Nypro Packaging says it's getting smarter.
The Clinton, Mass.-based company is acquiring Plasticos Castella SA of Tortosa, Spain, in a move that pushes Nypro into “smart packaging” that goes beyond the traditional.
“This fast-emerging field promises to revolutionize the industry by opening new options to create packaging that is not only more practical and consumable, but also more sensory compelling, connected and intelligent,” said Paul Kayser, president of Nypro, in a statement.
Through smart packaging, brand owners can differentiate their products through a variety of ways, Nypro said, including static, active, interactive and intelligent designs.
Static designs use decoration capabilities to enhance brand marks and visuals along with barrier solutions to extend shelf life.
Active designs embed information onto packaging that can be read by smart phones and other machines.
Interactive designs create “extended protection through engineered materials and substrates that change state when exposed to environmental conditions,” Nypro said.
And intelligent designs feature “dynamic interaction with sensors on packaging, business analytics, machine learning and supply chain integration,” the company said.
“In addition to enhancing the customer experience, Smart Packaging will also help increase revenue and improve ROI for our customers,' Kayser said in his statement.
Plasticos Castella, along with its headquarters site, also has an additional location in Nagyigmánd, Hungary. Those sites join Nypro's six North American locations.
“Not only are our locations and customers highly complementary, but our cultures of quality, innovation and responsiveness are also very similar,” Kayser said.
Nypro, owned by Jabil Circuit Inc., unveiled the acquisition during Pack Expo in Las Vegas.
Plasticos Castella was founded in 1974 by the Castella family to make plastic lids for the family owned small honey and mayonnaise packaging businesses, according to the company's website. It was just a few years later that the family sold the food business to focus on packaging.
“This combination provides a strong growth platform of global resources, reputation and investment that will bear fruit for our team and customers alike,” said Plasticos Castella CEO Emilio Castella said in a statement.