LET’S START TOGETHER

“Rooted in tradition and focused on the future,” is how Antonio Pesce ­characterises the family-run company Ondulkart, which is based in Cessalto in the province of Treviso. The company has made a name for itself with its reliability and flexibility, he adds. Founded in 1969 by Luigi Pesce, the packaging manufacturer now supplies products to a wide range of branches of industry in north-eastern Italy. In the 1980s, Ondulkart strengthened its presence in key sectors such as furniture, household appliances, viticulture and food. “We’re proud to be able to meet the needs of very different customers,” says Federico Pesce.

Service-oriented with an extensive distribution network

“Dentro il tuo mondo”, which loosely translates as “part of your world”, is the motto of Ondulkart, whose name is derived from the terms “ondulato” (wavy) and “cartone” (cardboard). The company’s strong focus on service makes it stand out in the highly competitive Italian market. It has an extensive distribution network and maintains close relationships with its customers. “We establish relationships with our customers based on trust. We focus very much on human relationships. We listen carefully so we’re able to develop customised, reliable and highly efficient packaging. We also benefit from our strong technical expertise,” adds Federico Pesce. By consistently investing in cutting-edge technologies, the company has been able to continuously increase its productivity and efficiency over the years.

One key area of focus for Ondulkart is the food and beverage industry. Both sectors are increasingly conscious of environmental issues and the quality of packaging. The Italian packaging professionals are developing sustainable packaging by optimising the material that is used. The lower weight means less waste is produced. These bespoke solutions are created by using lighter raw materials that are also more efficient. Plastic and polystyrene inserts are being replaced by recyclable corrugated board, which still guarantees the best level of product protection. To make sure it remains “state of the art”, the company even plans to establish its own research and development department.

Developing customised packaging

The individual divisions are lean and work together with a consistent approach. All departments – sales, technology and administration – are involved in the processing of orders. “This is how we guarantee a high-quality service that is fast and reliable,” emphasises Antonio Pesce.

In 2025, Ondulkart will publish its first sustainability report, which is a document that outlines the company’s environmental efforts in a transparent way. These efforts include the use of clean energy generated by its own photovoltaic systems, precise monitoring of energy and raw material consumption, the recovery of printing inks and reducing waste throughout the process.

Trusting partnership

The partnership with Progroup also led to changes in Ondulkart’s purchasing and production habits. Among other things, it promotes the use of thinner grades of corrugated board to produce lighter and more efficient packaging. This means that the number of items of packaging on each pallet can be increased and at the same time the amount of space required in warehouses and during transportation can be minimised.

Ondulkart has been working with Progroup since 2018. Back then, the company was still trading under the name of Prowell and at that time already had a presence in Italy with its corrugated board plant in the neighbouring town of Drizzona. “We chose Progroup as our partner at the time because we were impressed by the concept of the circular economy and the strong focus on innovation and state-of-the-art technology,” says Antonio Pesce, reflecting on how the partnership began. When Progroup founder Jürgen Heindl paid a visit, he explained the importance and -philosophy behind the innovative packaging park model to the packaging manufacturer.

Construction of a new packaging park

In April 2021, Jürgen Heindl visited the site next to the Ondulkart factory in Via Tiepolo in Cessalto, which was wasteland at the time, and this immediately sparked his interest. This was the start of an even closer cooperation. In 2022, plans for a joint packaging park in Cessalto began to take shape. It would ensure higher productivity, fewer waste materials and a significant reduction in logistics costs for both companies.

“The close relationship between Progroup and Ondulkart is based on openness and genuine friendship,” says Federico Pesce. “Thanks to the long-term, close cooperation with our immediate neighbour, we’ll be able to respond even faster and more reliably to the requirements of the market in the future,” he says, adding: “I’m looking forward to this.”