Internationalization: crucial to success

Internationalization is a vital element in CPH Group AG’s endeavours to create long-term added value. With the exception of its Zeochem operation in Louisville in the USA, the company had long been a solely Europe-based undertaking. But for some ten years now, it has been steadily extending the presence of Zeochem and Perlen Packaging well beyond Europe as part of a broader international expansion strategy. This additional focus on markets outside Europe is delivering sustainably profitable business growth. Many emerging markets in Asia and Latin America feature higher growth rates today than the largely saturated European markets in which CPH Group AG has long held a strong market position. These higher growth rates are also being boosted by long-term megatrends in fields such as healthcare and energy.

With five production sites in Europe, the USA, China and India, Zeochem is well positioned to participate globally in this business growth. As is Perlen Packaging with seven production sites in Europe, the USA, China, Israel and Brazil. By having its own manufacturing facilities in all the relevant core chemicals and pharmaceutical markets, CPH Group AG also ensures that it is close to its customers all over the globe (see the world map opposite showing a total of twelve Zeochem and Perlen Packaging production sites and the group head office in Switzerland). The company further maintains sales and distribution operations and networks of local partners on every continent. Local production allows full advantage to be taken of the locational benefits offered in the countries concerned in the form of enhanced supply capabilities, increased productivity and swifter responsiveness through being in the customers’ time zones, along with the ability to utilize cultural commonalities to provide better customer care. The associated exchanges with these international customers also forge trusting relations from which additional expertise and synergies are gained, which can then be used to develop further product innovations that are closely tailored to customer wishes and needs.

Its steady global expansion, which has been achieved largely by organic means, has helped secure CPH Group AG’s success in the past and should continue to strengthen its competitive credentials. The company aims to further expand its presence in attractive niche markets. In addition to continued organic growth, the focus here will be on targeted acquisitions in the core businesses of Zeochem and Perlen Packaging or in closely related areas, as was evidenced by the acquisitions of Sorbchem India in India (Chemistry) and LOG Pharma in Israel and Hungary (Packaging) in the 2024 business year.

The international nature of CPH Group AG and its business activities today is reflected in its workforce. As at the end of 2024, its companies employed personnel from 44 different nations, 75 % of them outside Switzerland. The perspectives, issues, solutions and experiences that these people bring from their various countries and cultures help drive innovation within their teams and make a substantial contribution to CPH Group AG’s positive further development.