The move is designed to optimise processes and improve their cost structures in the production of board, corrugated board and paper, within the same structure that is already proving successful in all of the other countries in which the Model Group. This means that support processes for all plants will be centralised cost-efficiently under one roof in the future. From 2015 onwards, the Swiss group companies will form a single legal entity, Model AG, headquartered in Weinfelden, Canton Thurgau.
The reorganisation has been prompted by positive experience in other countries. "Merging the individual companies in Poland and the Czech Republic, for example, significantly strengthened our market position," explains Elisabeth Model, CEO Western Region, Model Group.
The move brought both qualitative and quantitative improvements. Collaboration between plants was stepped up markedly, for example, while combining and concentrating support processes reduced costs. "A merger is always also an opportunity to join forces, and will ideally trigger a wave of positive changes. An interesting momentum has been developing ever since it has been known internally that the Swiss companies are to be combined. Cross-divisional projects are already in their early stages. That gives me great confidence, and shows that the decision is an important step not just towards the future, but for it," adds Elisabeth Model.