Impress buys assets of liquidation-hit machinery group STI

Impress said that it had bought STI’s assets including its intellectual property rights, and that the deal would safeguard the “knowhow and competitive advantages” of Impress’s designs and developments.

STI is based in Illinois, US, and is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of conversion presses for easy-open ends and other components for the manufacture of metal packaging.

Impress said that it would continue to buy the majority of its equipment from third parties, but following the acquisition would continue to control the development and design of its proprietary easy-open ends.

Francis Labbé, Impress chief executive, said the acquisition was “another step in our mission to build on the advantages of metal packaging”.

Impress has a range of easy-open ends including the ‘I’m 18′ range for retorted food cans, which at 0.18mm thick is the lightest easy-open end on the market for ambient canned foods in the 400g can size.

It has recently launched Softlift, a steel easy-open end which gives easier finger access to the ring-pull.

Impress has expanded swiftly through acquisitions or alliances in recent years. Last September it revealed plans to build a $30m plant in New York State and established a business in Korea, while deals earlier in the previous two years gave it presence in Thailand, Spain and Portugal, and Peru.

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