Packaging World Is the leading publication covering the business of packaging.... Qualify for your FREE subscription today!

York, PA, USA - March 11, 2005 - Jobwerx News - Graham Packaging, York, PA, USA to acquire four Tetra Laval Group plants that manufacture HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic bottles for nutritional and dairy beverages supplying markets in Belgium, Brazil, Turkey, and the United States.

This acquisition should position the company as a leading global supplier of blow molded plastic packaging for these two fast-growing beverage categories in the aseptic packaging market.

The transaction will include the transfer of all contracts, fixed assets, inventories, and plant employees from Tetra Pak to Graham Packaging.

The company virtually doubled in size last year with the purchase of the plastic container business unit of Owens-Illinois. The company produced approximately 20 billion units at 90 plants in 16 countries and had worldwide net sales of $2.1 billion over the 12 months ended June 30, 2004.

This acquisition also is a significant opportunity to acquire established operations equipped with advanced blow-moulding technology and that the opportunity had also further increased the number of plants that the company owns with on-site customers.

Last year the company announced a new technology aimed at moving the company away from glass packaging towards plastics. Its proprietary Active Transverse Panel (ATP) bottle aims to give manufacturers design freedom and flexibility in creating a packaging identity that has been up to the present hard to accomplish.

The new concept is the first panel-free hot-fill polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle, and is described by the company as the answer to current hot-fill bottling needs. The ATP technology enables 100 per cent of the vacuum to be removed from the package without the use of traditional panels - a problem that has traditionally plagued this kind of hot-fill technology.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

In a little over a decade, Graham Packaging has evolved from a regional supplier of HDPE bottles to a global industry leader in custom, value-added plastic packaging, with more than 90 facilities spanning three continents.

Graham Packaging 2004 - Ocean Spray Supplier of the Year award

Graham Packaging Company, L.P., is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of technology-based, customized blow-molded plastic containers for the branded food and beverage, household, personal care and specialty and automotive lubricants markets. The Blackstone Group of New York is the majority owner of Graham Packaging and also Celanese businesses are advised by The Blackstone Group .

Graham Packaging Company, Inc. 2401 Pleasant Valley Road York, PA 17402 (717) 849-8500

Haven't found what you're looking for? Try 'Search' powered by : Graham Packaging, Tetra Leval Group, Tetra Pak, The Blackstone Group

Click here to view more current news articles