company will now be looking for new clients as well as to increase business from existing customers. “In line with the anticipated growth, we will continue to invest in new technology if required by market developments, as well as in our human capital, the most important asset of any company.”
According to current trend assessments, the demand for plastic packaging materials in Europe will continue to increase, with a particularly high demand for industrial packaging. In line with this trend, Makoter d.o.o. will continue to strive to sustain its leading position within the European packaging materials sector, while developing and adapting to new technologies in line with evolving market requirements.
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