As part of the mega project, Hochwald will build a new plant with a capacity of more than 800 million litres of milk per annum. Milk will be processed and sold as UHT milk, cream, condensed milk and flavored milk for the European market and export to China, Middle East and Africa from 2022.

SIG has been selected as preferred partner for the new project and will supply 15 aseptic filling machines for the new plant, which will be based in Mechernich, Germany – just one hour’s drive from SIG’s plant and European HQ in Linnich. SIG’s flexible filling technology will enable Hochwald to offer a greater variety of aseptic packaging solutions in five different carton formats, with a wide range of volumes, closures and straw solutions. SIG’s innovative carton structures also have proven environmental benefits compared to many packaging alternatives.

Thorsten Oberschmidt, COO at Hochwald, commented: “Our new state-of-the-art plant will enable us to build a competitive and futureproof manufacturing facility and our close cooperation with SIG will make a significant contribution to our major European greenfield UHT project, with products assured of the best flexible and innovative packaging solutions of their kind. In a market environment which is getting more competitive every day, efficiency and flexibility in our production is as crucial as it’s ever been.”

Hochwald’s new production plant will fulfil consumers’ desire for more differentiation, as well as changing retail demands, by offering a variety of packaging shapes and formats that ensure the highest quality and safety standards. 

Martin Herrenbrück, President & General Manager Europe at SIG, commented: “We are honoured to be selected as a preferred supplier by one of the leading dairies in Europe. Our strong partnership with Hochwald started back in 1994 and to this day we continue to adapt and change together, to set a benchmark for the optimized filling of UHT milk.”