Perlen, 10 April 2026 – Demand for graphic newsprint and magazine paper has been steadily declining for years. At the same time, conditions in the European paper market remain challenging. The resulting insufficient utilization of production capacity led to unsatisfactory results in the year 2025. This unfortunate development reinforced the company’s resolve to set the right strategic course and to consistently pursue the transformation strategy it has embarked upon to increase value in the future.

Focusing and strengthening the paper business

The sustainable, profitable development of the paper business in Europe is at the heart of the company’s long-term strategy. In 2025, Perlen Papier AG underwent a structural realignment. With the restructuring that has been carried out and the continued operation of both paper machines at one of Europe’s most modern paper mills, the company further strengthened its competitiveness in the newsprint and magazine paper segments. Close collaboration with existing customers remains a central pillar of the strategy and ensures stable capacity utilization as well as the continuous development of the core business. At the same time, the company has evolved toward more cost-efficient and flexible production with a focus on product innovations (e.g., specialty papers for flexible packaging, including applications in the food and labeling sectors). This enables Perlen Papier AG to tap into an additional growing market with higher value creation potential which can be served with the existing machines.

Entry into fibre moulding for fibre-based packaging solutions

In addition to strengthening its core business, the company plans to leverage its proven expertise in fibre preparation in additional application areas in the future. The focus is on innovative, fibre moulding for fibre-based packaging solutions that can tap into new markets and customer segments, such as the exclusive partnership with Pulpex for the production of novel fibre-based paper bottles in the extended DACH region. The first products are already in the testing phase. This will enable the company to expand and diversify its existing portfolio of graphic papers while positioning itself in sustainable growth areas.

Industrial site offers new opportunities

The expansive industrial site in Perlen also offers great potential. Its central location in the heart of Switzerland, with excellent transportation and infrastructure connections, opens up a wide range of opportunities for creating additional value through new uses and partnerships. A first step has already been taken with the establishment of a joint venture to build a battery storage facility on the site. In particular, uses that can benefit from the existing high-voltage power connections are being further explored. These include, for example, data centers or energy storage solutions.

Outlook 2026

The 2026 business year will be a year of transformation for Perlen Industrieholding AG. The company will continue to pursue its chosen path with determination and conviction. At the same time, the company anticipates that the market environment will remain challenging. Consolidation in the paper market will continue, as will pressure on prices and volumes. “Our focus remains on increasing profitability, developing new products and business areas, and consistent cost control. At the same time, we will continue to leverage the potential of the industrial site. The transformation of Perlen Industrieholding AG is geared toward continuity and sustainable success. We are convinced that we have defined the right path and will continue to follow it with determination,” says Dr. Florian Geiger, CEO of Perlen Industrieholding AG and Perlen Papier AG.

Perlen, 19 March 2026 – Perlen Industrieholding AG continues to advance its transformation into a diversified industrial company. Together with its subsidiary Perlen Papier AG, it will become the world’s first manufacturing partner of Pulpex, a UK manufacturer of sustainable packaging technology, with manufacturing exclusivity rights for fibre-based paper bottles in the markets of Switzerland, Austria, Italy and southern Germany. Perlen Industrieholding AG is now assessing the most appropriate industrial deployment of the technology in these markets and will subsequently decide whether to commence production (production may begin in 2027).

A globally unique technology with significant recycling potential

Pulpex has developed a unique, patent-protected, packaging solution based on moulded paper fibres supported by a complete enablement approach and supply chain allowing manufacturing partners to install its technology and bring production online quickly. The bottles are certified recyclable as paper in 4evergreen testing, feature a food-grade, odour-neutral barrier coating and offer a commercially attractive shelf life for a wide range of products. The paper bottles are suitable for a range of applications spanning beverages (e.g. juices, water, milk), cosmetic products and food items, through to wine and spirits, with stock and custom design sizes available.

