POPLAST Group: 50 years of excellence in flexible packaging

The roots of a success

POPLAST was born in 1975 from the entrepreneurial vision of Franco Corbellini and Alessandro Stragliati. A path that was enriched in 1983 with the entry of Pierangelo Fantoni into the shareholding structure and, later, in 2011, of Carlo Callegari.
The real turning point came in 2013, when Callegari and Fantoni took over the management of the company, setting a winning strategy based on strategic acquisitions (Sala Srl in 2017 and FM Plastic Srl in 2019), technological investments and the enhancement of human resources. A formula that has taken the Group’s turnover from 24 million to an impressive 100 million euros in 2024.

A Group in ongoing expansion

Today POPLAST Group has two production plants: the headquarters in Piacenza and the plant in Lamporecchio (Pistoia), where FM Plastic operates under the leadership of CEO Fabio Firenzuoli. With over 280 employees and a production area of 32,500 sqm, the Group boasts:
– 15,000 square metres of warehouses
– 3 rotogravure lines
– 8 flexo lines
– 5 solvent-based laminating machines
– 6 solventless laminating machines (of which 2 with laser die-cutting)
– 13 slitter rewinders with laser cutting and 100% inspection
As proof of the excellence achieved, the Group counts on 11 certifications, including product certifications (Cyclos for recyclability) and sustainability and process certifications (ESG and ISCC plus).

Innovation and sustainability: the pillars of success

On the 50th anniversary, POPLAST Group launches a new challenge to the flexible film printing market: the configuration of its two gravure presses in Extended Colour Gamut, demonstrating once again its vocation for innovation.

Sustainability is a core value for the Group, with the whole range of products available in recyclable alternatives based on single-material, aluminium-free polyolefin (PP or PE) structures, certified Cyclos and Aticelca (paper). The commitment to a circular economy is also reflected in the company’s ethics, with over 97% of waste sent for recovery, reuse of raw materials, thermal energy and use of renewable energy.

Awards and recognitions

Over the last few years, POPLAST Group’s excellence has received important industry awards, which testify to the validity of the Group’s vision and actions. Here are just the latest examples:

Press Gold 2024: Converter of the Year
On 29 November 2024, the Press Gold Award, one of the biggest awards in the industry, presented Poplast with the Converter Gold Award for, as the motivation states, ‘innovative vision and continuous investment in cutting-edge technology’.

Roto4All 2024: Innovation in Gravure Printing
Also in 2024, Converter, the portal specialising in Printing, Converting and Packaging, dedicated an important article to the development of rotogravure printing technology in Italy, with a special focus on POPLAST.

At the fourth edition of Roto4All, organised by Acimga’s Italian Rotogravure Group on 5 November in Milan, the community moved to POPLAST the following day. During the event, the company’s management and technicians illustrated how it was possible to achieve exponential and virtuous growth by offering the market a decidedly innovative rotogravure printing technology.

BestinFlexo 2024: Excellence in Flexography
On 13 November 2024, the jury of ATIF (the technical association of reference for Italian companies operating in flexographic printing and related processes) awarded POPLAST Group important positions in the unique Italian award for the flexographic industry: BestinFlexo.
In several categories, experts judged quality, innovation and sustainability, with over 220 entries in the competition. FM PLASTIC, part of the POPLAST Group, won the second prize for ‘combined and/or creative use of the flexographic process’ and third place in the category “𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠.”

Looking to the future

Celebrating 50 years in business is for the POPLAST Group not only a moment of pride in its achievements, but also an opportunity to look forward to future challenges with confidence and determination. With solid leadership, an efficient organisation and a constant commitment to innovation and sustainability, the Group is ready to write new chapters of success in its history.

Let’s meet (and celebrate together) at Ipack-Ima (Milan)

We will be present at Ipack-Ima (Milan, 27-30 May 2025), within the Innovation Alliance.
Awaiting old and new customers alike will be the Group’s entire product range and interesting examples of flexible packaging printed in 3 different subjects on the same gravure printing cylinder.

We look forward to celebrating our (first) 50 years together!

POPLAST Group: 50 years of passion, expertise and vision in the world of flexible packaging.