Pouch converter and printer North State Flexibles LLC of Greensboro, N.C., has been acquired by Canadian film extruder St. Johns Packaging Ltd. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
According to a Nov. 30 news release, NSF specializes in supplying stand-up pouches, side-gusset pouches, wicket bags and printed roll stock to leading personal-care, food and industrial companies.
The company also supplies the pet care and lawn and garden markets.
Founded in 1954 and based in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, St. Johns operates plants in St-Jean, Montreal, and Kunshan, China. According to information on file with Industry Canada, St. Johns processes various grades of polyethylene in a 45,000-square-foot St-Jean extrusion plant.
According to the release, NSF customers will now benefit from the cost advantage on long lead time orders offered by St. Johns' Chinese subsidiary.
NSF's former owner, Battle Wall, will join St. Johns Packaging USA Ltd.'s board of directors, according to the release.
“Although we are very proud of the success we have enjoyed as NSF during the past 13 years, I am convinced that our suppliers, associates and customers will benefit from our integration into St. Johns' North American operations,” Wall said. “The combined group will be bigger and stronger, capable of supplying more products, services and value to the world's two biggest flexible packaging markets [North America and China].”
According to the release, with the acquisition of NSF, family-owned St. Johns will employ 450. The company specializes in the manufacture of wicket bags and surface-printed roll stock. St. Johns has 10-color printing and converting capabilities in addition to its extrusion lines.
St. Johns ranked 65th among North American film and sheet manufacturers in Plastics News' most recent industry survey, with 2009 sales of $73 million.