September 15, 2026 15:24

German IBC (Intermediate Bulk Container) and plastic drum manufacturer Schütz has acquired a majority stake in Repack, an Italian company specialising in the recovery, reconditioning and recycling of industrial packaging.

Through the deal, the German group is adding four Repack sites - in Cesara, Arzignano, Buscate and Stezzano, all in northern Italy - to its network, alongside Schütz’s existing plant in Dello, in the province of Brescia.

Repack has operated for around 30 years, collecting and reconditioning drums, canisters and other industrial packaging made of plastic and metal. Plastic containers that are no longer suitable for reuse can be processed in-house by shredding, grinding, washing and extrusion to produce recycled HDPE, which is then reused, among other applications, to manufacture polyethylene drums.

The transaction comes as European requirements for packaging reuse, recycling and management become increasingly stringent. The PPWR, EU Regulation 2025/40, has been applicable since 12 August 2026 and introduces a harmonised framework for packaging and packaging waste across the European Union.

“With Repack, we are strengthening our European network and thus expanding our range of circular solutions for industrial packaging,” said Veit Enders (pictured), a member of the Management Board of the German group.
“This strategic partnership represents a key element in the continued expansion of our circular economy activities in Southern Europe. Customers will benefit from our shared commitment to sustainability, our unrivalled customer focus and a significantly broader range of services, enabling tangible reductions in logistics costs and CO2 emissions.”

In Italy, the reconditioning sector is already well established: according to the FIRI Observatory, more than 682,000 reconditioned IBCs were returned to the market in 2024. The association reported 26 member companies operating 30 plants and more than 3,000 collection points across the country (read article).

Schütz has had a direct presence in Italy since 1998. IBC production began in Castenedolo in 2000 and was transferred in 2006 to the Dello site, which covers around 70,000 square metres and currently employs more than 120 people.

The investment in Repack forms part of a broader expansion of the group’s reconditioning network. In recent years, Schütz has acquired or integrated specialised operators in several countries, including ScanDrums in Scandinavia, ContainerSave and DrumSavers in Australia, and Carmocal in Brazil.

Last May, the group said it had added 28 reconditioning sites in Europe through acquisitions and partnerships.

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