LIVINGSTON, N.J. (Sept. 14, 1:45 p.m. ET) — Inteplast Group is expanding its commercial can-liner footprint in North America with the purchase of Pitt Plastics Inc. of Pittsburg, Kan.
Pitt will become part of Inteplast’s Integrated Bagging Systems Division. The acquisition includes Pitt’s facilities in Kansas; Morrow, Ga.; and Columbus, Ohio. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“With this acquisition, the combined organizations will be the most complete bag producer in the marketplace. We see this as an investment in people and technology,” Inteplast IBS Division President Joe Chen said in a news release.
Inteplast President John Young said Pitt’s products complement IBS can-liner offerings and geographical locations. IBS currently has can-liner plants in Lolita and Garland, Texas; and Prattville, Ala.
Pitt will continue full operations to serve the North American market, according to Inteplast.
Inteplast does an estimated $1.5 billion in North American film and sheet sales, according to Plastics News estimates. Pitt pegs its 2011 polyethylene can-liner and bag sales at $154 million and its total number of employees at 447.
“As manufacturing technology continues to evolve, we are excited to have the technological resources and distribution channels of Inteplast working with us,” said Pitt President Jeff Poe.
Inteplast operates 33 plants and 10 warehouse facilities throughout North America. It was founded in 1991 and operates two other divisions besides IBS: AmTopp, which produces biaxially oriented polypropylene films, stretch wrap films and plastic concentrates and compounds; and World-Pak, which makes corrugated plastic sheet, solid and expanded PVC sheet, heavy-duty films and bags, and synthetic wood.
Based in Livingston, N.J., Inteplast operates a major manufacturing complex in Lolita covering 535 acres. The combined capacity of that site exceeds 1 billion pounds of finished goods annually, according to Inteplast.
Young said he hopes to continue the legacy started by Gene Bicknell, his son Marty, and their families in the building of Pitt Plastics. Both companies share “humble roots,” he said.
“We are also excited to have found a partner that shares our commitment to ensuring quality manufacturing jobs for American workers,” Young said.
In August, Inteplast acquired the Minigrip resealable PE bag business of Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Minigrip, based in Kennesaw, Ga., makes bags for consumer and commercial uses, including for the food-service, medical and institutional markets.
