The Journey of APG Europe: 50 Years of Innovation and Growth
Since its founding in 1972, APG Europe has undergone an impressive journey, marked by innovation, growth, and a commitment to quality and service. This is our story.
Early Years: The Foundation and Initial Growth (1972 - 1989)
The story of APG Europe begins with the founding of Aluglas United Companies in 1970, and with the start of operations in 1972, the primary focus was on the packaging industry for perfumes and cosmetics. During these early years, Aluglas laid the foundation for a solid reputation in the packaging sector.
In 1989, APG underwent a significant transformation when, like HITMA, it became part of the Indutrade group. This strategic alliance enabled Aluglas to benefit from the extensive network resources of sister organizations HITMA and Indutrade, which led to further growth and strengthening of our position in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic markets.
Turnaround / Professionalization (2011 – 2016)
From wholesale with specific expertise to pharmaceutical packaging specialist: separation of functions, own quality department, certified auditor, focus on internal and external training, new logistics concepts, own WMS, BI system, strategic collaboration alliances with suppliers, etc.
Expansion and Diversification (2017 - 2021)
A new chapter began in 2017 with the acquisition of Verbeeck Packaging in Belgium. This acquisition was a strategic move to strengthen our presence in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic packaging sector. It allowed us to enter new markets and expand our product portfolio.
The best of both packaging worlds in a new form… highlighting both sides:
- Verbeeck -> specialized pharma knowledge from APG
- APG -> specialized cosmetics knowledge from APG
In 2018, APG Europe GmbH was founded in Germany, with a specific focus on pharmaceutical packaging. The establishment marked a significant milestone in our geographic growth within the Benelux and DACH regions and strengthened our position as a leading player in the European primary packaging market.
Modernization and Centralization (2021 - 2024)
The year 2021 was marked by logistical centralization. We opened a new central warehouse in the Netherlands, new offices, and a logistics hub for our sister company Ultrapure International, in line with our logistics services for HITMA. This centralization aimed to improve our operational efficiency and provide an even higher level of service to our customers, all within the framework of Good Distribution Practice (GDP).
The period from 2024 to 2027 focuses on further scenario planning and expanding our capabilities as a supply chain consultant for the (para)pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries regarding primary packaging materials and medical administration materials. We are focusing on the establishment of a research laboratory for primary packaging materials, Ecovadis certification, GDP certification, and the storage of APIs, customer-specific stock, and sterile materials in our temperature-controlled storage facility.
These steps are intended to serve our customers even better; APG is the logical partner for safeguarding their own supply chain.
APG Europe is proud of its rich history and the many milestones we have achieved along the way. We remain committed to availability, innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction as we, together with our customers, prepare for a future full of possibilities.