Packaging, logistics and IT cluster initiative

What are "clusters"?

In the context of economic development, clusters are a geographical concentration of companies from a particular sector. This concentration leads to greater competitiveness and thus to the creation of an above-average number of jobs. Examples include the large number of media companies in Cologne, biotechnology firms in Munich, watch manufacturers in Switzerland and blade makers in Solingen. Economic researchers have discovered that such concentrations of expertise (so-called clusters) not only develop by chance but can actually be created and developed in a targeted manner. Such concentrations of expertise are in a good position to produce leading international blue-chip companies in a particular sector, to create their own highly efficient network of suppliers, and to attract the most capable entrepreneurs and the most interesting investors. They are the regional version of globalisation.

What can clusters do for individual companies?

The geographical clustering of companies from a particular sector, along with their suppliers and partners, can have a positive impact on corporate development. Studies show that growth levels for companies located in a cluster are 20% higher than for isolated businesses. Within such clusters, there is a unique opportunity to develop enterprise networks for improving flexibility, for example. In addition, regional enterprise networks display advantages in terms of revenue growth, operating costs and capacity utilisation. Experience also shows that these cluster systems are the foundation of long-lasting competitiveness. Although individual products from the system may be "copied", the system itself cannot.

Companies and facilities of the packaging, logistics and IT cluster

In the district of Mayen-Koblenz, some of the large companies within the value chain are easily identified. To some extent, they include manufacturers of packaging material and packaging solutions, companies that package their own products, specialist logistics firms, and many smaller businesses that contribute partial solutions to the process both in terms of technology and service

Advantages and involvement opportunities for companies

Based on the experiences of other companies with cluster initiatives, the following advantages and involvement opportunities can be identified:

• Increases in revenue through new contacts to strategic partners and customers in the sector.
  

• Lower costs as a result of economies of scope, e.g. shared human resources development, shared purchasing, etc.

• Contact with leading research institutions. Development of specific research projects at an individual company level or in association with other companies.

• Enterprise networks, which can be used as an "extended workbench" or for shared product development
  
• Highly-specialised suppliers – that the competition is unable to make use of to the same extent – as a sort of competitive advantage right on the company's doorstep
  
• An increase in the level of awareness of the company as a result of the project's marketing activities.
  Participation in trade fairs and specialist trade functions
  
• Exclusive functions for managers in the region.
  
• Regular information on trends in the sector.

Exploitation of these opportunities depends, however, on the companies' openness and on how they participate in the cluster development process.

An informational discussion is the easiest way for companies to learn about the project. Here, an economic development team visits your company, explains how the project works, and, together with yourself, considers how your ideas and activities can be integrated into the process. Run-of-the-mill economic development issues such as the acquisition of commercial sites, approval procedures, development funds, financing, etc. can also be worked on during the discussion.

Another activity of the initiative takes the shape of regular forums, which take place in companies included in the value chain. If you are interested in taking part in such meetings, all we need is your company's address – if we don't already have it.

We would love to hear from you if you have suggestions for any other companies that could be included in the project. These could be companies already operating in the area of packaging/logistics and IT, or those wishing to get involved in these sectors in the future by way of new products or services.

Contact person
Henning Schröder
Tel. (+49) 0261/ 108-295
Fax (+49) 0261/ 108-237
E-Mail

Scientific advice
Professor Dr. Peter Vieregge
Dr. Vieregge GmbH Regionalmarketing & Unternehmensentwicklung
Tel. (+49) 0700/ 4444 3443
eMail peter.vieregge (ät) cluster-entwicklung.de