Page 16 - Plastics News March 2021

CompAny news

UBEECO expands packaging PAC Worldwide to invest $47m

offerings with J.C. Gilmore for Georgia facility

acquisition
S-based custo m
he UBEECO Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of UFP Upackaging solutions
TIndustries, has expanded its industrial packaging manufacturer PAC Worldwide
offerings in Australia with the acquisition of J.C. Gilmore’s will invest $47m to establish
assets. This transaction will add a range of protective its first facility in Georgia.
packaging to UBEECO and its sister company Integra The company will operate
Packaging’s industrial packaging product lines. It will from a 500,000 sq. ft site in
also expand the customer base of the companies across Union City, Fulton County.
Australia. UFP Industries executive vice-president Dick The facility is expected
McBride said: “Australia is an important growth market to open later this year
for UFP Global Holdings, and Gilmores’ strong reputation and generate 400 jobs in
provides a great entrance to a large consumable packaging manufacturing, logistics and customer experience.
market. “By joining forces, we create growth opportunities Available positions will include department leaders,
with both new and existing customers, as Gilmores provides supervisors, engineers, operators, warehouse associates
a complementary line of protective packaging products and machine packers. The company’s expansion
that UBEECO will now make available to its customers. into Georgia is partly motivated by the growth of
“We also plan to expand Gilmores’ footprint into New e-commerce. PAC Worldwide president Steve Foster
South Wales and Queensland, giving them greater service said: “The proximity to customers, key suppliers and
capacity.” The leadership team of Gilmores, including a deep labour pool were all compelling reasons to
founder Michael Gilmore and his brother Mark Gilmore, will make greater Atlanta part of our US footprint. We look
continue with the company. Gilmores was founded in 1988 forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership
and has been operating from its Port Melbourne distribution with the community.” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp
facility in Australia. The company distributes packaging
tapes, stretch films, packaging equipment, strapping, said: “I thank PAC Worldwide for their commitment
to creating hundreds of solid manufacturing jobs for
the hard-working Georgians of Fulton County. “I’m
confident the state’s central position in the south-east,
along with our highly skilled workforce, will help PAC
Worldwide better serve their customers.” Founded
in 1975, PAC Worldwide develops, manufactures and
automates packaging solutions for a broad portfolio
of customers. Its products include protective mailers
and speciality packaging for the courier, e-commerce,
construction protection products and other items to the fulfilment and distribution markets. The company has
industrial and construction sectors. Gilmores founder operations in the US, UK, Mexico and Malaysia, and
Michael Gilmore said: “We look forward to Gilmores and currently employs more than 1,900 people. Georgia is
UBEECO collaborating to expand our geographic reach considered one of the US’s leading states in advanced
throughout Australia, as well as the capability to provide manufacturing. Scholle IPN EMEA managing director and
our customers with new lines of timber products and Bossar CEO Jeroen van der Meer said: “By combining our
export packaging such as pallets, skids and crates. “This companies, we are able to truly focus our development
combination will create great benefits for both our team activity to provide leading-edge technologies that allow
and our customers.” The companies have not disclosed us to manufacture a complete range of sustainable
the financial terms of the acquisition. packaging solutions for our customers.”

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