Schib Packaging talks openly about Hayssen acquisition

By Jenny Eagle

- Last updated on GMT

Elvio Corato
Elvio Corato

Related tags Firm Barry-wehmiller

Schib Packaging exhibited at Simionato imPACKED for the first time this week following the announcement it has been bought out by Hayssen Flexible Systems.

In an exclusive interview, Elvio Corato, sales director, Schib Packaging, talks to FoodProductionDaily.com about its target market, how it will take time to change the philosophy of the company and how long it will take to integrate the firm into the Barry-Wehmiller group. 

Tecla Schizzarotto

Corato is the husband of Tecla Schizzarotto, former owner of the firm and the daughter of the founder, Ilario Schizzarotto, who is now in his 70s. She will oversee the company during its integration phase based in Monte di Malo, Italy. 

We signed the final contract last Friday. Everything is quite fresh but it’s been a long negotiation - more than one-and-a-half years​,” said Corato. 

Our first target is to penetrate the US market through this acquisition, that is one of the most important things for us. We took the decision to sell the company because we need ‘stronger shoulders’ to carry us into this market​. 

Barry-Wehmiller has a different philosophy to us because they put the people in the business first to achieve great results. It believes you have to ‘build great people’ to make a great business. It’s not the same as Schib Packaging because a family-owned firm is different than a group-run company​. 

We have to move slowly from the existing culture to the Barry-Wehmiller culture because it takes time. To change the culture of the people takes time​.” 

South America

Corato said Schib’s market is Europe and South America. He said the company is well known across these two regions apart from Brazil because the country can source good suppliers of similar packaging machines plus the Government there protects domestic manufacturers. 

However, it has a good presence in Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Colombia. 

We sold to the Barry-Wehmiller group because it approached us as part of its global expansion program. It wants a strong foothold in the packaging field and it is recognized in the US, with a factory in the UK​,” added Corato. 

It recently bought another company in the UK, Rose Forgrove about five year’s ago. One of the leaders in this segment who introduced flow packaging machines to the market​.” 

Hayssen Flexible Systems now owns four companies; HayssenSandiacre, Rose Forgrove, Simionato and Schib Packaging. 

Talking about Schib Packaging’s history Corato said it took the first three letters from Ilario’s surname, Schizzarotto and up until 2008 the firm had four shareholders; Ilario, his wife, Tecla and her brother, Denis. 

Integration phase

To move the organization forward and owing to different managerial styles between the siblings, Tecla agreed to buy the other shareholders out of the company. 

In the contract with Barry-Wehmiller Tecla agreed to remain in the firm for a minimum of three years during the integration phase. But we hope to stay here for a long time​,” he added. 

She will remain as the managing director of Schib Packaging and head of sales. It’s an exciting time for us and it is a good opportunity for Hayssen Flexible Systems because we are living in a difficult market where most European countries are still suffering from the economic recession​. 

If firms such as ours don’t come together as a strong team we will suffer on our own. We now have to find a way to manage the company alongside our new owners, there will be an integration phase and we have to solve any conflicts that may arise and find the right way to promote our company for the future, taking care of the market without conflicts between the four brands in the group​.” 

All four companies will exhibit for the first time under the Hayssen Flexible Systems brand at PackExpo in Chicago next month. 

It will be interesting to see what happens. It will take a minimum of two years to integrate all four companies​,” said Corato. 

We have to avoid creating confusion in the market and this will be the first thing we discuss internally, to find the right strategy​.”

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1 comment

Welcome to our Family!

Posted by Rhonda Spencer,

It is an honor to be adding such talented leaders to our Barry-Wehmiller family. We look forward to learning from Tecla, Elvio and the entire Schib team as well as sharing our BW culture.

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