Austrian-based specialist label papers and flexible packaging papers producer Brigl & Bergmeister has announced the appointment of Michael Sablatnig as its new Managing Director.

Sablatnig has 25 years extensive industry experience, having previously held the position of Chief Commercial Officer with leading international paper groups Mondi Business Paper and Neusiedler. He has recently acted as an industry consultant with his own consultancy business, MyWay Consult. 

Sablatnig said his intention had always been to remain in the industry whilst establishing his own consultancy, which had seen him work with paper industry companies whilst maintaining his industry contacts.

"My plans are to strengthen Brigl's position in the sector as a market leader, and focus on our position as a leader in quality," he said.

Sablatnig also stated that he would continue to follow the cost restructuring programme which commenced at Brigl last year, in order to make the business more competitive. He emphasised that his appointment did not mean change in strategy for Brigl & Bergmeister, more a fresh viewpoint on the situation.

Sablatnig added, "Our target is to make Brigl & Bergmeister more professional and fit for the challenges of the market. Brigl & Bergmeister's customer structure needs to be more international, and become more global, due to the consolidation of its customer base in the breweries sector in particular. This means we no longer have many customers on a one-to-one basis, so we need to improve our presence and build a better structure within our business. We need to be close to the multi-national customers at headquarters level, whilst at the same time improving our local sales level presence."

On the subject of product development, Sablatnig said his intention was to maintain Brigl & Bergmeister's position as a leader both in innovation and on an environmental level, by continuing to develop new products on a yearly basis whilst at the same time ensuring the sustainability of its paper products developments and operations.

Brigl & Bergmeister's product ranges include intelligent label papers such as NiklaPET, NiklaPET REC – the label paper with a high recycled fibre content, flexible packaging papers such as PackPro and its non wet-strength one-side coated, woodfree label paper – Biokett, suitable for tobacco packaging applications. Its wet glue label papers are used in the drinks and food industries, with its flexible packaging papers also used in the drinks and food industries as well as the hygiene sector.