Sonopress, a subsidiary of arvato storage media group, is continuing the expansion of its international production network. The company – headquartered in Gütersloh, Germany – has become the first western replicator to open a CD and DVD plant in Russia.

Combined with its other facilities in Dublin, Birmingham, Madrid, Forbach and Gütersloh, the new plant's location in Yaroslavl will furnish Sonopress with optimal coverage of the Western European market.

Sven Deutschmann, Sonopress CEO Western Europe, commented: "Russia has developed into an interesting business location with high economic growth rates. On top of this, numerous conversations with our existing and potential customers have revealed great interest in the establishment of a licensed, western replicator in the Russian market. This situation has created opportunities for us which we are now seeking to exploit with the new production facility."

To begin with, Sonopress will employ a workforce of 36 for CD and DVD production in Yaroslavl. They will be under the management of Claus Madsen, a veteran in the sector, who also spent several years working for IFPI. "The planned production volume for 2006 is 13 million CDs and 11 million DVDs," said Madsen. "And we are certain that further expansion will be quick to follow. Our goal is to increase the number of employees to at least 100 in the next few months."

The town of Yaroslavl has more than 600,000 inhabitants and is approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles) north of Moscow. The presence of two arvato AG subsidiaries, an offset printing plant and a distribution center, was decisive in the selection of the site.

Story filed 26.03.06