Uniloy buys assets of blow molding machinery maker Amsler

Blow molding machinery company Uniloy Inc. has acquired the assets of the defunct Amsler Equipment Inc. in Vaughan, Ontario.

The deal apparently ends a tumultuous period for Amsler, which shut down last year as a result of the liquidation of Niigon Machines Ltd.

With the purchase, Tecumseh, Mich.-based Uniloy enters the PET stretch blow molding (SBM) machine market and will provide support for Amsler equipment going forward under the new Uniloy SBM product line.

"We saw a significant opportunity to support the customers left without service and spare parts when Amsler ceased operations," Uniloy CEO Brian Marston said in an email. "In addition to offering aftermarket support, Uniloy has plans to offer Uniloy SBM machines in the future."

Founded in 1994, Amsler built all-electric linear PET stretch blow molding equipment ranging from one to six cavities with outputs of 1,500-10,000 bottles per hour.

Uniloy acquired all technical documents, machine designs, service records, spare parts, tooling and drawings as well as other materials, Marston said.

"Complete turnkey solutions have been a mainstay for Uniloy, and Uniloy has been manufacturing PET molds for many years. This product line will allow us to reach new customers," Marston added.

Amsler had been quietly acquired by Benpac Holding Inc., a U.S. affiliate of Stans, Switzerland-based Benpac Group., in January 2020 as part of a strategy to bring together leading packaging supply chain companies as a one-stop shop.

In June 2021, Benpac moved Amsler from Bolton, Ontario, to a rented facility in Vaughan that was owned by Niigon Machines. At the time, Benpac was considering acquiring Niigon.

That deal never materialized, and Niigon, which was founded by Plastics Hall of Famer Robert Schad, declared bankruptcy Sept. 24. Amsler was locked out of the Vaughan plant for nonpayment of rent to Niigon.

Niigon took possession of the Amsler assets after they were left behind by the company's owner, according to a March 8 news release from Uniloy.

Terms of the purchase, which occurred Feb. 9, were not disclosed.

"Uniloy Inc. purchased certain assets from the receiver and trustee in the bankruptcy of Niigon Machines Ltd., who was in possession of the assets abandoned by its tenant Amsler Equipment, Inc.," the Uniloy release says.

Benpac Group CEO Marco Corvi has said Niigon billed Amsler about C$150,000 (US$119,619) for use of the space about 10 days before Niigon declared bankruptcy.

Corvi told Plastics News in November 2021 that the rent would be paid so employees could return to the premises, but events unfolded differently.

In January, Amsler employees were notified in an email from Corvi to start job hunting.

"We will probably not continue Amsler," the Jan. 5 email said.

With the closure, Uniloy saw an opportunity to provide its blow molding expertise, service network and associates to assist Amsler customers, according to Marston.

"At this point in time, our plan is to reach out to existing Amsler equipment owners and let them know they can now count on Uniloy to support their assets," Marston said.

Uniloy will support all Amsler branded PET stretch blow molding machines, trimmers, leak testers and ancillaries.

"This opportunity is 100 percent complementary to our existing line-up, as it adds SBM equipment to Uniloy's stable of technologies and solidifies Uniloy as the most diversified leader in blow molding technologies," Marston said.

To meet customer needs, Uniloy enlisted the expertise of Bruce Coxhead, former Amsler CEO from 2016-21, and other Amsler technical staff.

Coxhead is now general manager of the Uniloy SBM product line. Uniloy also has hired some former Amsler engineers and service/parts associates.

"The most important message I have to those that currently have Amsler equipment — rest assured, you're in good hands," Coxhead said in the release. "I've worked with [Marston] for many years and am very familiar with the team at Uniloy. They're the perfect fit to provide a seamless transition for all of the equipment owners left without options after Amsler closed its doors."

This is the second acquisition in 2022 for Uniloy, and both added new capabilities to the company, which was formerly part of Milacron.

On Feb. 15, Uniloy bought all the assets of Century Die Co. LLC in Fremont, Ohio, to expand its mold lineup.

Founded in 1946, Century Die manufactures blow mold tooling for the plastics packaging industry, particularly bottles and containers for household goods, health, beauty, cleaning and automotive products.

Founded in 1963, Uniloy changed ownership in July 2019 after 21 years as a unit of Milacron Holdings Corp. That is when two private equity firms — Osgood Capital LLC and Cyprium Investment Partners LLC — acquired the business for $51.9 million.

Uniloy makes blow molding machinery and tooling in Tecumseh, and also has operations in Queretaro, Mexico; Magenta, Italy; Ahmedabad, India; Grossbeeren, Germany; Polička, Czech Republic; and the former Century Die factory in Fremont.