Pechiney has announced that Pechiney Capsules, its subsidiary specialising in closures and overcapping for wine, champagne, liquors and spirits, has acquired the Chilean company Enocap.
The acquisition is the French group's second within the space of one week within the Latin America region. At the beginning of the week Pechiney announced the acquisition of Novacel, one of Mexico's leading custom flexible packaging operations.
Enocap achieves annual sales of almost $US 3 million (€2.54m) and employs approximately 40 people in its Santiago plant. Enocap was founded in 1996 and swiftly became the leader in the Chilean overcapping market, of which it has a 50 per cent share. The company manufactures a wide range of capsules (PVC, metal-plastic composites, champagne caps).
"We want to develop in South America, particularly in Chile, which is enjoying global growth in wine exports," stated Bruno de Trémiolles, CEO of Pechiney Capsules. "We are especially satisfied with the agreement signed with Enocap, which has achieved national leadership through manufacturing excellence and outstanding service quality."
Enocap chairman Nicolas Rodillo emphasised the opportunities raised by the agreement with Pechiney Capsules: "the Chilean market is growing more and more sophisticated by the day. Innovative products are required in line with the upscale trend in the country's wines. Our new partner's innovation capability will support us in serving our customers even more effectively and in winning new business."
Pechiney Capsules, the world leader in capping and overcapping for wine, champagne, liquors and spirits, achieved sales of €96 million in 2002. It employs 860 people in 5 production sites - 3 in France, 1 in California and 1 in Quebec. Pechiney Capalux, the Quebec subsidiary, was acquired in October 2000 to develop Pechiney Capsules' North American market presence and to gain leadership in long aluminum closures.
Pechiney Capsules belongs to the Pechiney Group's Packaging Sector, which achieved sales of €2.4 billion in 2002. The Sector is active in 18 countries and employs 16,000 people in 95 production units. It currently has global leadership in a number of packaging sectors which include the food and beverage markets.