MAY Argonews SPECIAL EDITION

Transcription

1 MAY 2016 Argonews SPECIAL EDITION P ROM ARGO L A STI CS

2 ARGO'S history Establishment of ARGO EGYPT New plant of ARGOROM PLASTICS Establishment of ARGOM PLASTICS 1990 ARGOROM Plastics 20 years Anniversary 2006 Construction & Installation of new Cleanroom 1994 Production of eye droppers in Cleanroom environment Development & Production of printed plastic tubes Development & Production of multilayer bottles Establishment of ARGO S.A.

3 ARGO - ARGOROM innovative spirit 2015 CONSOLIDATED TURNOVER 34,2 million euros ( ) In the 45 years of its continuous development ARGO turned out to be a modern, technologically up-to-date and customer-oriented producer of plastic packaging materials. With focused investments and innovative spirit, the central facilities of ARGO in Koropi (Greece) serve the needs of our customers in Greece, Europe and the broader EMEA region. ARGO AT GLANCE Healthcare HDPE LDPE Extrusion Blow Moulding (EBM) Injection Stretch Blow Moulding (ISBM) 325 persons including ARGO EGYPT Bottles Caps, nozzles, Medical devices Personal Care Crop Protection PP PET Injection Moulding (IM) Injection Blow Moulding (IBM) Technical items Chemicals PS Tube Extrusion & Printing Healthcare Crop Protection & Chemicals Printed Tubes F & B PCR Material HDPE, PET Assembly PRODUCTS MARKETS MATERIALS PRODUCTION METHODS 33% Personal Care 33% 30% 4% F & B ARGO was - from the early beginning - export oriented. Hence, beside the direct exports from the Greek plant, the company established 2 affiliates: ARGOROM in Romania (1996) and ARGO EGYPT in Egypt (2010). While ARGO EGYPT was sold in January of this year, ARGOROM celebrates this year its 20th anniversary and belongs to the well-established plastic packaging producers of the country, known for the quality of its products and services. The main addressed markets are the ones of Healthcare, Crop Protection and Food Supplements and the customer portfolio includes multinational groups and traditional local companies. Today, ARGOROM stands for innovation, flexibility and customer service and continues to grow under the steady support and guidance of ARGO. At ARGO, we are all confident that ARGOROM will further grow and are committed to secure this successful course.

4 ARGO from the early days had a strong open orientation. Since the 80 s, with our systematic export activity, we were selling our products to many national and multinational companies in numerous countries in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Beginning of the 90 s, we took the strategic decision to expand our business further by investing in a new production plant; either in an already existing, or, in a new market for the company. Hence we started investigating the potential of having our new sister company placed in the Balkans or in the Southeastern Mediterranean area. The goal of this expansion was to serve also the neighboring countries. Trying to understand better the opportunities for new business in the targeted areas, we participated in different packaging exhibitions in several of those countries. In October 1994 I travelled for the first time to Bucharest with Dora Vakirtzi who, at that time, was the Commercial Manager of Argo. As a company we participated in TIB 94 in Bucharest Exhibition Center. We were really thrilled with the great interest companies were showing to our products and in parallel we highly appreciated the beauty and culture of the country and the business drive of the Romanian individuals and entrepreneurs. At the end of 1994 and with the use of Job-Phare, an EU fundraising program which was promoting the founding of joint-venture companies between European member states and Eastern Europe countries, we decided to run a feasibility study for a new manufacturing site in Romania. The outcome was positive and although at the beginning we were seeking for an already operating Romanian Company as partner, we chose instead a Romanian Individual, that met our expectations and was the most suitable to establish the new company. Mr. Marian Marcu, an engineer with strong experience in plastic packaging was very much willing to enter into a partnership with us.

5 opportunities Consequently, in February 1996 with the assistance of the Romanian branch of a Greek Law office, Rokas & Partners, we applied for the establishment of our new sister company, Argorom Plastics SA, in Romania. Finally in April 1996 the new company was registered, with an initial capital of 35000$. Simultaneously, our General Manager in Greece, Mr. Dimitris Alexiou together with Mr. Marcu were searching for a suitable space to rent for our local production and offices. In July 1996 we signed a contract with Sc Semanatoarea for renting an area of 2500m 2 inside their industrial park, which we bought 2 years later and eventually resold to them in vision After some repairs and adjustments, in October 1996 we settled there and in November our first machines, 3 blow molding, 1 injection, 1 printing machine, moulds and the needed auxiliary equipment, were properly installed. Not much later, we sub rented part of the space to Romcolor, a Romanian subsidiary of a prominent Greek company Plastika Kritis. Romcolor is a masterbatch producer. In parallel, our first General Manager in Romania, Mrs. Dora Vakirtzi, together with Mr. Marku had a hard time trying to obtain all necessary licenses and permits after long fights against bureaucracy and various authorities. The first employee of the company was Mr. Costin Petrica, a young cheerful Technician who together with Mr. Cauc had already a 4 week training seminar in our headquarters in Athens. I cannot forget the day when the first PVC pharma bottles came out from the Hesta 33 machine. How proud and excited we were! In 1998, Mr. Marcu was appointed General Manager of Argorom. With the continuous support and guidance of all Argo s Board members and Key managers but especially of my brother, Dr. Alexis Stasinopoulos, founder of Argo and Chairman of Argo-Argorom until 2009, the company was gradually growing.

6 invest Futher on in 1998 & 1999, two new members were employed and enriched Argorom s family. Mrs. Agnes Andrei a very keen and experienced engineer who was appointed Commercial Manager and our precious Petrut Arsene that we lost too soon. He was an excellent engineer and Technical Manager, a great person and colleague. excellence Photo Credit: Mr. Valentin Cristian Gligore During the period of , we invested in a new plot m2 in Bercheni and in 2008 we moved to our new plant that covered a 6.000m2 area. Mr. Dimitris Alexiou was fully involved on every step of this project and together with Marian he spent more than a 4 months period, coordinating, controlling and finalizing everything, on duetime. The project was partly fundraised by the Greek state.

7 During the course of all these years, Argorom evolved to a modern, dynamic, technologically advanced plastic packaging producer, with a continuous effort and motivation to always be the most reliable supplier of qualitative and cost effective products and services, fully committed to its customers. With a full operating equipment of more than 20 machines, with skillful personnel of 60 persons and actual sales 40million Ron, our current production consists of items from 10ml to 10 liters jerrycans with exports to many countries However, it was not only Argorom that evolved, the whole country flourished. During these 20 years, Bucharest turned from an outdated city, with few cars in the streets and limited shops in the center, to a city that has nothing to envy from the biggest capitals of the world. The economy of the country shows a constant growth, a lot of structural reforms are emplaced and it is a country that promotes local and international investments. journey Argonauts Finally, I want first of all to thank our team, our employees for their loyalty and commitment all these years. I also want to thank our colleagues, suppliers, banks, the Greek Embassy in Romania. But mainly, I want to thank our customers for their confidence, support and smooth cooperation. Unfortunately, I had the chance to meet only few of them, all being very prominent members of the Romanian business community. Under the patronage and supervision of Argo s management and especially of our CEO Mr. George Stasinopoulos, our board members Mr. John Alexiou, Mr. Kostas Kozianis and Mr. Charis Katsichtis, and our new General Manager Panagiotis Stathis the successful continuous development of the company is totally granted. I am very proud of this company and its achievements. I wish this amazing journey of Argo, Argorom and the Argonauts to be always fortunate, fruitful and wealthy, with success on every aspect we will be involved.

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