News from
MSM Walsrode

Under CSG ownership, MSM Walsrode is entering a new strategic chapter. In addition to the established production of Walsroder nitrocellulose for civil applications, the company will in future expand its production into energetic nitrocellulose, a key raw material for ammunition manufacturing. With this step, MSM Walsrode will make an important contribution to strengthening Europe’s strategic supply chain in the defense sector.

At the same time, regional roots remain a key pillar of the company. MSM Walsrode is currently re-establishing all core corporate functions at its Bomlitz site and is expanding its workforce accordingly. With around 380 employees, including 50 apprentices, the company is already among the largest employers in the region. Nitrocellulose produced in Bomlitz has been used for decades in packaging printing inks and coatings, contributing to both the industrial base and the economic stability of the site. MSM Walsrode is managed by a four-member leadership team: Tomáš Kaisr (CEO), Christian Fauska (COO), André Popp (CCO), and David Pergl (CFO).

With the name change, the company has also introduced a new logo. It features the silhouette of a wolf, symbolizing both MSM Group affiliation and the historic roots of the site, while paying tribute to the founding Wolff family, which played a decisive role in shaping the industrial development of Walsrode.

The site itself looks back on over 200 years of industrial history. Since the establishment of a powder mill in 1815, Bomlitz has been one of the most significant industrial locations in northern Germany. Nitrocellulose production has been firmly established here since 1879. After the Second World War, production shifted to civil applications. With the foundation of the Walsrode Industrial Park in 2001, the basis was laid for continuous development, which, with CSG’s entry, now reaches a new dimension.

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About MSM Walsrode

MSM Walsrode is a leading German manufacturer of Walsroder nitrocellulose with more than 200 years of industrial tradition in Bomlitz, Lower Saxony. Formerly known as IFF N&H Germany, the company became part of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) in 2025. Today, MSM Walsrode produces high-quality nitrocellulose for civil applications such as coatings and printing inks, while under the ownership of CSG it is also expanding its capabilities into the field of energetic nitrocellulose – a critical commodity for ammunition manufacturing. With an extensive industrial site including 87.5 hectares, a railway siding and a cogeneration power plant as well as several on-demand services like maintenance and security services and an own apprenticeship center, MSM Walsrode combines strong local heritage with the global expertise of CSG. The company is committed to reliability, safety, and innovation, serving as an important link in Europe’s strategic supply chains for both civil industry and defense.

About CSG

The global industrial-technological group CSG is owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad. It supplies technologies worldwide that contribute to a safer and more stable future. CSG focuses on the development and production of strategically important products, systems, and technologies in the fields of defense, aerospace, automotive, and other industries. CSG has key manufacturing facilities in the USA, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Greece, and India, and exports its products worldwide. The group continuously invests in the development of its companies while expanding its core business activities. Its key members include the Czech land systems manufacturer Excalibur Army, the Czech vehicle maker Tatra Trucks, the Slovak artillery ammunition producer MSM Group, the U.S. small-caliber ammunition manufacturer The Kinetic Group, and the Czech radar producer Eldis. The group specializes in the development and production of strategically vital products, systems, and technologies essential for defending fundamental civilizational values. CSG employs more than 14,000 people across its integrated and affiliated companies. CSG’s 2024 revenue, including The Kinetic Group for the full year, reached EUR 5.2 billion, with consolidated revenues of EUR 4 billion.

The nitrocellulose production plant and the industrial park have recently become part of the MSM GROUP. The seller is IFF, a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients, health, and biosciences. Under IFF, the plant manufactured nitrocellulose strictly for industrial purposes, serving customers primarily in the areas of coatings and printing inks. CSG values the Walsrode plant’s industrial customers and its capabilities, which it will leverage to additionally enable energetic nitrocellulose production, in line with CSG’s other businesses, over time. This will require further investment and expansion in these facilities and approvals by appropriate regulatory authorities.

Jan Marinov, CEO of the CSG Defence Division, says: “Chemical production, including, at times, production for the purposes of the defence industry, has already taken place at the Walsrode Industrial Park. In the current situation as well, when the chemical industry in Europe is facing high energy prices and demanding regulation, the production of nitrocellulose for the ammunition industry and other important industries, such as printing inks and coatings, can ensure long-term prospects for companies operating in this field. Energetic nitrocellulose production is strategically important for the security of NATO and EU countries and their allies. Europe must not fall into dependence on imports for such a strategic commodity, as it is necessary to have security of supply even in a crisis.”

