Arjowiggins

Arjowiggins is an independent paper manufacturer based in Scotland.

Arjowiggins
TypePrivate
IndustryPaper
Founded1761 (1761)
HeadquartersScotland, United Kingdom
Websitewww.arjowiggins.com
Paper production at Stoneywood Mill, Scotland

History

The company's origins go back to 1761 when Buckland Mill in Dover in Kent commenced operations.[1]

Meanwhile, in France, in the middle of the 20th century there were four competing paper mills that manufactured sophisticated paper products with high added value, especially security papers (banknotes, passports, etc.). A joint merger plan was drawn up in 1954 and led to the formation of the first French paper-manufacturing group: Arjomari. The name of the group came from the first two letters of the names of the paper mills participating in the merger: Arches, Johannot, Marais, Rives.[2]

In 1890 Buckland Mill was bought by Wiggins Teape, a paper milling business formed some 40 years earlier by Edward Wiggins and Henry Teape.[1]

In 1970 the company was acquired by BAT Industries,[3] who went on to acquire Appleton Papers of the US in 1978.[3] The business expanded rapidly in the 1980s as it exploited the market in carbonless paper. In 1989 the UK and US paper businesses were demerged from BAT Industries and integrated to form Wiggins Teape Appleton.[3]

In 1990 it acquired the Catalan paper company Guarro, one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1698 and established in the town of Gelida.[4] In 1991 it merged with Arjomari-Prioux of France to form Arjowiggins Appleton.[3] Its distribution business was demerged in 2000 as Antalis.[5]

It was acquired by Worms & Cie in 2000.[6] Worms & Cie evolved to become Sequana Capital but was placed in liquidation in 2019.[7] A management buyout of the Arjowiggins business in the UK by managing director Jonathan Mitchell, securing 500 jobs in Stoneywood and Chartham, was completed in September 2019.[8] A second phase of the management buyout of the Arjowiggins overseas business, securing 300 jobs in Gelida in Spain and Quzhou in China, was completed in October 2019.[9]

In October 2022, it was reported that the UK paper mills were at risk of closure and that an asset sale might become necessary.[10]

Operations

The company produces papers for various purposes including graphic design, packaging and labeling and security printing at Stoneywood and Chartham mills in the UK,[8] in Gelida in Spain and in Quzhou in China.[9]

References
  1. "History". Buckland Mill. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. 1492 to 1956…The roots: From Arches to Arjomari Archived January 31, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "WT - A little History". Wiggins Teape Pensioners. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  4. "About us | Guarro Casas". guarrocasas.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  5. The Papeterie Archived May 21, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Takeover talk lifts Arjo Wiggins shares". The Herald. 17 May 2000. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  7. "Sequana is in liquidation". Paper Industry World. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  8. "Arjowiggins UK businesses acquired in MBO". Printweek. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  9. "Second phase of Arjo MBO completed". Printweek. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  10. "End-of-the-line looms for Arjowiggins mills". Print Week. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.


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