Sonoco Acquires Assets of Robinson Paperboard Packaging
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Sonoco, Hartsville, S.C., USA, reported this week that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sonoco UK Ltd., has completed acquiring the assets of Robinson Paperboard Packaging (RPP), Chesterfield, U.K., a division of Robinson PLC. With origins dating back to 1839, RPP produces rigid paperboard tubes and boxes for the food, drink, toiletries, cosmetics, and the gift/presentation markets.
The acquisition will add approximately $10 million in annual sales and includes customer contracts, as well as other business assets of Robinson Paperboard Packaging. As part of the transaction, Sonoco will assume operation of Robinson's Chesterfield paperboard can plant located on Goyt Side Road in Chesterfield. Employees at the plant will be retained.
The Chesterfield plant is ISO 14001 environmentally accredited, and also has British Retail Consortium/IoP Food Hygiene and ISO 9001 accreditation. Sonoco will continue to work with other parts of Robinson, including its plastics packaging division for the supply of plastic overcaps.
"The purchase of Robinson Paperboard Packaging is a good strategic fit with Sonoco's growing global rigid paper container operations," said Sean Cairns, GM of Sonoco Rigid Paper and Closures, Europe. "We believe Robinson's proven expertise in innovative paper bottom technology and unique, patented processes provide a strong platform for our continued development and growth in the U.K. and Europe.
"This agreement is a win for Robinson, Sonoco, and our packaging customers, who are increasingly recognizing the proven advantages that rigid paper containers bring in terms of reducing costs and minimizing the impact on the environment – without compromising quality. Packaging made from rigid paper reduces package weight, makes more efficient use of raw materials, and conserves energy," Cairns added.
Sonoco has been operating in the U.K. since 1923 and now has more than 600 employees engaged in consumer and industrial packaging operations at 10 locations. It operates 44 facilities throughout 15 European countries with annualized sales of more than $700 million and more than 5,000 employees. The company is the world's largest manufacturer of rigid paperboard containers, producing a variety of round and shaped spiral-wound, recycled paperboard cans, fiber cartridges, and single-wrap paperboard containers, serving a variety of food and non-food markets. Sonoco's rigid paperboard operations include operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
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