Alltrista Corp., soon to be Jarden Corp., plans to use its domestic injection molding capabilities for upcoming projects of Tilia International Inc., its newly acquired home food-preservation business.
At the same time, ``we want materials-based capabilities'' to serve Tilia's manufacturing needs, Martin Franklin, Alltrista's chairman and chief executive officer, said by telephone.
Completed April 24, the $160 million deal significantly enlarges Alltrista's consumer products segment.
Currently, Tilia contracts in China for production of its FoodSaver-brand systems and distributes through a Hayward, Calif., warehouse to numerous retail outlets, said David Brakes, chief operating officer of San Francisco-based Tilia.
``Tilia has a pipeline of products that could be manufactured in the United States,'' Franklin said.
Tilia sells a vacuum-packaging system that uses containers and seven-layer bags, including an oxygen barrier, for saving household food. The first domestic production of a Tilia product should start by year's end at a plant of Greer, S.C.-based Unimark Plastics Co.
``Tilia consumes significant amounts of plastics,'' Unimark President Curt Watkins said by telephone.
Unimark is a division within Alltrista's materials-based segment.
Domestic work for Tilia could increase Unimark volume by 10 percent during the next few years, Franklin said. Unimark had 2001 sales of about $48 million. It employs 250 and operates 100 injection molding presses with clamping forces of 50-1,000 tons at plants in Reedsville, Pa., Springfield, Mo., and Greenville, S.C. Unimark molds parts primarily for the medical, precision consumer, recreational sports and closure markets.
Tilia was formed in 1992 and employs 180. Linda Graebner continues as chief executive officer of Tilia, now an Alltrista subsidiary.
Tilia had 2001 sales of $180 million, up from about $110 million the previous year. Replacement bags, sold separately, constitute about 22 percent of sales, according to Brakes.
The United States accounts for 95 percent of Tilia's sales, but other distribution occurs through joint ventures in Europe and elsewhere.
Ball Corp. established Alltrista in 1993 as a publicly traded firm to operate three units including Unimark. Franklin joined Alltrista in September and has overseen an organizational restructuring, divestitures and relocation of its headquarters to Rye, N.Y., from Indianapolis.
Alltrista plans to change its name to Jarden Corp., contingent upon May 30 shareholder approval.
In conjunction with divesting its thermoforming business, Alltrista reported a loss of $85.4 million on 2001 sales of $305 million vs. profit of $4.9 million on 2000 sales of $357.4 million.
