Plastic containers and closures manufacturer Pretium Packaging has acquired US firm Cox Container, which specialises in extrusion blow moulding of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers for food, beverage, dairy and industrial applications.

The acquisition includes a manufacturing facility on a 13-acre site in Troy, Alabama, which offers the potential for future expansion.

Pretium Packaging president and CEO Paul Kayser said: “The acquisition brings additional HDPE manufacturing capability to Pretium and gives us a strategic foothold in the Southeast.

“The acquisition brings additional HDPE manufacturing capability to Pretium and gives us a strategic foothold in the Southeast.”

“We will now be able to capitalise on the strong growth Cox has experienced over the past couple of years to better serve our combined customers. Additionally, we are aggressively looking to add other exceptional regional companies to our portfolio.”

Cox Container is the fifth acquisition made by Pretium in the past four years, in line with its strategy to grow business through acquisitions.

Pretium plans to retain Cox Container’s employees and management team as well as the manufacturing plant.

Cox Container president Ken Cox said: “Under Pretium ownership, we will now have the ability to offer our customers new products by leveraging Pretium’s extensive PET capabilities, as well as a manufacturing footprint across North America. We are excited to be a part of the Pretium team.”

Pretium supplies plastic containers and closures to the food, speciality beverage, household and industrial cleaner, sports nutrition and health, and beauty product industries.

The company operates 17 locations across the US and Canada, manufacturing about two billion PET and HDPE containers per year.