Page 55 - Plastics News January 2023

BUSINESS NEWS

ABC adds injection molding, tooling with WMGT EPS packaging maker
acquisition
expands product line
with natural fiber
acquisition

uto supplier ABC Technologies News ranking of North American
AHoldings Inc. is adding more injection molders with $500 million in
expertise in both injection molding sales — as well as blow molding (No.
and tooling with its acquisition of 15 in PN ranking with $370 million company that makes expanded
Windsor Mold Group Technologies in sales); extrusion (No. 75 in pipe, A polystyrene packaging is buying
(WMGT) for $165 million. profile and tubing in North America a company that makes natural fiber
WMGT, based in Windsor, Ontario, with $44 million in sales); and blow alternatives to EPS packaging.
is a Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier to the mold and aluminum tooling, landing Engineered Foam Packaging Corp.
auto industry and a maker of complex at No. 76 in North America with $7 (EFP) of Elkart, Ind., a maker of
tooling for injection molded exterior million in sales. custom protective packaging and
and interior parts, lighting molds and WMG has been owned by the Biere cold chain products, announced
optic inserts, ABC officials said in a family. Its sale to ABC marks the "next Dec. 19 it acquired NatureKool
Dec. 22 news release. It saw US$270 phase of WMGT's journey," President Inc., which it claims is the world's
million in sales for its fiscal year that and CEO David Mastronardi said in first producer of natural fiber-insu-
ended April 30. the release. lated shippers.
WMGT has operations in Windsor; "I'm confident that the combination EFP President John Hoeper said
Amherstburg, Ontario; Saline, Mich.; of our businesses — enabled by a in a news release the acquisition
"strengthens our presence in the
Bellevue, Ohio; Pulaski, Tenn.; Pharr, continued focus on people, quality, growing field of curbside recycla-
Texas, and Querétaro, Mexico. The and customers — will catalyze ble packaging." Raleigh, N.C.-based
acquisition is the third of 2022 for meaningful growth and opportunities NatureKool also expands EFP's ge-
Toronto-based ABC Technologies and while establishing the combination as ographic reach and offers environ-
adds to its capabilities as a vertically a supplier of choice," he said. mental benefits, he added.
integrated supplier. The acquisition is expected to close in NatureKool temperature - control
"This acquisition strengthens ABC's early 2023. packaging is made of natural fibers
exterior products offering, expands Earlier in 2022, ABC purchased from bast-fiber plants, including
our injection molding technical Mühlacker, Germany-based injection hemp and jute. The company main-
expertise and brings additional value- molder Karl Etzel GmbH for $95 ly gets those plant fibers from post-
added tooling in-house," President million and dlhBowles Inc., a maker of industrial waste, but even as crops,
and CEO Terry Campbell said in a camera and sensor cleaning systems bast plants require little water and
news release. for advanced driving, for $255 million. fertilizer, grow quickly without the
ABC already has injection molding — use of harsh chemicals such as pes-
it is No. 17 in the most recent Plastics ticides and are processed without
chemicals.

January 2023 PLASTICS NEWS 55