Juha has held leadership positions in several international industrial and chemical industry companies. Most recently, he worked as Commercial Director at Domo Chemicals in Belgium. Previously, he has worked at companies such as Trinseo, as CEO of Algol Chemicals Group, and at Suominen Nonwovens in leadership roles related to business development and marketing.

Juha holds a Master of Science in Technology degree from Helsinki University of Technology and an MBA from the Helsinki School of Economics. He has also completed the Certified Board Member qualification.

Juha is especially motivated by business development, building strong teams and working closely with customers. Customer focus is a key priority for him: “My heart beats for customers.”

We warmly welcome Juha to Rani Plast!

A former warehouse at Rani’s Bjölas plant has been transformed into a state-of-the-art factory hall. Its new purpose is tangible, in the hum of a brand-new cast line and the scent of hot film.

– This is the most advanced technology on the market, and only a handful of similar machines exist worldwide, says Production Manager Niklas Storbacka.

He is onsite to oversee the start-up alongside Magnus Lundén, Sales Manager for the Finnish market. The hall’s employees monitor the line as transparent RaniStretch film slowly glides over the rollers. As its speed is increased, the new line reaches an unrivalled production rate. Film as thin as eight microns is rolled onto cores, packed, and prepared for delivery. The packaging robots are also new, as is the line’s additional equipment. This includes testing apparatus, and an advanced system for incorporating an even greater proportion of recycled raw materials than before.

This is the most advanced technology on the market, and only a handful of similar machines exist worldwide.

Niklas Storbacka, Production Manager

Complete range

– Thanks to this investment, says Magnus, we can now offer a full range of stretch films and better meet customer demands — particularly for various types of industrial stretch films and products with a high proportion of recycled material. We can also produce exceptionally thin ‘hand stretch’ films with reinforced edges, known as Folded Edge film.

Hand stretch film is a new product for Rani. Magnus mentions its usefulness to clients in the food and beverage industry, and to smaller manufacturing companies, who can purchase the film from retailers.

– The key advantage of hand stretch film is its ease of use. You can handle a roll effortlessly on your own.
During the start-up of the new cast line, Rani is concentrating on standard products and thicker films. However, the objective is to produce increasingly thinner, high-quality stretch films.

High-quality recycled material

The start-up phase has exceeded expectations, and Niklas is pleased with the line’s supplier, Windmöller & Hölscher. He is now working with the factory’s experienced operators, to test new film specifications and produce increasingly specialised products. Rani’s customers are eager to see what the new line will bring.

An advantage of the new line is its ability to produce high-quality films made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. Niklas explains that the advanced technology is conducive to the manufacture of products with recycled material of a consistent quality, and products already complying with the EU packaging directive, PPWR.

– At Rani we are accustomed to being at the forefront of sustainability initiatives. Here, once again, we are early adopters. The new machine is part of the company’s sustainability strategy, and its commitment to producing high-quality PCR stretch film, says Niklas.

Rani Plast has acquired the Lithuanian packaging film manufacturer UAB Umaras. The two successful family-owned companies have joined forces to offer their customers a wider product range and better meet their needs. The acquisition also strengthens the companies’ market positions in a geographical sense.

Umaras, located in Utena, Lithuania, produces industrial packaging film, has 215 employees, and an annual turnover of around €40 million. Approximately half of its annual production is sold within the Baltic states, and the remainder in other export markets. Following the completion of the deal, Rani Plast’s sales director, Dennis Granqvist, will succeed Umaras’ former owner Milda Samsonaitė as CEO.

Stefan Kaptens, CEO at Rani Plast, describes the deal as an excellent way to expand the business and create new global partnerships in line with the company’s long-term strategy.

—I look forward to developing the business at Umaras and to investing in the facility. Integration with our main factory in Terjärv will start immediately.

I look forward to developing the business at Umaras and to investing in the facility. Integration with our main factory in Terjärv will start immediately.

Stefan Kaptens, CEO at Rani Plast

Milda Samsonaitė, former CEO and shareholder of Umaras, believes Rani Plast is an excellent fit for Umaras’ employees, clients, and the local community.

—Over the last 30 years, Umaras has become one of the leading Baltic manufacturers of flexible packaging. I am pleased to hand over a successful business to a company such as Rani Plast, which has a long tradition of quality packaging and strong values. I trust that the transition will benefit Umaras’ employees, clients, and the local community of Utena.