Ireland’s Mergon Buys UK Blow Molder

Ireland-based plastics processor Mergon announced today the acquisition of Weltonhurst Ltd., a UK supplier of technical blow-molded components headquartered in Blackburn, Lancashire. Mergon, which has operations in Ireland, South Carolina, the Czech Republic, and China, and supplies parts for brands like BMW, Rivian, and Xerox, said the purchase will allow it to expand its manufacturing capabilities and give the group a base to further develop business with UK customers.

Weltonhurst has been producing plastic components for the industrial, healthcare, and packaging sectors for more than four decades, amassing an extensive client list across the UK and beyond. Its 40,000-square-meter site in Lancashire boasts among the most advanced production facilities in Europe, according to Mergon, and is equipped with in-house automation and secondary automated finishing equipment.

Mergon was founded in Castlepollard in Ireland’s Westmeath County in 1981 by plastics engineer Pat Beirne. It currently employs more than 700 people across the globe. The Weltonhurst deal is Mergon’s first acquisition since UK-based private equity firm Elysian Capital purchased a stake in the company in 2019.

“The acquisition of Weltonhurst represents a considerable strategic expansion of Mergon’s operations and footprint internationally,” said Mergon CEO Pat Beirne. “Operating in the UK will both safeguard seamless service for our UK customers following Brexit and will enhance our capabilities in large-part, small-volume molding. We are excited to have the opportunity to extend our services and processes to a new host of UK customers, while also being able to rely on Weltonhurst’s world-class facilities to enhance the design and manufacturing capabilities that we can offer to our existing customers. We have ambitious plans to grow our industrial division in the areas of traffic management and packaging products, and this acquisition gives us the springboard to launch that initiative,” added Beirne.

Mergon founder and CEO Pat Beirne (centre) alongside members of the company’s senior management team at its headquarters in Castlepollard, Ireland.