A journey of 75 years: Constantia Flexibles Burgos in the packaging industry
The Spanish production site in Burgos celebrates with a special visit from Mayor Cristina Ayala.
Constantia Flexibles is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its production facilities in Burgos, Spain. To mark this significant milestone, the Mayor of Burgos, Cristina Ayala, visited the site to witness firsthand the high-end production of leading consumer and pharmaceutical flexible packaging products. During her visit, employees and the management team showcased the complex production process and highlighted why the company is renowned worldwide for its high-quality packaging.
"We are honored to welcome Mayor Cristina Ayala. We are deeply grateful to Burgos for its support since 1949. Our success is due to the hard work of our past and present employees. We look forward to continuing our journey, providing innovative, more sustainable, and safe packaging solutions," states Agustín Sagredo, SVP Managing Director, Constantia Flexibles Burgos.
The Mayor of Burgos, Cristina Ayala, has conveyed to the directors and employees of Constantia Flexibles in Burgos her congratulations on behalf of the entire Local Corporation and of all the society of Burgos for these 75 years of commitment and wealth generation in the city. Ayala recalled the origins of the Company in Las Huelgas neighborhood, its capacity to adapt to new materials production, and its commitment to innovation, continuing with the manufacture of high-quality packaging. "The enormous industrial strength that Burgos has is mainly due to companies like Constantia Flexibles, which has continued to improve its production processes in this plant in Villalonquéjar to increase its operational efficiency", said the Mayor, after the facility tour.
Brief history: From La Cellophane Española to Constantia Flexibles
Constantia Flexibles was originally established as La Cellophane Española on July 29, 1949, in the Las Huelgas neighborhood of Burgos. The factory was a pioneer in producing "cellophane" paper and quickly diversified into new processes such as printing, lamination, metalization, and the production of polyethylene, PVC, and metallized paper. Despite the decline of cellophane production due to the rise of polypropylene, the company adapted and continued its flexible packaging operations.
2001, the company moved its machinery and employees to the Villalonquéjar industrial area. Constantia Flexibles acquired the site in 2010, further enhancing its capabilities. The Logroño plant, acquired in 2002, specializes in extrusion lamination and houses an R&D center for pharmaceutical laminates.
Furthermore, the Burgos plant specializes in producing metallized paper primarily used for manufacturing labels on beer bottles destined for European and American markets.
In 2023, the company's two Spanish plants collectively produced 216 million square meters of this material, enough to cover 20,131 soccer fields. Over the past five years, Constantia Flexibles has invested 27 million EUR in Spain, with 15 million EUR allocated specifically to the Burgos plant.
Today, Constantia Flexibles is one of the world's leading manufacturers of flexible packaging for the pharmaceutical and food sectors. It employs almost 10,000 people globally, 500 of whom work in Spain and about 250 at the Burgos plant.
Outlook: Innovation and sustainability
Constantia Flexibles is committed to environmental protection and sustainability. The plant has reduced CO2 emissions by 62% over the last five years and installed 7,000 sqm of solar panels, covering more than 15% of its electricity needs. The company is pioneering the manufacture of more sustainable packaging with recyclable mono-materials such as polypropylene (with products like PERPETUA and EcoVer), polyethylene (EcoLam), paper (EcoPaper), and aluminum (Alu-Rich), in line with new European regulations.
Anniversary celebrations
To celebrate this milestone, Constantia Flexibles will host a commemorative exhibition at “La Casa del Cordón” from January 21 to February 16, 2025. This exhibition will showcase the company's remarkable history and achievements over the past 75 years and it is also available to Burgos citizens. Additionally, in November 2024, the company will hold an anniversary lunch with awards and recognitions for its staff. Guided tours of the plant will be organized for employees, their families, and retired employees to learn more about the company’s processes and products.
