RPC Group has announced the acquisition of specialist injection moulding plastic packaging manufacturer Manuplastics Limited. The company will become part of the RPC Bramlage-Wiko cluster.
First incorporated as Prestware Limited in 1933, the current Manuplastics Limited was established following a management buyout from Cope Allman Plastics Limited in 1976. The company operates from a purpose-built factory, opened in 2007, in Wimbledon, London.
Manuplastics specialises in the manufacture of plastics packs for the personal care and food markets, its principal products including a range of cream jars in sizes from 15 to 500ml for leading brands such as Body Shop, Boots and Alberto Culver, jelly pots for the Hartley’s brand of jelly desserts, and Sweetex containers for Reckitt Benckiser.
The business provides the ideal complement to RPC Bramlage-Wiko, creating a high quality UK manufacturing and sales base. In particular Manuplastics will now be able to offer RPC’s complete range of personal care products to both existing and new customers. It will also work alongside RPC’s UK Injection Moulding cluster to maximise opportunities in the food sector. Equally important, the availability of technical expertise and exchange of knowledge within the clusters will contribute to the development of new products for both sectors.
RPC is acquiring Manuplastics for a cash-free, debt-free consideration of £7m. In its last financial year the company reported sales of £7.8 million.
“This is an important acquisition which supports our strategy of continuing to consolidate and grow our core market positions,” comments RPC Group Chief Executive Ron Marsh.
“The arrival of Manuplastics into the RPC Bramlage-Wiko cluster will further strengthen our pre-eminent position in personal care packaging, as well as creating further potential in the food market, where we also enjoy a leading position. The company has a strong and experienced management team who will be able to take the business forward, benefiting from the synergies within the Group to offer a comprehensive range of value-added packaging to both existing and new customers.”