David S Smith has acquired TRM Packaging to become its 32nd production site in the UK.
The corrugated packaging group is taking control of a well invested 270-strong £40 million group operating from Burscough in Lancashire. TRM Packaging has operated at the quality end of the market, achieving Best in Show at the recent EFIA awards for the second year in succession.
The business is complementary to DS Smith in both geography and a focus on FMCG customers says the official statement with CEO Miles Roberts adding: “We are delighted to welcome TRM into the DS Smith Group and look forward to working with our new colleagues as we continue to enhance our geographic footprint and customer offering.”
Prior to this, DS Smith’s most recent M&A activity has been focused in southern Europe with the most recent deal being that to acquire Milas Ambalaj, a corrugated and displays business in Turkey.
In the UK DS Smith has been investing in digital production facilities, an HP PageWide T410S was installed a year ago and it is about to become the beta customer for the 2.8 metre wide PageWide T1100S, built in collaboration with KBA. This is scheduled for installation by May.
TRM has been a progressive flexo printer concentrating on the quality of post print for retail ready packaging. It has teamed up with a London design agency and developed techniques which it says match litho for quality, including the ability to emboss a corrugated board.
Recent investment has included Bobst MasterCut and a seven-colour Göfert sheetfed flexo press. This has given it the ability to print to 150lpi equivalent directly to B flute boards.
The emphasis on quality, design and innovation fits with its new parent company where the emphasis has been on adding value for customers in food and drink rather than on price.
Roberts told analysts recently: “There is a huge appetite from our customers for our services, particularly in understanding how the consumer is shopping.” TRM Packaging fits this position.
TRM Packaging has won the Best in Show category for the second year in a row at the EFIA awards, underlining the quality the business can achieve from its flexo printing, one reason for DS Smith’s interest in the business.
