In a statement, Palm said it acquired 100% of the shares of John Hargreaves (Collyhurst & Stalybridge) in October.
The circa 200-year-old business, which is based in Stalybridge, east of Manchester, produces corrugated products in single face rolls, double face board sheets, and fanfold.
In its most recently filed accounts at Companies House, for the year ended 31 March 2023, the business recorded a turnover of nearly £22.4m and employed an average of 66 staff during the year.
With this deal, Palm said it was expanding the geographical footprint of its corrugated division to the UK.
Palm stated: “The vision of Palm is to sustainably grow the business and strengthen its product offering with a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
“Furthermore, John Hargreaves (Collyhurst & Stalybridge) Ltd. and its customers can rely on a secure and reliable supply of high-quality recycled paper from Palm’s containerboard mills in Germany and France going forward.
“Together, with the management under the continued leadership of John Hargreaves himself, John Hargreaves (Collyhurst & Stalybridge) Ltd. remains fully committed to continuing serving its loyal customers and further developing its reputation for trust, quality and service.”
Dr. Wolfgang Palm, managing director of Palm, told Printweek today (12 November) that the group would retain the name and branding of John Hargreaves (Collyhurst & Stalybridge).
He said Palm had group turnover of €2bn (£1.66bn) in 2023 and that this figure would be unchanged for 2024.
The group employs 4,200 staff in total – 1,000 in the paper sector and 3,200 in the packaging sector.
Palm operates five paper mills – with six paper machines producing 2.6 million tonnes of paper per annum, 29 corrugated board plants producing 700,000 tonnes of corrugated board packaging, and two recycling companies.
Its paper mill in King's Lynn is home to the world's largest newsprint machine. PM7 has a width of 10.63m and the capacity to produce 400,000 metric tonnes of newsprint per annum, made entirely using recycled fibres.
