Caraustar Announces a Minimum 7.0% Price Increase on all Paper Tube and Core Products

Esko has announced it has delivered a world-first in connected packaging production, "supercharging" secure Variable Data Print (VDP) capabilities in terms of both speed and scale for a new collaboration with Scantrust and packaging company ePac Flexible Packaging. Esko Automation Engine is at the heart of the operation, with its VDP technology enabling the printing of serialized and secure QR codes on flexible packaging on a mass scale, unleashing the power of VDP for the new connected packaging and connected goods service, ePacConnect™. “Variable Data Printing has the ability to take the role of packaging to a whole new level,” says Esko product manager, Paul Land. “With opportunities for localization, serialization, personalization and traceability, the advances in automation mean it is now possible to further harness the technology to transform the prepress environment. With cloud deployment for 24/7 global access to data and new scalability capabilities, Automation Engine is enabling ePac to realize the power of VDP for an organization without the downsides. “By connecting the VDP module in Automation Engine with Scantrust, we have created a framework for codes that makes it easy for converters to use,” adds Land. “Not only is this implementation the first of its kind, but it also unlocks capabilities that were previously difficult to achieve.”

Lacerta Group LLC recently invested in expanded regional capabilities, new facilities, and innovative technology to strengthen our commitment to end-to-end customer service. Lacerta is a leading provider of innovative thermoformed packaging solutions that has built its reputation on product integrity, speed to market, and customer care. The acquisition of a facility in the Midwest and larger, consolidated warehousing space in the Northeast is helping customers across the country get packaging products faster and at a competitive price. Below you’ll find the details of our investments in 2022 that strengthen our continued dedication to serving our customers. Lacerta recently opened a fully refurbished and consolidated warehouse center in Attleboro, Mass. Lacerta also acquired the production facility and other assets of Portage Plastics Corporation in late 2022, expanding services in the Midwest and West markets. The 70,000-square-foot manufacturing and warehouse space include 11 thermoformers for production.

Highlights • A resilient performance with strong cash flow - Underlying EBITDA of €1,201 million (2022: €1,848 million), with margin of 16.4% (2022: 20.8%) - Strong cash generation with cash generated from operations increasing to €1,312 million (2022: €1,292 million) - Group revenue of €7,330 million (2022: €8,902 million) - Basic underlying earnings per share of 107.8 euro cents (2022: 195.6 euro cents) - Return on capital employed (ROCE) of 12.8% (2022: 23.7%) • Robust balance sheet with net debt to underlying EBITDA at 0.3 times; pro-forma at 1.0 times1 (2022: 0.5 times) • Good progress towards delivering €1.2 billion of organic growth investments on time and on budget • Advancing our sustainability performance through the Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) • Completed sale of Russian assets, concluding the Group's exit from Russia