Higher demand for MJ Maillis packaging

Packaging maker MJ Maillis Romania recorded 8.3 million-euro nine-month turnover this year, up 20% on the same period in 2003.

The company’s net income rose around 25% for the period January to September 2004, compared with the same period last year. The improved results were largely due to growth in the food industry, corporate sources said.

MJ Maillis has invested over 3 million euros in upgrading and retooling its assembly lines over the last two years. Production capacity was expanded by 1,400 tonnes per year in 2003 thanks to a 500,000-euro investment and is one of the reasons for this year’s increases. Company officials expect to achieve spending and revenue targets: 11% growth in turnover year-on-year up to 9.45 million euros by the end of the year.

MJ Maillis plans to boost the production capacity of its packaging machines and equipment in the first quarter of 2005. This decision was mainly prompted by demand from European Union countries since the same countries are also the destinations for the packaging machines manufactured by MJ Maillis in Romania. Last year the company exported to Germany, Italy and Bulgaria. MJ Maillis Romania also distributes the products of its Greece-based parent company.

Works on the new production facility began in September. Completion of this new facility is expected to give a substantial boost to the company’s turnover for 2005, explained MJ Maillis officials.

MJ Maillis makes packaging and packaging equipment. It has developed a distribution network that services the main industrial cities of the country, with hubs in Timisoara, Cluj, Constanta, Brasov and Slatina.

The company expects to generate net profits of 730,000 euros this year, up 70% from 2003, according to Bucharest Stock Exchange data.

The company finished last year with 470,000-euro net profits, around 260,000 euros lower than approved in the S&R budget earlier that year.
alexandru.cerchez@zf.ro