The innovative technology behind the paper bottles has received multiple awards and addresses the growing end consumer demand for less plastic and more recyclable packaging solutions. Fibre-based paper bottles are considered a strong alternative to existing packaging solutions such as glass or plastic, combining functionality with sustainability. They can be recycled with waste paper, have a significantly lower carbon footprint than glass – up to 90 percent lower – and are characterised by low weight, high stability and water resistance. As a result, fibre moulding technology is also seeing increasing demand from global branded goods manufacturers.

Added value through an integrated circular economy

Thanks to its existing fibre infrastructure and industrial expertise, Perlen Papier AG has the prerequisites to establish a closed circular economy through the production of fibre-based paper bottles. The bottles can be disposed of with waste paper, recycled at the Perlen site and processed again for reuse. The project therefore combines industrial value creation with sustainable resource use.

Dr Florian Geiger, CEO of Perlen Industrieholding AG and Perlen Papier AG, says: “Securing exclusivity with Pulpex in our core markets of Switzerland, Italy, Austria and southern Germany enables us to bring an innovative and technologically leading solution for sustainable packaging to our markets. The paper bottle addresses key customer and consumer needs for recyclable, resource-efficient packaging. At the same time, we can leverage our existing infrastructure and extensive expertise to create additional value in the spirit of a functioning circular economy.”

Sandy Westwater, CEO of Pulpex, says: “We are delighted to be partnering with Perlen Industrieholding AG. Combining Pulpex’s world-first, industrially scalable paper bottle technology with Perlen Industrieholding’s industrial expertise is an excellent example of how a commercially viable alternative to existing packaging formats can be brought to market quickly, meeting growing customer demands for more sustainable packaging choices and bringing about meaningful positive impact on the environment. Partnering with Perlen Industrieholding is a powerful first step towards Pulpex’s ambition to enable its leading partner manufacturers to replace over a billion plastic and glass bottles by 2030, driving growth and environmental benefit by offering both brand owners and consumers a truly sustainable alternative to conventional bottle solutions.”

Perlen Industrieholding AG is consistently driving forward its strategic transformation from a traditional paper producer to a forward-thinking, diversified industrial company. With advances in product innovation, the entry into fibre casting as a complementary business area, as well as site development, the company is now reaching its first milestones in the transformation phase.

Perlen, 26 January 2026 – Following the optimization of production costs and restructuring measures implemented in the second half of 2025 to strengthen competitiveness in a persistently challenging market environment in its graphic paper core business, Perlen Industrieholding AG, together with its subsidiary Perlen Papier AG, is implementing further elements of its transformation strategy. With new paper products, the entry into fibre-based packaging solutions as a complementary business area, and the construction of a 10 MW battery storage facility, Perlen Industrieholding AG is achieving its first major milestones in its realignment toward becoming a forward-thinking industrial company.

Realignment of paper mill strengthens competitiveness in core business

Perlen Papier AG is focusing on the sustainable, profitable development of its core market for newsprint and magazine paper in Europe. With the restructuring that has been carried out and the continued operation of both paper machines in one of Europe’s most modern paper mills, the company is improving its market positioning for coated magazine and newsprint paper in order to continue to supply customers with the established quality and service. At the same time, market and margin conditions in the core business remain challenging and below expectations due to ongoing price and volume pressure.

Specialty papers for flexible packaging and fibre-based packaging solutions

In parallel with its core business, Perlen Papier AG is strengthening its paper business with targeted product innovations. Newly developed, recyclable specialty papers for flexible packaging, including applications in the food and labeling sectors, feature integrated barrier properties. This enables the company to tap into an additional, growing market with demanding applications and higher value creation potential, which can be served with the existing machines.

The entry into fibre-based packaging solutions marks another strategic development step. These are considered a promising, recyclable alternative to plastic and are increasingly being used, e.g. as trays, packaging, or bottles. With fibre casting, Perlen Papier AG offers a recyclable solution that can be easily disposed of in waste paper and combines economic efficiency with sustainability. Thanks to its existing fibre infrastructure (waste paper, wood pulp, cellulose) and comprehensive expertise, the company is ideally positioned to establish this business segment in Switzerland. The first products are already in the testing phase.

