Client: keeeper tableware GmbH

For over 100 years, today’s keeeper tableware GmbH (formerly a site of the Finnish Metsä Tissue Corporation) has been one of the leading European providers of high-quality tissue products in the consumer and commercial markets. In Germany, the company is among the top 2 manufacturers of colored and printed napkins and is also the market leader in the private label segment. With about 200 employees at the Stotzheim site, the company generated revenue of around 45 million euros in the 2018 fiscal year.

Initial Situation and Challenges

At the turn of 2019 to 2020, Mutares SE Co. KGaA decided to expand its own portfolio in the household appliances sector. This was done through the acquisition of the German paper napkin business of the Finnish Metsä Tissue Corporation at the Stotzheim site by the keeeper Group, a portfolio company of Mutares SE Co. KGaA. The strategic acquisition of the company now operating under the name keeeper tableware GmbH aims to further advance and expand the diversification of the keeeper Group.
digatus was commissioned by Mutares to carry out the IT Carve-Out within a TSA runtime of nine months, i.e., separating the existing corporate IT from the parent company and subsequently transitioning it to standalone operation.

“The digatus team enabled us to complete the corporate spin-off on time and within budget through their extensive IT Carve-Out expertise. All specific needs and requirements were consistently considered in planning and implementing the new IT infrastructure.”

Nicolas Pütz – Director Operations / IT, Mutares SE Co. KGaA

Solution

As part of the Carve-Out project for about 120 IT users at the Stotzheim site, we coordinated the separation of the IT infrastructure from the divesting unit to full independence. Primary activities included setting up a separate IT infrastructure, including the SAP system, as well as migrating and transitioning applications such as AUTEC or BDE.

When carrying out the SAP migration, it was not possible to apply a so-called “Greenfield Approach,” i.e., the new implementation of a current SAP system including process redesign. Instead, it was decided to copy the old system and rebuild it in a new environment. The biggest challenge here was the close integration of many applications with the ERP system. Furthermore, all interfaces had to be redeveloped and thoroughly tested, as they were mostly interfaces to external partners, such as Transporeon and EDI. In some cases, the old applications were replaced by alternative solutions, e.g., Maximo IBM or SAP HR, from other providers.

After keeeper tableware GmbH’s own inventory, the new IT infrastructure was planned considering current requirements and ongoing business processes. This was done with a view to providing flexible, secure, and cost-effective IT services. Here, Microsoft 365 Azure and Intune were chosen. For the required server infrastructure, it was decided to install an ESX VMWare cluster directly at the site.

A great support in this project was the helpful seller Metsä Tissue, who actively assisted in making the migration as smooth as possible. Through the close and efficient collaboration of all parties involved, it was possible to migrate the SAP system and all applications to the new IT landscape within the set timeframe.

Furthermore, we accompanied the company in selecting future IT service providers through tenders and supported the subsequent contract design with the selected parties.

Customer Benefits

Today, keeeper tableware GmbH has been separated from the structures of its former parent company Metsä Tissue and now operates as an independent portfolio company of Mutares. The IT infrastructure and equipment were modernized during the transition, and SAP processes were aligned with the needs of the new agile mid-sized company. Future operating system updates and software distribution will be significantly simplified through centralization and standardization. Quickly and centrally implemented security patches increase security across the entire network.

By selecting digatus technology GmbH as the IT service provider, the efficiency and satisfaction of employees have been increased through the newly established local service desk.