UNITED KINGDOM (News release) -- VPK Group came to an agreement with COPI Holding to buy Encase Ltd, manufacturer and designer of corrugated cardboard packaging. Encase Ltd operates two integrated corrugated packaging plants in England and one sheet plant in Scotland. It is VPK's intention to merge Encase with its UK corrugated operations, formerly known as Rigid.
The combined businesses are expected to achieve yearly sales of more than GBP 200 million in corrugated packaging and sheets. All six corrugators combine a yearly containerboard consumption of 300,000 tons, which represents the major part of the non-integrated recycled containerboard consumption in UK.
VPK has a proven track record of successful investments and acquisitions in corrugated manufacturing assets. These include four sheet feeding plants in Poland and Germany - known under the brand name Aquila, an ultra-modern greenfield investment project in Halden (Norway) which was recently put into operation and the acquisition of Viallon Emballages in France. With regards to containerboard production, the pioneering conversion in Strasbourg, France, of the former UPM Stracel assets by Blue Paper, set a new standard for the recycled containerboard industry.
Encase is a family owned business established in the UK during the 1960's and is now one of the UK's largest independent multisite manufacturers of corrugated packaging. Encase operates two integrated corrugated packaging plants in England and one sheet plant in Scotland.
