Alpha Packaging acquires Dutch plant from Graham Packaging Company

In a move to further expand its European presence, blow molder Alpha Packaging Inc. has acquired a plant in Etten-Leur, The Netherlands, from Graham Packaging Company for an undisclosed amount.

The Etten-Leur plant.

The acquired plant is Alpha’s second in Europe, and is just a few kilometers from its existing facility in Roosendaal, The Netherlands, which Alpha launched as a greenfield site in 2010.

In a statement, Alpha said that the acquisition provides it with a strong foothold in the European food packaging sector. “The Etten-Leur facility has earned a grade ‘AA’ certification for the BRC-IoP Global Standard for Packaging and Packaging Materials, which is the highest possible rating for the quality management system for food packaging suppliers,” the statement said.

“The acquisition more than doubles our production capacity on the continent making Alpha one of the largest single stage blow molding operations in Europe,” Jeffrey Kellar, Alpha’s president and CEO, said in the statement. “The addition of the operation in Etten-Leur significantly expands our capabilities in this geography and supports future European growth.”

Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., Alpha manufactures bottles and jars for consumer markets, including the nutrition, pharmaceutical, personal care and niche food and beverage categories. The company now operates ten manufacturing facilities, including eight in North America. Its Canadian operation is located in Vancouver.