Newly formed Exopack sets its sights on Berry, Bemis and Amcor as a technologically and geographically diverse alternative

Last week, Sun Capital announced that five of its packaging companies in North America and Europe will combine to operate under the banner of Exopack Holdings Sarl. The combined business will have 63 plants, 8650 employees and aggregate revenues of more than $2.5 billion.

Joining Exopack, a U.S.-based producer of flexible paper and plastic packaging and advanced coatings, will be four companies based in Europe: Britton Group, a flexible plastic packaging manufacturer; PACCOR, the second-largest rigid plastic packaging company in Europe; Kobusch, a producer of tailor-made flexible and rigid packaging systems; and Paragon Print & Packaging, a provider of private label packaging solutions in the UK.

Exopack Holdings Sarl looks to be an established leader in the development, manufacture, and sourcing of rigid and flexible plastic packaging, as well as coatings solutions for various consumer and industrial end-use markets. 

Jack Knott, the newly appointed CEO, said that each company had similar attributes.

"Each focuses on good innovation and a manufacturing platform that are all very complementary - by combining together we end up with a global manufacturing footprint far better than anyone else out there," he said. "This also allows us to share best practices and bring new technology to the market, and so we end up serving the customer base better."

Going forward, Knott anticipates the company will continue to grow both through acquisitions and organically via new innovation and technology. He believes the larger scale will enable the company to accelerate the development and commercialization of new and differentiated products that offer its customers a competitive advantage.

Exopack Holdings Sarl will build on past collaborations between the organizations, which will enable the company to achieve synergies and more effectively pursue global business.

"Competition like Berry Plastics is very North American centric, Bemis is North American centric, Amcor is European centric," Knott said. "Based on the market segments we serve and the breadth of products we will offer, plus a global manufacturing footprint and innovation pipeline, it truly allows us to serve a diverse customer base."