Global packaging producer Coveris Holdings Corp. is solidifying its presence in Australasia with the purchase of Elldex Packaging Solutions of Auckland, New Zealand.
Elldex produces and imports high and low density polyethylene flexible packaging for meat, dairy, seafood, horticulture and agriculture applications. It employs more than 125 and does most of its business in Australia and New Zealand. Coveris bought the company from Hellaby Holdings Ltd. effective May 28 for undisclosed terms.
Coveris is a conglomerate of packaging companies merged in 2013 under the ownership of Sun Capital Partners. It runs about 70 manufacturing plants around the world and logged sales last year of about $3 billion. The Chicago-based company processes plastics and paper into bags, pouches, barrier films, thermoformed packaging, caps and closures, injection molded items and labels.
“As the global demand for our products continues to increase, Elldex will allow us to serve our customers in this important region of the world,” said Coveris CEO Gary Masse in a news release.
Elldex is putting the finishing touches on a new plant in Christchurch, New Zealand, due to start up by mid-year. The 48,000-square-foot facility will house a new three-layer Windmoeller & Hoelscher film extrusion line and W&H eight-color central impression printing press, a Nordmeccanica solventless laminator and Cason high-speed slitter.
Elldex will be a strategic fit for Coveris, said Elldex general manager Murray Hine in a news release. Hine said Elldex will benefit from new technologies, process improvements and access to global customers.
Coveris is the sixth-largest global packaging company formed by the amalgamation of Exopack, Britton Group, Kobusch, Paccor, Paragon Print & Packaging and KubeTech Custom Molding, according to Elldex. Coveris's purchase of KubeTech last year launched its Rigid Packaging North America business unit with operations in Anderson, S.C., Excelsior, Mo., and Newark, Del.
Last year Coveris also acquired Learoyd Packaging Holdings Ltd., a London-based producer of paper and plastic bags that specializes in flexographic printing.