Twinpak Inc. of Dorval, Quebec, an injection molding subsidiary of Australia's Containers Packaging, increased sales 8 percent to A$280 million (US$210.1 million) for the 1995 fiscal year. Chris Nixon, managing director of Melbourne, Australia-based Containers Packaging, said the improved sales were achieved despite rising raw material prices and growing competition.
He said Twinpak expanded production capacity of PET bottles and coated and laminated packaging, and increased export sales to North America.
Containers Packaging, a division of Australian packaging firm Amcor Ltd. of Melbourne, has 150 plants and distribution centers in 14 countries and re-corded an 18 percent increase in pre-tax profit to A$240 million (US$180.1 million).
Worldwide, Containers Packaging's sales rose 16 percent to A$2.08 billion (US$1.56 billion), with North American flexible packaging and rigid plastic operations contributing 2 percent.
Nixon said the rigid plastics market remained extremely competitive, fueled by significant increases in resin prices and continuing pressure from alternative packaging. He said most sales growth was achieved in PET.
He said Containers Packaging is poised for further growth in North America following the purchase of a 64 percent interest in flexible packaging manufacturer Flexible Holdings Inc., which has plants in Tukwila, Wash., and Bowling Green, Ky., and trades under the name Cello Bag Co. Inc.
