11 Mar 2010 --- Amcor Rigid Plastics is the new corporate name for the former Amcor PET Packaging business based here in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The newly renamed business group is among seven operating units that were organized following the recent US$1.9 billion acquisition of parts of Alcan Packaging by parent company Amcor Ltd. Amcor Rigid Plastics consists of Amcor PET Packaging; Bericap North America, a plastic closures joint venture between Amcor and the Bericap Group; and the plastics container unit of Alcan’s global pharmaceutical business. Bill Long, who had been president of Amcor PET Packaging, will head up the new business.

The new corporate identity reflects a significant expansion of Amcor’s product offering and reaffirms the company’s commitment to the global packaging industry. The acquisition of Alcan’s pharmaceutical rigid container business will complement Amcor’s current plastics packaging business, which is recognized as the global leader in production of PET packaging for the beverage, food, and non-food industries.

The Alcan deal moves Amcor into new applications, materials, and processes, according to Shelley Steele, communications director for Amcor Rigid Plastics. “The new company combines two world-class businesses and provides Amcor with a highly valuable entry into the pharmaceutical market,” explained Steele. “Overall, it enables Amcor to offer a wider range of products and deliver improved service due to a better geographic mix of manufacturing plants.”

Alcan’s rigid container pharmaceutical business is a leading producer of containers made of PP, PE, and PET for over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and other pharmaceutical needs. Amcor is also expected to benefit from Alcan’s extensive processing capabilities in stretch-blow molding, extrusion-blow molding, and injection blow molding, along with strong expertise in multi-material processing.

The acquisition adds approximately $160 million in sales and 800 employees across six plants. The new manufacturing facilities are located in Millville, NJ, DesPlaines, IL, Bethlehem, PA, Youngsville, NC in the US and Cayey, Puerto Rico, and Diadema, Brazil.

The combined company will benefit from diverse synergies that will ultimately spur new developments in R&D, technology, new products, and application development, according to Long. During the integration period, Amcor foresees no major changes for customers and a secure product supply is expected, according to the company.