Wepa relocates its “big rolls” processing line to Troyes, France
Wepa may not be a household name, but its products can be found in the kitchens, living rooms and toilets of every household in Europe. Wepa is one of the leading European and French manufacturers and suppliers of own-brand paper towels, tissues and toilet paper.
Appreciated by major retailers for its excellence in paper production, the German group Wepa has been actively reducing its environmental footprint for several years. The relocation in 2022 of its production of ‘big rolls’ (large rolls of paper towels), initially produced in Italy and Poland, to its Troyes-Torvilliers site is a further example.
“The growth of the big rolls market in France and the Benelux countries naturally led us to question the relevance of maintaining a supply base more than 1,000 km from its destination market. We were certainly satisfied with the products we supplied, but the environmental impact of transporting them was at odds with our desire to reduce it”, says site manager François Roposte, before continuing, “We nevertheless wanted to go further in terms of the environment and offer a real breakthrough in our product offering. Our papers come from responsibly sourced raw materials (FSC, PEFC and ECOLABEL-certified products) and the Group has extended its range of products based on recycled paper. We had to go further and offer a made in France product made from 100% recycled paper”.
So, as soon as the volume sold made it possible to amortize an investment of over €8 million in a new dedicated line, the decision was made. The Group still had to decide between its 2 conversion sites in France.
“Our Troyes-Torvilliers site is strategically located in the Greater Troyes business park, just 3 minutes from the A5 motorway, which means we can reach 100% of GSA logistics bases in France and the Benelux countries within a day. What’s more, our site is also close to our Château Thierry plant, which produces pulp from recycled paper. Finally, the professionalism and commitment of the men and women who make up the Troyes team are a real competitive advantage,” explains François Roposte.
Since 2015, when the Wepa Hygieneprodukte GMBH group acquired the Troyes site, it has gone from producing 34,000 tonnes of paper to 48,000 tonnes in 6 years, creating around 30 new jobs and bringing the total workforce to almost 300.
“The involvement of our local partners, logisticians and transporters, as well as the contribution of local authorities, the advice of the Business Sud Champagne economic development agency and the support of the Grand Est Region were decisive in the final choice of Troyes for the launch of this new line,” adds François Roposte.
A new line planned for 2022
The pilot team has been in place since the end of 2021. It is carrying out the first tests and preparing for the installation of this line. The first training courses are about to begin, with a view to launching production on the new line in July 2022. Within 12 months, the new line will enable 24 new employees to be hired.
“The company is actively looking for future talent, particularly in maintenance, production and logistics. During the recruitment phase, we focus on interpersonal skills, and in particular adherence to the Group’s values (Respect, Commitment and Sustainability), and we support employees’ skills development through in-house training. If you see yourself in this project, you can send your application to recrutement@wepa.eu”, explains Damien Deville, Head of Human Resources.
This new investment of more than €8m is fully in line with the Group’s values and objectives: to repatriate the production of big-rolls paper towels in France for customers in France and the Benelux countries, to reduce the ecological and financial impact of long-distance transport, and to meet consumer expectations with a Guaranteed France Origin (paper manufacture, material conversion). “We are the first to offer French consumers a ‘big-roll’ – guaranteed French origin”, enthuses Dimitri Mager, deputy manager of the Troyes site.
