Oji Fibre Solutions (Oji) – with three plants in New Zealand – is acquiring Cardboard Cartons, adding specialty box manufacturing capabilities, complete with litho printing and laminating.
Cardboard Cartons is a leading manufacturer and supplier of specialty packaging solutions including plain and printed corrugated cartons, litho printed cartons, shelf ready cartons, and point of purchase displays to a variety of industries including fast moving consumer goods, automotive, horticulture, and beverages, it is located in Victoria and employs 28 staff
Founder and former managing director Linden Barry opened Cardboard Cartons in 1995, and remains within the business following the sale, now as general manager.
Dr Jon Ryder, CEO, Oji, says “It is a natural bolt-on for us, and an important purchase. The facility is a small-run specialty box plant, and has equipment which we do not currently have.
“Cardboard Cartons is basically a speciality flexo/folder/gluer, and also has litho printing and laminating that we do not have. Our box plant at Noble Plant has flatbed die cutters and flexo folder gluers, so we have printing and box making capability, but not short-run speciality boxes.
Ryder says, “There are no planned changes to staff, or the way the business is run.
“It is an exciting time, we are investing, growing, and getting good support. Being associated with the world’s fifth largest pulp and packaging manufacturer helps, we feel fighting fit, and will keep going.”
It is the second major investment for Japanese-owned Oji in 2017, following its new $70m packaging facility in Yatala, Queensland, due for completion on October 6.
Oji is owned by Oji Holdings and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. Its operations are based in New Zealand and Australia, employing 1600 people.
Market kraft pulp and container board products are produced in its three New Zealand facilities.
Eight paper-based packaging operations across Australasia produce a range of corrugated board packaging products and paper bags principally for the horticulture, dairy, meat and beverage industries.
The business also includes the Fullcircle waste paper collection service and the Lodestar logistics operations. Market pulps, container board and packaging products are exported to 25 countries.
