Construction is underway at the 20,000 sqm site, with operations due to begin summer 2027. The facility will employ around 60 people initially, scaling to 100 as production ramps up.
The project targets a significant logistics win: Schütz estimates the Ludwigshafen operation will eliminate approximately 1.5 million truck kilometres annually by supplying IBCs directly to BASF and other industrial customers in the Rhine-Neckar region.
“The close proximity to BASF is expected to reduce the amount of road transport required to move packaging to the chemical company’s production facilities,” Schütz said in a statement. A direct delivery connection to the neighbouring BASF complex will enable packaging to be routed to multiple unloading points within the site, shortening delivery routes and improving supply reliability.
The investment reflects a broader shift in packaging logistics, with manufacturers increasingly locating production near large chemical and industrial users where transport costs, supply chain resilience and emissions can swing significantly based on container movement.
The new operation will manufacture IBCs and operate an integrated packaging warehouse, supported by digital production planning, order processing and automated delivery systems. The facility will also house office and staff facilities.
