John Zhuang, new CEO: “HCP’s three strengths: speed to market, innovation, and expertise in sustainability!”
It has been five months since John Zhuang took the helm of the Chinese-based HCP Group. The Group has considerable global industrial and commercial clout and employs 5,000 people across seven factories and sales offices in ten countries. He previously served as CEO of the Poyun Group, a leading manufacturer of precision components. Before joining Poyun, he also held positions as general manager and head of operations at industrial companies such as Visteon, JCI, and Delphi. He has thus had the opportunity to manage complex global production networks, which allows him to claim extensive expertise today in the fields of injection molding, finishing, automation, and quality control. These skills are directly linked to the HCP Group’s competitiveness.
Packaging—a field not all that far removed from the sectors you’ve been accustomed to managing!
John Zhuang : I spent more than twenty years in the automotive industry, where I gained solid experience in operations, product development, automation, and quality management. This background has shaped my rigorous, performance-driven approach, which I now apply at HCP.
Since taking the helm of the company, I have been impressed by its strengths: an exceptional customer base, highly skilled teams, a solid reputation in the industry, and truly differentiated technologies. The cosmetic packaging market is demanding and constantly evolving, but I am convinced that HCP has the foundation, ambition, and global reach necessary to dominate it in the long term.
What does the mid-year outlook for 2026 look like for HCP in terms of business activity?
John Zhuang : We have started 2026 with strong momentum and broad-based growth. We are on a growth trajectory that is significantly outpacing the market, and this growth is well-balanced. This growth is occurring across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and North America, and involves global leaders as well as strong regional brands and high-growth independent companies. This diversity gives us confidence in both the resilience and the quality of our growth. What I can say is that our development pipeline is firmly focused on the market’s future needs. We create differentiated packaging solutions that combine refined aesthetics, enhanced sustainability, and intuitive consumer use. Our ambition is not simply to meet industry expectations, but to exceed them.
What have been the key economic highlights for HCP over the past two years?
John Zhuang : There are three notable trends. First, speed to market has become crucial, prompting more customers to turn to turnkey solutions and proven off-the-shelf packaging. Second, innovation is becoming an increasingly important driver of growth.
This year, several of our innovations have been selected by major international brands and prioritized for launch, which is a strong endorsement of our development capabilities.
Third, sustainability and regulations—particularly the PPWR directive—have evolved from general intentions into well-defined roadmaps, timelines, and product development programs. Together, these developments are driving growing expectations across the entire sector, and these are areas where we are well-positioned to support our customers.
Of course, like everyone else, we are facing current economic headwinds such as rising tariffs and raw material prices, but to date, we have not seen a significant impact on our business. Our global manufacturing footprint gives us a level of flexibility and resilience that is rare in our industry. Each of our sites is a well-established production facility with a proven track record of quality, efficiency, and delivery capability. In an unstable external environment, this network is not only an operational advantage—it is a concrete way for us to ensure continuity and provide solutions to our clients.
The environment is a major concern for all suppliers in the beauty industry. What are your strengths in this area?
John Zhuang : Sustainability and ESG criteria are embedded at the highest level of our group’s strategy. We have dedicated governance structures, specialized teams, specific objectives, and phased action plans to transform our ambitions into measurable progress. Our approach goes beyond materials: it includes increasing our use of renewable electricity, tracking carbon emissions, strengthening corporate governance, and promoting employee well-being and social responsibility. We know this is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to demonstrating year-over-year improvement at every level of the company.
Regarding raw materials, our immediate priority is to ensure continuity for our customers, who, incidentally, have not experienced any supply disruptions. At the same time, we are proactively offering cost-optimization options to minimize the impact of broader market pressures. Our response is therefore focused on resilience, efficiency, and close partnership with our customers.
HCP: KEY DATES!
1960
HCP Packaging is founded in Taiwan.
1990
Operations expand to mainland China with the opening of the first factory in Suzhou.
1995
The Suzhou factory is in full production.
2000
A second factory opens in Shanghai.
2003
The first overseas sales office opens on the East Coast of the United States.
2004
Opening of the HCP Packaging France office.
Acquisition of the Bridgeport Metal Goods (BMG) plant in Hinsdale, U.S., and opening of the first European sales office in Paris
2005
Launch of the U.K. sales office
2006
Opening of an HCP plant in Shanghai, incorporating the central development departments and the tooling shop.
2008
A fourth plant begins operations in Huai’an, China.
2009
A second office opens on the U.S. West Coast.
A fifth production site begins operations in Reynosa, Mexico
2014
Grand opening ceremony for the sixth plant in China, located in Suzhou, with a production area of 12,000 m².
2016
HCP acquired SIMP in September 2016, a company specializing in the design, development, and manufacture of plastic cosmetic applicators and technical rubber components for the beauty industry.
2017
HCP acquires the German company RUSI, which brings with it over 40 years of expertise in engineering and cosmetic packaging, as well as a solid reputation for high-quality manufacturing of mascara, lip gloss, and eyeliner.
2018
Construction begins on a new plant in Huai’an, China, with significant capacity increases not only in manufacturing but also in decoration.
HCP completes the expansion of its German plant, thereby increasing production capacity and reducing lead times for injection molding and supply.
2019
HCP Packaging Italy was established in July.
A seventh plant was added in Huai’an, China.
2020
HCP acquired 100% of the shares in Hetian Packaging (Huai’an) Co., Ltd.
2021
Expansion of tooling and automation capabilities at the Shanghai plant.
2022
The Carlyle Group acquires HCP Packaging.
An HA 2.5 plant was added in Huai’an, China.
2023
Expansion of the HCP plant in Reynosa, Mexico
IBM technology—injection blow molding of mascara and lip gloss bottles—was added at HCP Germany
2024
Expansion of the machine fleet: injection and injection blow molding at our manufacturing centers.
2025
Investments in decoration machinery (hot stamping) and automated assembly lines at industrial sites
2026
The Group’s fiber brush expertise center at HCP Germany with the creation of a lash studio.
EcoWood: A revolution!
HCP-Eco is placing a strong emphasis on its “EcoWood” innovation—a fully certified, fossil-fuel-free, bio-based alternative made from traditional materials.
It is manufactured from natural ingredients, PEFC-certified, and features a zero carbon footprint, good chemical resistance, and compatibility with current makeup and skincare formulations.
Completely sustainable and environmentally friendly, EcoWood is certified and free of fossil materials and toxic substances, using traditional materials. The result of more than 15 years of research and 2 years of factory testing, EcoWood is now in industrial production.
