Greif is proud to announce that Sándor Orbán, Regional Sales Director Central-East Europe, has been elected Chairman of the Board of SEFA, the European Association of Steel Drum Manufacturers. As Chairman, Sándor will preside over the world’s largest steel drum association.
SEFA is a professional industry organization that serves as the voice of the European steel drum industry while maintaining strong global ties with associations in the U.S., Asia, and Japan.
As Chairman, Sándor will represent SEFA on the Board of EIPA European Industrial Packaging Association (EIPA), which encompasses steel, fibre, and reconditioned packaging sectors.
With his deep expertise, strategic mindset, and collaborative leadership style, Sándor will lead with integrity and guide the steel drum industry through a period of major transformation. “Environmental regulations, digital advancement, and the increasing geographical shift of global markets is reshaping our industry.”
Sándor succeeds Domenico “Mimmo” Rinaldini as Chairman, former General Manager of Greif Italy, whose dedication, industry insight, and years of service have left a lasting impact on SEFA. His leadership has been instrumental in strengthening Greif’s reputation and legacy within the association. This is a tradition Sándor is proud to carry forward.
In a symbolic gesture of continuity and enduring collegiality, Mimmo passed on his cherished E. Marinella Napoli tie to Sándor, marking the Chairman transition with both tradition and friendship.
Sándor laid out a clear and forward-looking vision to address the most pressing challenges facing the steel drum industry. These include intensifying environmental regulations and compliance demands, the accelerating pace of digital transformation, the relocation of chemical production outside Europe, growing competition from alternative packaging formats, and the critical need for standardization across the sector.
In his acceptance speech, Sándor outlined his vision and strategic goals for SEFA, beginning with the following:
- Embed these key challenges into the core of SEFA’s organizational focus, ensuring they shape all initiatives, discussions, and priorities moving forward.
- Grow SEFA’s membership to encompass more than 90% of the European steel drum industry by 2028.
- Initiate a Europe-wide awareness campaign to promote the trusted performance of steel drums in terms of enduring quality, proven reliability, and robust safety.
- Establish a yearly SEFA Award to celebrate outstanding innovation and best practices in the manufacturing and supply sectors.
- Revamp the SEFA website elevating in design and content to enhance its visibility and foster greater engagement among members and industry suppliers.
- Implement the SEFA Ethical Charta to uphold standards of integrity, foster professional excellence, and enforce ethical conduct.
Sándor’s involvement in key legislation such as the Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and industry standards like ADR transport standards ensures Greif remains at the forefront of critical European decision-making processes. His efforts will strengthen SEFA leadership and benefit Greif and our peers alike, reinforcing the value of steel packaging across industries.
Congratulations to Sándor on his well-deserved professional recognition!
