Arjowiggins

The company's origins go back to 1761 when Buckland Mill in Dover in Kent commenced operations.{{cite web|url=http://www.BucklandMill.co.uk |publisher=Buckland Mill|title= History|accessdate=15 May 2020}}

Meanwhile, in France, in the middle of the 20th century there were four competing paper mills that manufactured sophisticated paper products with high added value, especially security papers (banknotes, passports, etc.). A joint merger plan was drawn up in 1954 and led to the formation of the first French paper-manufacturing group: Arjomari. The name of the group came from the first two letters of the names of the paper mills participating in the merger: Arches, Johannot, Marais, Rives.[http://www.abrasives.arjowiggins.com/page.php?url=arjowiggins-abrasives/history#1492 1492 to 1956…The roots: From Arches to Arjomari] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131075949/http://www.abrasives.arjowiggins.com/page.php?url=arjowiggins-abrasives%2Fhistory |date=January 31, 2011 }}

In 1890, Buckland Mill was bought by Wiggins Teape, a paper milling business formed some 40 years earlier by Edward Wiggins and Henry Teape.

In 1970, the company was acquired by BAT Industries,{{cite web|url=http://www.wigginsteapepensioners.net/home/a-little-history|title=WT - A little History|publisher=Wiggins Teape Pensioners|accessdate=15 May 2020}} who went on to acquire Appleton Papers of the US in 1978. The business expanded rapidly in the 1980s as it exploited the market in carbonless paper. In 1989 the UK and US paper businesses were demerged from BAT Industries and integrated to form Wiggins Teape Appleton.

In 1990, it acquired the Catalan paper company Guarro, one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1698 and established in the town of Gelida.{{Cite web|title=About us {{!}} Guarro Casas|url=https://guarrocasas.com/en/content/about-us|access-date=2020-08-19|website=guarrocasas.com}} In 1991 it merged with Arjomari-Prioux of France to form Arjowiggins Appleton. Its distribution business was demerged in 2000 as Antalis.[http://thepapeterie.com/stoneywood_mill_20_century.aspx The Papeterie] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521185940/http://thepapeterie.com/stoneywood_mill_20_century.aspx |date=May 21, 2009 }}

It was acquired by Worms & Cie in 2000.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12241791.takeover-talk-lifts-arjo-wiggins-shares/|title=Takeover talk lifts Arjo Wiggins shares|publisher=The Herald|date=17 May 2000|accessdate=15 May 2020}} Worms & Cie evolved to become Sequana Capital but was placed in liquidation in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.paperindustryworld.com/sequana-is-in-liquidation/|title=Sequana is in liquidation|date=27 June 2019|publisher=Paper Industry World|accessdate=15 May 2020}} A management buyout of the Arjowiggins business in the UK by managing director Jonathan Mitchell, securing 500 jobs in Stoneywood and Chartham, was completed in September 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.printweek.com/news/article/arjowiggins-uk-businesses-acquired-in-mbo|title=Arjowiggins UK businesses acquired in MBO|date=25 September 2019|publisher=Printweek|accessdate=16 May 2020}} A second phase of the management buyout of the Arjowiggins overseas business, securing 300 jobs in Gelida in Spain and Quzhou in China, was completed in October 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.printweek.com/news/article/second-phase-of-arjo-mbo-completed|title=Second phase of Arjo MBO completed|date=2 October 2019|publisher=Printweek|accessdate=16 May 2020}}

In October 2022 the company went into administration, followed by closure in November 2022. The Chartham and Stoneywood Mills were offered for redevelopment.{{cite news|title=End-of-the-line looms for Arjowiggins mills |date=19 October 2022 |url=https://www.printweek.com/news/article/end-of-the-line-looms-for-arjowiggins-mills|newspaper=Print Week|access-date=3 November 2022}} Arjowiggins China was acquired by Fedrigoni in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-18 |title=Fedrigoni completes the acquisition of Arjowiggins China |url=https://fedrigoni.com/en/news/fedrigoni-completes-the-acquisition-of-arjowiggins-china/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Fedrigoni |language=en-US}}

The company produced papers for various purposes including graphic design, packaging and labeling and security printing at Stoneywood and Chartham mills in the UK, in Gelida in Spain and in Quzhou in China.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.arjowiggins.com/ Corporate site]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110130035233/http://www.arjowigginscreativepapers.com/ Creative Papers site]}}

{{British American Tobacco}}

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Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange

Category:Companies established in 1761

Category:Pulp and paper companies of France

Category:Manufacturing companies of Scotland

Category:Privately held companies of Scotland

Category:1761 establishments in Scotland

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1761

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