Oliver Healthcare Packaging acquires EK-Pack Folien, strengthening its portfolio

GERMANY – Global leader in developing sterile, flexible healthcare and medical packaging, Oliver Healthcare Packaging has acquired Germany-based film and foil technology producer EK-Pack Folien.

This acquisition includes Vacopack H. Buchegger AG, a fully owned subsidiary of EK-Pack, based in northeastern Switzerland.

As part of the agreement, Oliver will acquire the EK-Pack facility, which has 23,000m² of manufacturing space with eight production lines for multi-layer film and foil laminations.

The company will also acquire the Vacopack facility with 5150m² of manufacturing space and speciality equipment to support bag packaging production.

Oliver Healthcare Packaging CEO Michael Benevento commented: “This acquisition gives us greater control over our supply chain and continues our investments in the European region to better support our customer base.

“This vertical integration is a strategic way to build scale and flexibility while insourcing many of our packaging materials.”

EK-Pack owner Marco Ziegler added: “EK-Pack has been family-owned for 40+ years and that’s how Oliver began as well. We are excited to continue providing reliable supply to our food customers while also expanding our activities in healthcare.”

Opening of new cleanroom

Meanwhile, the company also announced the opening of its 1,450 square meter cleanroom. The company says the US$15 million investment in Venray is pivotal to enable its medical device and pharmaceutical customers to provide uninterrupted service to patients in Europe and globally.

The new cleanroom will allow Oliver to triple its manufacturing footprint and further employment opportunities in a critically important market, in Limburg.

Over the last ten years, Oliver HCP has made significant investments in the EMEA region. In the last four years, the market dynamics have evolved such that there is a much greater focus in our market to source and produce locally.

Producing packaging in the region for the region de-risks supply chains, serves customers effectively, and most importantly, promotes environmental consciousness.

Early this year, the company broke ground on the 122,000-square-foot facility, located within the i-Tech Valley, an integrated industrial park in the established economic zone of Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

The plant is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2024 and will supply its rapidly growing Asia-Pacific customer base.

The new manufacturing facility will have the latest state-of-the-art equipment, operating ISO-7 and ISO-8 clean rooms while meeting growing regulatory standards for medical packaging.

The plant will produce pouches, lids, CleanCut cards, and roll stock, and will boast the latest in printing technology with an emphasis on supporting its growing medical device and pharmaceutical customers in the region.

In line with the company’s commitment to embedding corporate responsibility and stewardship into its business practices, the Johor plant will also emphasize sustainability throughout its manufacturing process.

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