Europe's top rigid plastics packaging maker, RPC Group plc, has strengthened its cosmetics and personal-care packaging capacity with the purchase of two Crown Risdon plants in France and Italy from Crown Holdings Inc.
Higham Ferrers, England-based RPC announced it has acquired the former Risdon SA injection molding plants in Marolles Les Braults, France, and Mozzate, Italy, for an undisclosed sum. The acquired plants posted 2005 profit of 2 million euros ($2.5 million) on sales of 45 million euros ($57 million).
The plants mold fragrance caps; lipstick, lip gloss and mascara containers; and compacts.
RPC already injection molds and injection blow molds cosmetic containers such as compacts, lipstick cases, deodorant sticks and cream jars at facilities in Britain and Germany.
``This acquisition will propel RPC to a leading position in the beauty and personal-care market,'' said RPC Chief Executive Officer Ron Marsh. He touted RPC's related operations, which include overmolding, electroplating, ultraviolet-light lacquering, hot stamping, silk screening, tampo-printing and brush making.
The deal leaves Watertown, Conn.-based Crown Risdon with two plants in Europe - in Lailly en Val, France, and Garwolin, Poland - as well as five plants in North America, including one in Reynosa, Mexico.
Crown Risdon is a unit of Philadelphia-based Crown Holdings Inc.