Strategic importance for Europe

In the context of current geopolitical developments, the security of supply of strategic raw materials for the defence sector is more important than ever. The lack of production capacity in Europe for large-caliber ammunition and components such as nitrocellulose is one of the most significant security risks for NATO and its allies.

CSG and MSM GROUP have invested heavily in recent years to expand production capacity for ammunition, artillery systems, and related technologies. The acquisition of this plant in Germany is part of a broader strategy to create vertically integrated ammunition production, from raw material to finished product.

Jan Marinov states: “The insufficient European capacity to produce ammunition, especially large-caliber ammunition, is a security threat for NATO countries and their allies. This is why we have been working hard for several years and investing hundreds of millions of euros in establishing vertically integrated production of large-caliber ammunition within CSG, from input commodities and semi-finished products to the final product. This acquisition has brought us significantly closer to our goal. Meanwhile thanks to it, we are becoming a manufacturer and employer in Germany, an important EU country that is a key economic partner of the Czech Republic.”

A top location for companies across various industries

This acquisition includes the Walsrode industrial park. It offers ideal conditions with first-class infrastructure and a strong network of established companies and is among the most renowned and important sites for cellulose chemistry in the world. It offers outstanding opportunities for plastics-processing companies and manufacturers working with renewable raw materials.

It also offers excellent conditions for engineering services, mechanical engineering, and food-processing companies. This industrial park is fully developed, with comprehensive infrastructure and established material and utility flows. It covers a total area of 87.5 hectares, of which approximately 11 hectares are currently available—fully developed and ready for immediate use.

The steps that will follow the acquisition

The acquisition agreement was signed on October 4, 2024 and completed in May 2025. As part of the acquisition, all existing liabilities will be assumed by the acquiring company, MSM GROUP. The divested part of IFF will be acquired with the aim of making it fully independent based on its own operating principles. This step will require the reorganization of several functional areas that were previously managed through a global matrix structure. All current managers will remain in their respective roles.

Existing supply chains and customer relationships in the industrial nitrocellulose business remain unchanged and will continue. “After the closing of the transaction, we need to stabilize the support functions and integrate the business into MSM GROUP. This means completing the implementation of the new ERP system, rebuilding key support functions by hiring new employees and implementing management processes according to the requirements of MSM GROUP,” Marinov added.

In connection with the change of ownership, the IFF trademarks and logos will cease to be used, and the acquired companies will become an integral part of CSG and MSM GROUP. The nitrocellulose products will continue using the Walsroder brand.  

MSM GROUP – a leader in the defence industry

MSM GROUP is one of Europe’s leading companies in the development and production of artillery and tank ammunition. This company integrates traditional production facilities with a long history and covers the entire production cycle, from development to finished product.

MSM GROUP is part of the CSG holding company, which specializes in investments in strategic industries in Europe and worldwide. CSG brings together major manufacturing companies in the defence, automotive, rail, and aerospace industries.

The acquisition of this nitrocellulose plant and industrial park represents a further step in the development of CSG’s capabilities in the defence industry and significantly strengthens its position on the European market.

About CSG

The global industrial-technological group of companies CSG is owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad. It supplies technologies worldwide that contribute to a safer and more stable future. CSG focuses on the development and production of strategically important products, systems, and technologies in the fields of defence, aerospace, automotive, and other industries. With key manufacturing facilities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Italy, India, the United Kingdom, and the USA, CSG exports its products worldwide. This group continuously invests in the development of its companies while expanding its core business activities. Its key companies include the Czech vehicle manufacturer Tatra Trucks, the Slovak artillery ammunition producer MSM Group, the US small-caliber ammunition manufacturer The Kinetic Group, and the Czech radar manufacturer Eldis. The group specializes in developing and producing strategically vital products, systems, and technologies essential for defending fundamental civilizational values. CSG employs over 14,000 people across its integrated and affiliated companies. CSG’s 2024 revenue, including The Kinetic Group for the full year, reached 5.2 billion EUR, with consolidated revenues of 4 billion EUR.