Huhtamäki
Encyclopedia
Huhtamäki is a Finnish
company, headquartered in Espoo
, which manufactures and supplies packaging for various uses. Its primary outputs include carton
s and containers for foods and other consumer goods, disposable tableware
and films and laminates for such uses as adhesive
s, plasters
and labels. The company was initially established as a manufacturer of confectionery
in 1920 and grew in size over the years, eventually becoming an industrial conglomerate
with such diverse product lines as ladies' clothing, pharmaceuticals and electronic component
s. A packaging division was established in 1965 under the Polarpak brand. In 1988, it was decided to concentrate on a single business area. Many business units were divested over the following decade, including the pharmaceutical division Leiras (sold to Schering
) and the original candy business (which by this point included the Leaf
brand). During the same period, a large number of packaging companies were acquired. Today Huhtamäki is solely focused on the packaging sector with around 15,000 employees in over 30 countries. Its North American
operations are based in De Soto, Kansas
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
company, headquartered in Espoo
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, which manufactures and supplies packaging for various uses. Its primary outputs include carton
Carton
Carton is the name of certain types of containers typically made from paperboard which is also sometimes known as cardboard. Many types of cartons are used in packaging. Sometimes a carton is also called a box.-Folding cartons:...
s and containers for foods and other consumer goods, disposable tableware
Tableware
Tableware is the dishes or dishware , dinnerware , or china used for setting a table, serving food, and for dining. Tableware can be meant to include flatware and glassware...
and films and laminates for such uses as adhesive
Adhesive
An adhesive, or glue, is a mixture in a liquid or semi-liquid state that adheres or bonds items together. Adhesives may come from either natural or synthetic sources. The types of materials that can be bonded are vast but they are especially useful for bonding thin materials...
s, plasters
Adhesive bandage
An adhesive bandage, also called a sticking plaster is a small dressing used for injuries not serious enough to require a full-size bandage. "Band-Aid" is the common American English term, while "plaster" is the term in British English usage.- Function :The adhesive bandage protects the cut, e.g...
and labels. The company was initially established as a manufacturer of confectionery
Confectionery
Confectionery is the set of food items that are rich in sugar, any one or type of which is called a confection. Modern usage may include substances rich in artificial sweeteners as well...
in 1920 and grew in size over the years, eventually becoming an industrial conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
with such diverse product lines as ladies' clothing, pharmaceuticals and electronic component
Electronic component
An electronic component is a basic electronic element and may be available in a discrete form having two or more electrical terminals . These are intended to be connected together, usually by soldering to a printed circuit board, in order to create an electronic circuit with a particular function...
s. A packaging division was established in 1965 under the Polarpak brand. In 1988, it was decided to concentrate on a single business area. Many business units were divested over the following decade, including the pharmaceutical division Leiras (sold to Schering
Schering
Schering AG was a research-centered German pharmaceutical company. It was founded in 1851 by Ernst Christian Friedrich Schering and merged with Bayer's pharma sector in December 2006. The company's headquarters was in Berlin-Wedding, Germany...
) and the original candy business (which by this point included the Leaf
Leaf Candy Company
Leaf International BV is a market leader in candy, chewing gum and pastilles in Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Belgium and has a number two position in Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Italy. In total Leaf products are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide...
brand). During the same period, a large number of packaging companies were acquired. Today Huhtamäki is solely focused on the packaging sector with around 15,000 employees in over 30 countries. Its North American
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
operations are based in De Soto, Kansas
De Soto, Kansas
De Soto is a city in Johnson and Leavenworth counties in the U.S. state of Kansas, along the Kansas River. The population was 4,561 at the 2000 census...
.