Efficient procurement for secure supply chains
Procurement, production, sales and service go hand in hand: ALPLA uses machines to process raw materials into packaging solutions for brand manufacturers and supports them as a partner in optimising their products. Quality, cost efficiency and reliability characterise the entire value chain. The better the procurement department is organised and networked, the smoother the production process and the more secure the supply chain. The selection of suppliers plays a central role in this. Global collaboration and long-term partnerships promote growth and enable expansion.
The ALPLA global procurement management team: Humberto Quiroz, Gianluca Valente, Alisha Stingl, Markus Knoche, Steve McCoy, Anshul Goel
‘Procurement harbours enormous and all too often overlooked potential for business development. We want to activate this with a centralised organisation, clustering and specialisation,’ emphasises Global Procurement Director Markus Knoche. Since February 2025, all the threads of the new global procurement organisation have come together under his leadership. ‘With our new structure, we are creating a strong foundation to position ALPLA efficiently, reliably and with an eye to the future worldwide,’ emphasises Knoche. All levels of procurement will be integrated and reorganised: from global topics such as materials, machinery and energy to logistics services and local requirements at the plant. ‘For 70 years, ALPLA has stood for technological excellence, sustainable solutions and intensive customer support. With the globalisation of procurement, we are taking the next logical step and consolidating our role as a leading supplier,’ says Knoche.
Markus Knoche, Global Procurement Director of the ALPLA Group
Best offers worldwide
ALPLA is increasing efficiency with a clear strategy, transparent processes, digitalisation and automation. ‘This saves a lot of time and creates orientation. In this way, we can continuously improve and serve our customers optimally today and in the future,’ Knoche is convinced. Centralisation requires categorisation. Specialised departments are dedicated to the procurement of PET, polyolefins, colours/additives, energy, logistics and packaging. The aim is to develop new solutions together with customers, suppliers and internal departments and bring them into the company.
The coordinated approach gives all regions and plants access to the best offers worldwide. The list of suppliers becomes shorter and prices become more comparable. At the same time, the volume of proven partners increases. ‘We see ourselves not only as cost managers, but also as gatekeepers and solution providers for our customers. We can only achieve this in co-operation with our suppliers - and we need the best. First-class suppliers with a passion for innovative solutions will grow together with us,’ promises Knoche. ALPLA will continue to rely on long-term partnerships and mutual trust in the future: ‘This is how we secure supply chains even in difficult times and minimise risks.’
Clusters ensure agility
Many things can be solved on a global level, some can only be solved locally. ALPLA responds to country-specific requirements by forming strategic procurement units. The three clusters unite the regions on the American double continent (Cluster 1), in Europe (Cluster 2) and in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region (Cluster 3). ‘Speed and flexibility have always characterised us. And that remains the case. The clusters allow us to maintain our agility at a local level,’ Knoche is convinced.
ALPLA has three strategic procurement clusters at regional level
A direct line
ALPLA is globalising its purchasing. This is where partners and suppliers find their contacts.
Global leadership:
Markus Knoche, Global Procurement Director: markus.knoche@alpla.com
Cluster Americas:
Humberto Quiroz, Cluster Procurement Director: humberto.quiroz@alpla.com
Cluster Europe:
Gianluca Valente, Cluster Procurement Director: gianluca.valente@alpla.com
Cluster Asia-Africa:
Anshul Goel, Cluster Procurement Director: anshul.goel@alpla.com
Procurement Polyolefins:
Alisha Stingl, Global Procurement Director Polyolefins: alisha.stingl@alpla.com
Procurement PET:
Steve McCoy, Global Procurement Director PET: steve.mccoy@alpla.com