Site development / battery storage

The first step in the site development is the planned construction of a battery storage facility with a capacity of 10 MW and 20 MWh. The project is being implemented in cooperation with Wattss, a renowned Swiss specialist in the construction and use of battery storage facilities. Commissioning is scheduled for the end of 2026. Further energy infrastructure projects and the possible establishment of data centers on the site are currently in the conceptual planning stage.

Dr. Florian Geiger, CEO of Perlen Industrieholding AG and of Perlen Papier AG, says: “The past few months have been marked by difficult but necessary decisions to improve competitiveness in our core market of graphic papers, where we continue to expect a challenging market environment. At the same time, we have been able to set the course for strategic realignment thanks to the great commitment and innovative spirit of our employees and the support of our long-term anchor shareholder. These milestones enable us to further improve our competitiveness, but we also know that we are only at the beginning of the transformation process.”

Perlen Papier AG will be represented at the Empack Bern trade fair (January 28–29, 2026), where it will show the first test products of its fibre-cast packaging solutions and specialty papers to interested visitors.

Steadfastness. Curiosity. Creating trust and connections – between people, media and opportunities.

Our new employer brand is coming into focus. We show who we are, how we work – and why it’s worth becoming part of the Papieri team.

With an output of 30,000 hp and a length of 176 meters, the PM7 produces 360,000 tons of newsprint every year. Its paper web could span the world once every 15 days.

Thanks to our high proportion of recycled paper and 76 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions, we are a decisive step ahead of the competition in the industry. In this way, we are making a sustainable contribution to an environment worth living in.

On to the next milestone: 5,555,555 tons!

Vogt-Schild Druck orders around 361 tons of Swiss recycled paper every year for the production of Swiss “voting booklets” and ballot papers from Perlen Papier.

The paper used for this consists of almost 90 percent recycled paper, most of which is collected in Switzerland and processed at Perlen.

In Derendingen (SO), Vogt-Schild Druck processes the paper efficiently and precisely into 6.2 million voting information booklets and 5.4 million ballot papers: They are printed, cut and bound before being delivered to 75 locations.

In addition to smooth production, the focus is on sustainability: the material – from the “voting booklets” to the printing plates – is recycled after use. This closes the circle – the paper goes back into the production of new paper, and therefore new print products.

Perlen Papier thus provides the basis for an exemplary circular economy in terms of sustainability: thanks to innovative technologies, we have been able to reduce our CO₂ emissions by almost 90 percent.

Vogt-Schild Druck and Perlen Papier have been working together for many years in a spirit of trust. It is a pleasure for us to implement such an important order with a valued customer and to focus on our shared values such as sustainability and precision.

In doing so, we are laying the foundations for a democratic process that is high-quality and environmentally friendly – a success we are proud of.

The kick-off was celebrated on Friday afternoon with a VIP event for customers, suppliers and business partners. Even the reception was spectacular: a historic steam locomotive from 1909, affectionately known as the “Tigerli”, brought over 400 guests to the festival site.

Guided tours of the ultra-modern production facilities were followed by a reception in front of the Ferris wheel. In the marquee, the guests were greeted by prominent speakers such as Fabian Peter, President of the Government of the Canton of Lucerne, and Peter Schaub, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CPH Group.

Entertainment was provided by the comedy duo “Ohne Rolf”, who included the Chairman of the Board of Directors in their performance with a great deal of humor. The band “Gläuffig” provided the musical accompaniment to the entertaining hours.

On Friday evening, the focus was on the workforce. Almost 400 employees were invited to a party where the focus was on a sense of community and appreciation.

After a joint dinner from the smoker grill, the company management and the Board of Directors took the opportunity to express their thanks and appreciation. A humorous performance by “Erwin from Switzerland” rounded off the evening.

Saturday offered the public an exclusive insight into the world of paper production. Over 8,000 visitors took the opportunity to explore the impressive production facilities. Self-guided tours, creative departmental information stands and a varied supporting program ensured that young and old alike were enthralled.

In addition to the bright sunshine, numerous food stalls, artists and, of course, the Ferris wheel with its unique panoramic view of the grounds ensured a great atmosphere.