Flexographic printer and converter PPC Flexible Packaging LLC of Buffalo Grove, Ill., has acquired HFM Packaging Ltd.
Terms of the deal, finalized Feb. 1, were not disclosed.
Pewaukee, Wis.-based HFM Packaging specializes in high-speed, die-cut labeling capabilities as well as resealable packaging and lidding films such as peel-and-reseal closures. The company makes a variety of pouches, including flat packs and stand-up pouches, spouted pouch designs and other packaging products for the cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, food and industrial markets.
"I am very proud of the growth that HFM has witnessed over the past 40 years," HFM Packaging CEO Paul Martinez said in a statement. "We are excited to share technologies with PPC and are pleased to have found a partner with the ability to increase our progress."
PPC Flexible specializes in flexographic printing and film converting for bags and pouches. The company offers products for clean room packaging in health care and medical applications along with consumer packaging for the snack food, produce, pet food, bakery and horticulture markets.
"Our goal was to create a unique and differentiated flexible packaging company focused on food end markets," Brandon Fisher, director of sales at PPC Flexible, said in a Feb. 7 phone interview.
"HFM has some incredibly unique and niche technologies, and adding them into the mix just helped expand our offering to our current customers and potential clients that are out there, especially clients that are interested in reclosable technologies," he said.
No immediate changes are planned to HFM, though Fisher could not confirm whether its current leadership would remain in place. Going forward, HFM will operate under the umbrella of PPC Flexible, but retain its HFM branding, he said. HFM's Pewaukee facility — about 80 miles north of PPC Flexible's Buffalo Grove headquarters — will continue to operate as usual.
"They're within driving distance, so we plan on utilizing what they've already built in that facility, and just adding to our capabilities and finding that synergistic play between us," Fisher said.
In November, PPC Flexible bought Temkin International Inc. Temkin makes roll stock, stand-up pouches, floral sleeves and bags in addition to rigid thermoformed containers for the food and confectionary, produce, stationery and craft, personal care, pet supply and horticulture markets.
The acquisition allowed PPC Flexible to expand farther west via Temkin's manufacturing facility in Payson, Utah, and into South America with a plant in Bogota, Colombia.
"We're looking to differentiate ourselves from our competitors, so not just to grow in every single direction, but to focus on core and key market spaces that we see continued growth domestically and abroad," Fisher said of the company's recent acquisitions. "If it's a niche and unique company that fits that strategy, then it's certainly something we'll pursue."
PPC Flexible Packaging is owned by members of management and Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. The company is the rebranding of Fisher Container Corp. and Packaging Products Corp. PPC Flexible employs around 750 people and has additional manufacturing sites in Mission, Kan.; and Rome, Ga.
