Impress swells food and aerosol capabilities

CanTech international
May/June 2004

Impress has joined forces with Berkshire Partners to buy USC Europe, the European operations of US Can. The deal is expected to be complete by the autumn.

Impress which is based in Deventer, the Netherlands, will be taking over the food can business of May Verpackungen and the European aerosol activities of USC Europe. Last year they had a combined sales turnover of €235 million.

May Verpackungen has two plants in Germany and one in Denmark and has a sizeable position in Northern Europe in the supply of cans for ready meals, vegetables and pet foods. USC Europe is the second largest supplier of aerosols to the European market with facilities in France, Germany, UK, Spain and Italy.

Francis Labbé, chief executive officer of Impress said, '' This is a major strategic opportunity for Impress. It will reinforce our position and extend our geographical coverage in the growing markets fir aerosols and strengthen our ability to serve food can customers in Northern Europe.

Impress took home four WorldStar Awards from this year's international ceremony in Beijing, China.

The awards highlight advances in packaging from all areas of the industry, the only prerequisite for entries being that they have previously won a national award.

The Impress winners were: Hammerite Paint in the domestic products category; Saint-Mamet fruit Salad for food products; the Tripod can for Petit Navire Tuna in the food product section and ''I'm 18'' easy open end in the food product category.

The winners were decided by an expert panel of judges from the World Packaging Organisation who determined which packages were superior either in execution or by comparison.

Philippe Gimenez, Impress research and development director, said: '' Recognition by the packaging industry is paramount. Through these awards we have demonstrated our capacity to lead the world through innovation and our ability to adapt by providing differentiated packaging solutions.''

Impress
t: +33 2 4348 5100