The increase in consolidated sales would have corresponded to a 5.4% gain had currency exchange rates remained the same. The devaluation of two currencies, the Ukrainian hryvnia (-30%) and the Czech koruna (-7%), was particularly striking. Almost all of the group's plants contributed to the increase in sales, with the strongest growth coming from corrugated cardboard operations in the Czech Republic, Poland and Croatia.
The strong franc is shrinking domestic market production. While this will result in strong purchasing power abroad, it is also causing prices to fall. In order to maintain sales in a shrinking market, Model will make significant investments in innovation and higher productivity, effectively turning Switzerland into a laboratory for the European Model Group.
Model Group develops, produces and delivers intelligent, innovative, high-value packaging solutions using cardboard and corrugated board.