The Benpac saga continues, with CEO Marco Corvi planning to resuscitate his blow molding machine manufacturing in North America less than a year after his previous venture, Amsler Equipment Inc., went out of business.
"Benpac is back in the plastic bottle business through its Canadian subsidiary, Benpac Packaging Canada Ltd.," reads the headline on Benpac's website.
Corvi expects to begin making machines in North America in the first quarter of this year, the website says.
Plastics News emailed Corvi with questions about the venture and received a response from that address on Corvi's behalf that said Corvi would be unavailable until mid-February "due to health reasons." However, the respondent — only identified as "Benpac Invest AG" — added, "We will inform our customers on Feb. 15, 2023, about the new direction of the 'Plastic Bottles' business unit and the North American locations."
The email said Benpac Group's real estate division "has acquired a property in the greater Hamilton [Ontario] area, where four companies will be merged in the first quarter of 2023." Acquisitions will be completed on Feb. 15 "and can be mentioned then."
The website also says to anticipate something new from Benpac: "In July 2023, Benpac Packaging Canada Ltd. will present a completely revised PET bottle stretching machine, which will not only take the latest energy standards into account but will also offer numerous features for optimal use, such as quality assurance standards and ERP [enterprise resource planning] system connections."
Corvi's previous venture began when Benpac Holding Ltd. USA bought W. Amsler Enterprises Inc. in early 2020 and later relocated the business from Bolton, Ontario, to a rented facility in Vaughan owned by injection molding machine maker Niigon Machines Ltd. Benpac was considering buying Niigon at that time. When the deal fell through, Niigon declared bankruptcy and Amsler was locked out of the plant for nonpayment of rent.
Uniloy Inc. of Tecumseh, Mich., bought Amsler's assets a year ago — but apparently not the Amsler brand, because Benpac plans to market its new machines under the Amsler name.
Corvi has blamed Amsler's demise on others' mismanagement, though that claim is disputed by former employees and business partners.
Corvi heads numerous businesses named Benpac, which are part of his Stans, Switzerland-based Benpac Group.
The email to PN said Benpac Group has been restructuring over the past year and will complete the changes this year. "This includes in particular the business unit 'Plastic Bottles' and especially the locations in North America," it said.
