Site Spotlight: A heritage dating back more than 150 years – Building Schades Group’s foundations in Skive, Denmark

Denmark holds a special place in the Schades Group story, as the foundations for the business were laid there over 150 years ago. 

Founded in 1874 as Vestjyllands Papirposefabrik (West Jutland Paper Bag Factory), the business that would become Schades has spent more than 150 years evolving, expanding and adapting to changing markets. What began as a paper bag manufacturer in the Danish town of Skive has grown into an international group specialising in paper rolls and labels, with operations spanning multiple European markets. 

As we reach the final instalment of our site spotlight series, we’re taking a look back at where it all began. Denmark is more than just another location within Schades Group; it is the birthplace of the business and the starting point for a history shaped by innovation, international expansion and continued change. 

Today, Schades Nordic operates from Skive, supporting customers across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. While the business and its operations have changed considerably since the nineteenth century, its Danish roots remain an important part of the Schades Group story. 

A heritage dating back to 1874

Schades’ story begins in Skive, Denmark, in 1874, when Vestjyllands Papirposefabrik was founded. This early business laid the foundations for what would eventually become Schades Group, establishing a connection with the Danish town that continues more than a century and a half later. 

The company was formally established as Schades A/S in 1916, marking the beginning of the Schades name. During its early decades, the business was primarily associated with paper bag manufacturing, operating under names including Vestjyllands Papirposefabrik and Schades Papirposefabrik. 

As the business developed, so too did its production capabilities. By the 1960s and 1970s, the company had expanded beyond paper bags to manufacture paper rolls, labels and other paper products. Operating as Schades Papirindustri A/S, the business had established extensive production facilities in Skive, supported by a sizeable workforce and its own railway connection. 

This period of development laid the groundwork for Schades’ subsequent growth, as the company broadened its product offering and began to establish a stronger presence in international markets. 

Expanding beyond Denmark 

A significant milestone came in 1984, when Schades A/S was listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, marking a new chapter in the company’s development. During the 1980s, Schades also pursued international expansion, acquiring businesses across Europe and extending its reach beyond its Danish roots. 

Throughout the following decades, the company continued to adapt its operations and product portfolio in response to changing market requirements. The paper bag division was sold in 1991, while the introduction of self-adhesive labels in 2003 represented another important development in the business’s evolution. 

Investment in the Skive factory during the mid-2000s further supported this period of change. In 2007, SCHADES NORDIC ApS was established as the group’s Nordic sales and distribution entity, providing a dedicated organisation to support customers across the region. 

Becoming part of an international group 

Schades’ development has continued through a series of ownership changes and acquisitions. In 2013, South Korean paper group Hansol Paper acquired Schades, followed by further acquisitions that expanded the wider group’s European presence, including businesses in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. 

In 2020–2022, ownership transitioned to Harbour Investment GmbH, marking another chapter in the group’s development. Further acquisitions followed, including Omeko Papier in Poland in 2022 and Hamilton Adhesive Labels in 2024, broadening the group’s capabilities and strengthening its position across the European paper rolls and labels markets. 

In 2024, the business brought its brand identity together under the common name Schades Group. This created a more unified identity across its operations while retaining established local entities, including Schades ApS and SCHADES NORDIC ApS in Denmark. 

Supporting customers across the Nordic region 

Today, SCHADES NORDIC ApS operates from Gyrovej in Skive, Denmark, as a dedicated sales and warehouse organisation serving Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. 

Although paper roll production in Skive was discontinued in 2023 and relocated, the site continues to play an important role in the group’s Nordic operations. Its focus on sales, warehousing and distribution helps support customers across a broad geographical area, maintaining a local presence within a wider international business. 

The Danish operation reflects the changes that have shaped Schades over its long history. From its beginnings as a paper bag manufacturer in the nineteenth century to its role today within a European group specialising in paper rolls and labels, the business has continually evolved alongside its markets. 

Kirsti Kristensen, Director of SCHADES NORDIC ApS, commented: “Denmark is at the heart of Schades Group’s history, and Schades Nordic continues to play an important role in our business today. While our operations have evolved considerably over the years, our commitment to supporting customers across the Nordic region remains as strong as ever. 

“As part of an international group, we have the opportunity to build on our heritage while continuing to adapt to changing customer needs and market developments. Looking ahead, Schades Nordic will remain an important part of our journey, combining its strong local knowledge and customer relationships with the wider capabilities of Schades Group.” 

With its roots firmly established in Skive, SCHADES NORDIC ApS remains an important link between the group’s heritage and its future, continuing to support customers across Northern Europe as part of a growing international business. 

To read the spotlight blogs on our other sites across Europe, visit our News & Insights page.