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On 1 January 2007, Glud & Marstrand introduced its new R&D department, which consists of 43 employees, distributed on four sub-departments: Concept Development, Technology Development, Tools Support and Lab Support.
 
The new division has been established in order to optimise the implementation of new concepts that contribute to the company's development and growth, which will ultimately benefit both new and existing customers. In cooperation with the Group management, the new division is to ensure that G&M has an up-to-date innovation strategy and prioritised development portfolio. We will make a vital contribution, which can strengthen the company’s competitive-ness and core competencies within business development, manu-facturing processes and tools as well as materials and varnishes,” says Steen Rosenstand Hansen, R&D Director at Glud & Marstrand. G&M’s core business will continue to be the support of both existing and potential new customers. However, with the new resources, the company aims to become one of the leading players on the market and gain a position as the most innovative company in the industry. This means that our focus is on the ability to develop and, above all, implement new products and solutions for our customers on the market.

“This does not mean that G&M will all of a sudden get 40 employees who dedicate all their time to development tasks. Many resources will continue to be spent on delivering services to our existing customers. The advantage of having an R&D division is that we can attach employees with specialised knowledge and core competencies to various development projects very quickly when the need arises. This is a huge advantage, not only for us, but also for our customers,” Steen Rosenstand Hansen concludes. Internally at G&M, the new division has been positively received and of course we hope that our customers will also experience the new department as a strong and futureoriented initiative.

If you would like more information about the new R&D division, please contact Steen Rosenstand Hansen, R&D Director, on tel. +45 76757538 or .

Kelsen A/S and Glud & Marstrand A/S have entered into an agreement that Glud & Marstrand A/S acquires the two Kelsen subsidiary companies, Metropak and Metrocan, with effect from 28 December, 2006. Metropak and Metrocan are both manufacturers of metal packaging. With the acquisition, Glud & Marstrand consolidates its position as the largest producer of metal packaging in Scandinavia whereas Kelsen will focus on its core business, cookies and biscuits.

Glud & Marstrand A/S is Scandinavia’s largest producer of metal packaging and has been the main supplier of tins for butter cookies to Kelsen A/S for many years.

In 2005 Kelsen A/S started production of tins for butter cookies in a new company, Metrocan A/S, in Nr. Snede where Kelsen A/S has its largest bakery. Beginning of 2004, Kelsen acquired Metropak A/S, a company that i.a. supplies decorated metal sheets for production of tins for butter cookies.

Brian Roensholdt, Managing Director of Kelsen A/S, says: ”We have realized that we are best at producing butter cookies and G&M is best at producing metal packaging. At the same time, it is more than ever important to focus on our primary business and so we take the consequences and sell our packaging companies.”

Joergen Kjaergaard, Managing Director of Glud & Marstrand A/S, says: ”G&M is pleased to continue as main supplier of tins for butter cookies to Kelsen. At the same time the acquisition of Metropak strengthens our position as main supplier of metal packaging to the North European market.”

Metropak has two business areas: Decorated metal sheets – this is also one of Glud & Marstrand’s important business areas -  and metal twist caps used for e.g. jar glasses. In total Metropak and Metrocan have 120 employees. In 2005 Metropak had a gross result of 56 MDKK

Under the new ownership Metropak will continue in its present form while Metrocan will be closed down. To the largest possible extent Metrocan’s employees will be offered employment at Kelsen and G&M.

For further information:

Joergen Kjaergaard, Managing Director, Glud & Marstrand, phone +45 76 75 75 15, cell +45 40 13 91 99

Brian Roensholdt, Managing Director, Kelsen, phone +45 72 11 01 28, cell +45 22 10 05 03

At the beginning of 2006 Glud & Marstrand appointed a new management team in the form of our Managing Director Jørgen Kjærgaard and our Technical Director Brian Nielsen. This coincided with the launch of G&M’s new three-year strategy plan – a plan which will ensure continued international growth for G&M through, among other things, innovation, customer support activities and competitiveness.

“The future for G&M looks bright. With full back-up from our owners, ABN-AMRO, we are ready to invest in growth – and this is essential. We want to grow with our customers, for example by establishing production where customers would like to see us – or by developing new products together,” says Jørgen Kjærgaard, and he continues: “Also, we want to expand our niche position and develop into a more international company. This whole process is clearly reflected in the strategy, which rests on three columns: efficiency and competitiveness, acquisitions and innovation.”

“Under the heading of efficiency and competitiveness we are working with many different initiatives. We have had considerable exports to Korea for a number of years, and with a view to getting closer to our customers and strengthening our competitive edge, we are now starting up our own production in Korea. This will be established as a joint venture with Hanil Can, Korea´s largest tin manufacturer – and it is part of the strategy plan that G&M will be setting up production in several locations outside Europe,” Brian Nielsen explains.

Acquisitions is a way of quickly creating growth in sales and of establishing a presence in new business areas. G&M is looking at prospective candidates both in and outside Europe. The criterion is that they must be well-run companies which match G&M in terms of their strategic direction and which can support our customers in their internationalisation.  

Even though G&M has always been extremely innovative, this is also an area which requires further development. “G&M has in recent years invested considerable resources in innovation, and we will continue to do so. Our most recent product Steel Book® has attracted a lot of attention, and holds considerable potential. However, innovation is not just about new products – it is also about focusing on innovation at our production facilities. Today, customers want smaller series and more variants, and this calls for a very fl exible production set-up. Therefore, G&M is also working to develop new and fl exibleproduction technology,” says Jørgen Kjærgaard. 

“Flexibility” is actually a keyword in Glud & Marstrand’s new strategy plan. In a market characterised by fi erce competition, a need for globalisation and changing customer re-quirements, flexibility is crucial. This applies to our customer approach and our approach to our production facilities as well as the way in which we think and collaborate. For G&M, flexibility could take the shape of production being established exactly where our customers would like it.