Swiss Packaging machinery and equipment supplier Sidel Group has acquired Cognac Moules Emballages Plastiques (COMEP), a French producer and designer of molds for PET blow molding.
Founded in Salles-d'Angles in 1998, COMEP is specialized in the design and manufacturing of molds for PET bottles and produces over 4,000 molds per year for customers around the world.
With 60 employees, COMEP was a "first-mover" in low blowing pressure technologies, Sidel said in a statement on July 18.
The financial size of the transaction has not been disclosed.
The acquisition, which will strengthen Sidel's molds making and tooling capabilities, follows the Swiss group's takeover of Italian brand strategy and design consultancy firm PET Engineering srl in October last year.
"With this move, we are continuing on the journey we started back in October 2018. ... By acquiring COMEP, we enlarge our set of capabilities even further and extend our mould and tooling portfolio to offer complete packaging solutions to our clients," said Pavel Shevchuk, EVP Services, Sidel.
Post-acquisition, the two firms will maintain their current business focus "with a strong, adapted go-to-market strategy."
COMEP will represent a separate channel to market for moulds and tooling, meaning the two companies will take "distinct commercial approaches. ... while capitalizing on efficiencies," Sidel said.
"We are confident that each company's expertise will prove key in meeting the growing need for complete packaging solutions this industry is showing," commented COMEP's CEO Christophe Amarant.