Zip-Pak buys into Europe
London-based Supreme Plastics' reclosables division.
While consolidation of two global producers might mean less choice for food processors in the reclosable packaging market, Zip-Pak claims the purchase will mean more investment in research anddevelopment, increased technical support and better customer service.
The Supreme Plastics' division produces resealable zippers and resealable bags. The acquisition includes Supreme Plastics' plant inWhitby.
Zip-Pak said the division will broaden its product portfolio. A majority of Supreme's business comes from narrower zipper products. Most ofZip-Pak's business is from a market that requires wider zipper closures, said the company's president, Jim Kohl.
"The additional technologies expand the breadth of resealable solutions Zip-Pak provides," he stated in an announcement this week.
Zip-Pak has been expanding its presence in Europe. It opened a plant in the Netherlands in January 2004. Zip-Pak will also be producing zipper closures in Murcia, Spain through Plasticos Iberotec,a subsidiary of Supreme Plastics.
Michael Burton, a former business unit manager of Zip-Pak's plant in Illinois, will become general manager of the company's European operations.
"The growth in manufacturing capacity demonstrates Zip-Pak's commitment to meeting the growing demand for resealable flexible packaging in Europe," Burton said.
Zip-Pak makes resealable technology through its development of the zipper feature for flexible packaging. The company is a division of Illinois Tool Works. The company has manufacturing plantsthroughout the US and a new plant in Europe.
In April this year Zip-Pak acquired Pliant's resealable zipper division, Alliant Reclosables. The purchase ended a patent dispute between the two companies, one that Zip-Pak said was causing worryamong its food processing customers..
Supreme Plastics also makes flexible resealable packaging and is known for its Minigrip bag. The company has manufacturing sites in the UK, US and Spain.
