Amcor acquisition broadens label technology

Amcor has acquired Canadian rigid plastics business, Plastic Moulders in a deal to expand its label technology. Plastic Moulders operates a single plant in Toronto and has capabilities in precision injection moulding and in-mould labelling with sales generating approximately $39m. Amcor’s executive general manager of corporate affairs, John Murray says Amcor saw the in-mould technology as a pajor plus for its future plans. He says, “We believe we can take this technology and spread it over a broader customer base. When this technology is within a small company with a single plant there is only so much they can do with it. “With in-mould technology, instead of a label being stuck onto packaging separately, it is embedded into the wall of the container during manufacturing. This means there is no need for the second step of attaching a label, it also means that the label cannot be scuffed, damaged or fall off during transport.†Plastic Moulder’s plant will be integrated into Amcor’s North American Rigid Plastics business which is currently headed up by group president, Michael Schmitt. Murray says the company’s technology and equipment will be taken over by Amcor, but he cannot provide any further details on the business’s integration or confirm if all Plastic Moulders personnel will stay on at this stage. In a statement, Amcor chief executive Ron Delia says the takeover will benefit the company’s current and future customers by broadening its product offering. He says, “The Amcor Rigid Plastics business has significant growth opportunities in market segments outside of the traditional non-alcoholic beverage markets. Our strategy to grow this business includes acquiring companies like Plastic Moulders that provide specialised manufacturing capabilities. “We welcome Plastic Moulders to the Amcor portfolio and are confident that this acquisition will generate strong returns for shareholders.†This latest takeover follows Amcor’s recent US$435m acquisition of flexible packaging business, Alusa which has seen the company embark on a massive South American expansion with plants in Chile, Peru, Argentina and Columbia.