Draft:ML Group

ML GROUP is an enterprise for the production of cover packaging materials in the Tula region. It is one of the largest manufacturers of cover packaging components in Eastern Europe, ranks 13th in the world in the production of die cut lids, according to the Zion Market research report.

= History =

First Steps
The idea of creating a packaging business came to the co-founder of the company, Valentin Skuratovsky (Maslennikov), in the 1990s, when the entrepreneur was receiving higher education at one of the Moscow universities at the Faculty of Economics. At first, the business was based on the gift packaging trade. Then Valentin Skuratovsky meets Ivan Lazurenko, who offers to move into a more profitable niche, namely the trade in food packaging.

The first major customer to whom an attempt was made to sell products was the Russian company Wimm-Bill-Dann. After talking with a representative of the company, the entrepreneurs came to understand the need to create their own production.

Development of the company
Having decided to create a production facility, entrepreneurs set a course for cooperation with multinational companies. The demand from manufacturers for packaging that would help to increase the shelf life of products was great, which influenced the development strategy.

Initially, production was built on rented Moscow fields, but later entrepreneurs came to understand the need to move to their own territory. The production was organized in the Tula region.

Over the next decade, the company actively invested all profits in the development of manufacture and production culture (purchase of equipment, training, supply of raw materials, implementation of international quality standards).

In 2020 the company participated in the pilot launch of a dairy product labelling project and is a certified manufacturer for applying Data Matrix codes for "Honest Mark" certification.

ML GROUP company
In 2016, the company's name was changed to "MILK Packaging Factory", and in 2024 to ML GROUP. The name change was due to the changes that took place as the company developed from its inception to the present day. The name MILK, consonant with the abbreviations of the surnames of the founders of the company, was chosen because at that time the main consumers were dairy producers. However, the scope of the company's activities expanded, and the production of pharmaceutical packaging was launched. Therefore, on January 1, 2024, a rebranding was carried out, and the name was changed to ML GROUP.

Opening of the pharmaceutical sector
Initially, the company specialized in the production of food-grade packaging materials, but later the production area expanded. In 2017, the company announced the launch of pharmaceutical packaging production on its own site. After some time, it was announced the construction of a separate packaging plant for the pharmaceutical industry.

= Products = From the moment of its foundation to the present day, the company has been engaged in the production of the following products :


 * Unembossed Die-Cut Lid;
 * Alu-PET-Alu Lids;
 * Sealing lids with SMART-embossing;
 * Unembossed Die-Cut Lid with the customer logo;
 * Plastic Die-Cut Lid;
 * Sealing lid with the film;
 * Sealing lids for sealing ceramics and glass;
 * Sealing lids for sealing coffee capsules;
 * Embossed Die-Cut Lid;
 * Laminated Aluminum Foil;
 * Aluminum Foil Printing;
 * MIXPAP for Dairy Products;
 * Cosmetic packaging;
 * Cold Form Laminates (Alu-Alu) Blisters;
 * Aluminum Blister Foil;
 * Lacquered foil.

= Export business =

Trading partners
To date, the company's export activities extend both to the CIS countries and to the states of the Middle East and Africa.

Partner countries:


 * Belarus;
 * Kazakhstan;
 * Azerbaijan;
 * Georgia;
 * Armenia;
 * Uzbekistan;
 * Tadjikistan;
 * South Africa;
 * Madagascar;
 * Djibouti;
 * Canada.

The company is the winner of the competition in the nomination "Exporter of the Year in production sector" in 2021.

Logistic features
Due to the sanctions pressure, logistics processes are undergoing significant changes (increased delivery time, invoicing, customs clearance of goods). Working with partner countries allows to solve emerging problems and export products with the least losses.

= Financial calculations = Financial statements of the company for 2020-2023 (thousand roubles)

= Sustainable growth =

Ecology
As a large enterprise, the company takes measures to preserve the environment. The production operates a system for the disposal of residual solvent vapors, as well as a program for prepress preparation PACKZ allows to minimize the negative impact on the environment by reducing the amount of waste and a corresponding decrease in the amount of paint consumed in production.

Human orientation
The company's activities are aimed at creating high-quality food and pharmaceutical packaging. FSSC 22000 and ISO standards have been implemented in food production, and GMP standards have been implemented in pharmaceutical production.

Also in the production of pharmaceutical packaging there is a class D clean room which allows to create sterile conditions for the production of pharmaceutical packaging according to GMP.

Quality standards:
Today, the company operates according to the following quality standards:


 * ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System;
 * HACCP
 * FSSC 22000 certification;
 * SEDEX Certification.

Public sphere
The company's employees actively participate in local sports events, for example, in football competitions.

In 2022, an excursion to the production was organized for schoolchildren of the Tula region as part of career guidance events.