COMPANY PROFILE
Hawk Packaging Ltd was established in 1993 to manufacture moulded fibre (molded fiber) products and was initially a joint venture between the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board (ENZA) and other shareholders. ENZA became involved to ensure that greater efficiencies and cost savings were introduced into the apple tray industry. Prior to the establishment of Hawk Packaging moulded fibre trays in New Zealand were supplied by a single manufacturer.

The private shareholders in Hawk Packaging had previously held senior management positions in large companies and brought expertise and experience in a number of areas including paper making, engineering, general and financial management, employee relations and orcharding. Most importantly, the company had developed the technology to construct and operate proprietary pulp moulding machinery. Pulp moulding machinery is available from only a few suppliers throughout the world.

PRESENT STRUCTURE:
In December 2000, Ludowici Ltd of Australia (ABN 22 000 001 365) purchased all shares held in Hawk Packaging Ltd and renamed the company Ludowici Packaging. Ludowici was attracted by the highly competitive mechanical, electrical and computer based process technology possessed by Hawk. One of Australia’s oldest listed companies, Ludowici was established in 1858 and today manufactures rubber and plastic industrial products and mineral processing equipment.

Ludowici Packaging Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 73 081 528 645) was established in early 1998 as a subsidiary company of Ludowici Ltd. It has manufacturing divisions in Sydney, New South Wales. It is envisaged that much of the future growth and development of Ludowici Packaging will take place in Australia and internationally rather than in New Zealand.

Workshop facilities are located in Hamilton, New Zealand. Research and development, design engineering, and machine building activities are all on site there. Specialist research projects are carried out from time to time in conjunction with other research providers. In 1998 Hawk was selected as one of twelve companies in New Zealand to be the subject of a joint Auckland/Massey University study of companies displaying excellence in technology development and uptake.
GROWTH:
A pilot plant was established in 1994 in Hamilton, New Zealand, to develop the manufacturing capabilities of the company. A rotary moulding machine was installed, dedicated to apple tray production with a production capacity of 25 million trays per annum. In late 1994, because it manufactures its own tooling and was the only New Zealand manufacturer able to meet the time constraints,

Hawk was invited by ENZA to design and manufacture the Z-pack apple tray range for a full commercial trial of this pack. This was so successful that the Z-pack is now the leading pack type in New Zealand and allows ENZA and other apple exporters to palletise all export apple shipments. The Z-pack is now the preferred pack type in Australia as well.

In 1995 a large factory was established in Hastings, New Zealand, with two Hawk rotary moulding machines capable of producing in excess of 70 million units per year. This is the largest of the Hawk factories to date and is situated in the heart of the largest apple growing region in New Zealand.

In 1997 an experimental moulding machine based on robotic technology and specialising in deeper draw products such as wine dividers and egg packaging was developed and installed in the Hastings factory. A wide variety of products from food trays to industrial packaging can be made on this versatile machine.

In late 1999, design work began on a complex factory for Sydney, Australia. Commissioned in August 2000, this factory specialises in egg carton production. New pulp moulding technologies were introduced in the plant which produces a variety of egg cartons. The most advanced egg carton printer in the world was purchased from the USA which allows up to four colour printing.

The Hawk Universal egg carton (registered design), was welcomed enthusiastically by egg packers in Australia when it was introduced by Hawk. Developing new products for the factory in conjunction with Australian egg packers is ongoing.

MANUFACTURING TODAY:
Ludowici Packaging manufactures apple trays for commonly used pack types, the Z-pack and the Retail Display pack. Z-pack trays are for three, four, and five layer packs. These packs are common in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and South America. Retail Display packs are often specified in Europe, UK, New Zealand and other countries for premium grade fruit. Ludowici Packaging provided the fibre trays for the first Retail Display packs exported from China (1997) and from the United States (1999).

Wine trays or dividers are made in a range of configurations. Moulded fibre wine trays provide greater bottle protection, label protection, and more attractive point of sales bottle display.

Mango and avocado inserts are manufactured for packers in warmer areas of Australia and New Zealand. Moulded fibre inserts cushion the fruit and absorb sap stains. (Further information is under "Products" on the company website).

Egg trays and cartons are manufactured in Sydney, Australia and Hastings, New Zealand. Normal cavity and large cavity cartons (for eggs up to 90 grams) are available printed in up to 4 colours.

Other specialist moulded pulp products have been manufactured or are being developed. The Hawk design team can advise on product designs and innovations to meet the special requirements of customers.

The Hastings factory of Ludowici Packaging Ltd is a ISO9002 registered supplier. It has in place an effective quality management system recognised in over 75 countries around the world. Ludowici Packaging customers purchase quality assured products and can pass that assurance on to their customers with equal confidence.