Filtrona Opens Factory in Hungary

Source from:  worldtobacco.co.uk 30 January 2008 02/02/2008

Filtrona filters, the world's leading independent supplier of specialist filters to the tobacco industry, has enhanced its global offering with the opening of a new manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Budapest in Hungary. Martin Dudley, Global Operations Director for Filtrona filters commented on the new site: "The Hungarian plant will help our customers capitalise on the shift in market demand to Central and Eastern Europe by providing them with reasonably priced and conveniently located access to Filtrona's expertise and high quality service." He continued: "This modern, well equipped facility will provide our customers with a highly efficient Eastern European source of Filtrona products, supported by the full benefit of Filtrona's extensive experience and technical knowledge." The new plant officially opened for business in October 2007 and will continue to develop over the next two to three years to offer the full range of Filtrona's specialist filters using state of the art manufacturing equipment and techniques, as well as providing increasing employment opportunities for the highly skilled and committed local workforce in Hungary. By the end of the year Hungary must comply with European Union regulations regarding excise tax. This necessitates a hike of the excise tax on tobacco twice this year. The transition period to comply with the EU cigarette tax regime expires at the end of the year in Poland and Slovakia as well. The excise tax on tobacco will be raised twice this year, first in April and then in September. The hike will naturally be reflected in the retail price of cigarette, as well, business daily Világgazdaság said on Tuesday. Enditem