Success with tradition

Here at the Kunert Group we long ago committed ourselves to reliability and long-term relationships with customers. Together with our customers we have gained experience and we have grown. Today, 2000 employees at 17 sites in Europe and Asia are working to find solutions for your requirements. Each year our staff produce 330,000 tonnes of cores, edge protectors and corrugated cardboard packaging almost 300,000 tonnes of core board.

Our credo as a family-run company is ‘Continuity instead of short-term strategy’. That is why already the fifth generation has been focusing on independent development work and a solution-oriented corporate culture. We view ourselves not as a mere production plant but as a customer-oriented service provider. You are our focus and you set the standards which we commonly transform into solutions.

We offer our customers more than high-quality items from a wide range of products. We provide strong service, customised solutions and continuous forward thinking.
 

How it all began…

In the late 19th century, Germany was on the threshold of becoming an industrial society, with growing affluence and innovative thinking the prevailing attitude. Gripped by entrepreneurial spirit, in 1893 Alois Paul launched his cardboard box manufacturing company in Eulau in the Sudetenland region, today in the Czech Republic. Together with his son-in-law Karl Kunert he quickly turned the family business into a highly efficient industrial operation. Corrugated cardboard had already become part of the product range shortly after the turn of the century and from the 1920’s the company also offered paper cores.

Unbroken entrepreneurial spirit

At the end of WWII, some 14 million Germans were forced to leave their homes, either as deportees or refugees. The end of the war also marked a decisive point in the Kunert Group’s history. The Kunert family were expropriated and expelled from Eulau. 250 employees were left behind. The entrepreneurial spirit of their ancestors was, however, also deeply engrained in Karl Kunert’s sons. In 1948, they rebuilt the company – initially as Wellpappen & Kartonagenfabrik Paul & Co in a closed down skittle alley in Bad Neustadt and later as Paul & Co, Inh. K. Kunert & Söhne in Wildflecken in the Rhön region, today’s headquarters for the production of paper cores.

Kunert Gruppe

1893

Alois Paul launches cardboard box production in Eulau, Sudetenland.

1945

Expropriation and expulsion of the Kunert family from Eulau. The factory with 250 staff is abandoned.

1948

The brothers Anton and Walter started again with paper processing and paper core production in a closed down bowling alley in Bad Neustadt.

1949

Reestablishment of the company as Paul & Co in Oberwildflecken.

1957

Kunert Wellpappe is founded by brothers Anton, Karl and Walter Kunert in Bad Neustadt.

1970

A further production site for paper cores is established in Peiting, Upper Bavaria.

1980

The plant Kunert Soest is built.

1985

The Kunert Group acquires the corrugated board plant in Biebesheim.

1990

Acquisition of the paper core production site Wedderstedt in Saxony-Anhalt.

1990

The paper core plant Rupperswil in Switzerland, today known under the name of Lenzhard, is acquired.

1993

Acquisition of the paper core plant Paul & Co in Breitenau, Austria.

1993

Majority stake in paper core plant Beillard in La Talaudière, France.

1993

Majority stake in paper core plants Beillard in St. Hilaire, France.

1997

The Paul & Co plant is built in Indonesia.

2001

Purchase of the paper core plant Halaspack in Kiskunhalas, Hungary.

2001

Purchase of the paper core plant Paul & Co Slovensko in Ružomberok.

2004

A further Paul & Co plant is opened in Bangkok.

2006

Acquisition of the Papeteries du Rhin in Illzach, France.

2006

Paul & Co Wildflecken following several extensions to the site.

2008

Acquisition of Carl Macher Hülsenpapiere in Brunnenthal near Hof.

2010

Inauguration of our new plant in Chonburi near Pattaya (in leased premises).

2012

Paul & Co Wildflecken - A new office building was built, equipped with the latest technology and ergonomic workplaces.

2013

Paul & Co Wildflecken - The existing office building was also equipped and modernised with a state-of-the-art shading system.

2014

Kunert Wedderstedt - The employees are pleased with the new building with social spaces. In addition, a new warehouse was built.

2014

The Kunert Group is supplemented by the factory "Hülsenfabrik Graupner" .

2017

Ground-breaking ceremony for the new logistics building for paper mill Carl Macher.

2017

Groundbreaking ceremony for the logistics centre in Bad Neustadt.

2018

Merger of Hülsenfabrik Lenzhard with Cartub AG.

2018

Inauguration of the new plant in Tambon Takiantia, near Chonburi, Thailand.

2018

Paul & Co Wildflecken - Extensive construction work and modernization for cores with large diameters. Highly efficient logistics structures were created for even faster truck clearance.

2019

Kunert Peiting - The production capacities have been expanded with the most modern production line for angular edge protectors.

2019

Kunert Wellpappe Bad Neustadt - The fully automated logistics center with a total construction area of 15,000 square meters and a high-bay warehouse for 19,000 pallets has been completed.

2019

Carl Macher - Completion of the fully automated logistics hall of more than 14,000 sqm. The finished goods are transported to the warehouse with autonomous industrial vehicles via a 300 m long transport bridge.

2020

Hülsenfabrik Lenzhard - Following the successful merger with Cartub, the production area was expanded to 10,000 m². Now the Zofingen employees and machines moved into the premises.

Challenges sought

Our goal is your satisfaction. We view ourselves as more than just a mere producer of cores, corrugated cardboard packaging, edge protectors and core board. In fact, we see ourselves as your advisor and first port of call. Together with you we can develop customised solutions, tailor-made to meet your requirements and wishes. Furthermore, we are your active partner when it comes to successfully managing your production and logistics processes. Our objective is to develop a close, long-term cooperative relationship with you. Which is why we continue to focus on trusting partnerships, in-depth advice, many years of experience and reliable products. Together we can master any challenge.

Going forward we will continue to do more than “just” deliver products. Instead we will actively support you in handling every challenge concerning your production and logistics processes. We will not disappoint the trust which you, as a customer of many years, have placed in us. You and your specific needs are our top priority – now and in the future.