WADSWORTH, OHIO (Jan. 5, 2:55 p.m. ET) — In a deal between two thermoforming firms, Rohrer Corp. has purchased Buckell Plastic Co. Inc. for an undisclosed price.
Acquiring Lewistown, Pa.-based Buckell will allow Rohrer to strengthen its position in the visual packaging market, officials said in a Jan. 4 news release.
Buckell “is a well-run company with products and customers that complement our current book of business,” Rohrer President and CEO Scot Adkins said in the release.
Buckell has annual sales of about $3.5 million. Its 50,000 square-foot Lewistown plant – which makes custom thermoformed packaging for medical, food, retail and other markets – will join Rohrer plants in Wadsworth; Buford, Ga.; and Huntley, Ill.
This marks the first deal for Wadsworth-based Rohrer since private equity firm ShoreView Industries of Minneapolis bought controlling interest in the company in early 2010. Rohrer makes thermoformed blister packaging as well as paper cardstock for blisters and folding paper cartons. ShoreView owns four other plastic-related businesses.
Rohrer reported thermoforming sales of almost $21 million for the year ended May 31. Thermoforming accounted for about 28 percent of the firm's total sales during that 12-month period. Rohrer employs about 100 in its thermoforming operations.
Buckell had been owned by the Schell family. Clarence Schell founded the firm in Lancaster, Pa., in 1964. Buckell moved to Lewistown in 1990. Brian Schell – Clarence's son - now serves as president of the firm.
