Historic security paper firm Portals Paper bought by German peer
Thu, 30 Jan 2025 | BUSINESS SALE
A South West producer of high-security papers with centuries of heritage behind it has been bought by German peer DREWSEN SPEZIALPAPIERE.
Portals Paper, based in the village of Bathford near Bath, first produced paper at its site in 1809. It now provides security paper, including watermarks and threads for financial tokens, passports, certificates and other documents.
Family-owned DREWSEN SPEZIALPAPIERE, based in Lachendorf, Germany, supplies high-quality speciality and security papers to customers worldwide. It has a production capacity of 170,000 tons, over 450 employees and generates an annual turnover of €215 million.
Matthias Rauhut, CEO of DREWSEN SPEZIALPAPIERE, said: "This acquisition is an exciting development and represents a new chapter for both our organisations. Driven by a clear vision and shared values, mutual trust, transparent cooperation, and a commitment to strategic collaboration, DREWSEN and Portals are stronger together, and we are ready to shape the future of the security paper industry."
He said that with the ability to offer both Fourdrinier and Cylinder Mould paper making solutions, the group can offer "our customers new and unique possibilities, allowing for tailored, innovative security paper solutions that meet the highest standards".
Additional benefits include leveraging synergies to offer secure business continuity, extended product ranges, improving logistics and customer service, providing complementary offerings, and ensuring reliability of supply.
He added: "In an age where counterfeit products can be created and disseminated with increasing ease, the merger of DREWSEN and Portals marks a pivotal development."
Ross Holliday, director at Portals Paper, said: "Today's announcement is not just a consolidation of resources, but an arrangement that will benefit our customers, our employees and the wider industry itself. For Portals, this partnership provides new opportunities for growth, enabling us to expand our product offerings while continuing our successful operations at the Bathford Paper Mill. I am delighted to be part of Portals' on-going journey of success."
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