The COPACO Group concluded the 2007 financial year with record-breaking growth figures. The four companies in the SME packaging alliance generated total sales of Euro 320 million, up 14 percent on the previous year (2006: Euro 280.3 million) and twice as high as the industry average. For the Interpack year 2008, the Group - the third biggest folding carton manufacturer in Europe - anticipates sustained growth at this high level. "We expect to be able to increase sales this year by a good 6 percent," says Karl-Reiner Müller, Managing Director of the COPACO Group Service Center in Mainz.

In 2007, the cooperation's member companies invested around 13.5 percent of their profits in new technologies and capacity expansions. Investments amounting to just less than 10 percent are planned for the 2008 financial year. These investments underline the COPACO companies' commitment to maintaining their technology leadership in packaging production, with the aim of offering their customers - international branded manufacturers and SMEs - further options for their P.O.S. presentation using state-of-the-art technologies. The synergies within the Group generate benefits for innovation management and targeted development work. Additional key themes include concepts for product and brand protection, product tracking (track & trace) and smart packaging solutions. Combining packaging with electronic features in this way strives to generate new stimuli at the P.O.S. and boost the seamless flow of goods through to the retailer.

To mark the 40th anniversary of their cooperation, the companies in the COPACO Group will be showcasing their goods and services at Interpack - the world's premier trade fair for the industry - from 24 to 30 April in Düsseldorf as system partners of the packaging industry. Müller describes the Group's focus: "We devise strategic packaging and service concepts and employ cutting edge technology with the aim of providing support for our customers every step along the packaging supply chain. Our unique setup as a group of independent SMEs on the packaging market allows us to function as a professional partner for international concerns and local companies alike."

In 2007, the COPACO Group produced around 6.8 billion folding cartons (2006: over 5.7 billion) primarily for the pharmaceutical/health care, cosmetics/body care, food/confectionary and beverage industries. The member companies currently have a total workforce of 2,230 (2006: 2,079). The COPACO Group includes August Faller KG (Waldkirch, Binzen, Schopfheim), Karl Knauer KG (Biberach/Baden), Limmatdruck/Zeiler AG (Spreitenbach, Köniz/Switzerland) and rlc | packaging group (Hanover, Berlin, Poznan/Poland).