The group headed by Isidore Leiser now has a turnover of almost 90 million euros in a label market that is becoming increasingly concentrated. This acquisition brings it complementary products and technologies.
External growth operations are following one another in the label sector. The pressure on raw materials that has plagued the industry over the past 24 months, combined with rising energy costs, transportation difficulties and human resources issues, is accelerating this trend. Thus, after Alliance Labels and Autajon, it is Stratus Packaging’s turn to announce a major takeover, that of its competitor décomatic. Based in La Verpillière (Isère), the latter has a turnover of 18 million euros and employs 112 people. Its activity is centered on niche markets, such as the printing of secure labels for the chemical, automotive and lubricant, plant, medical and fiduciary sectors.
The company, which has nine flexographic and digital lines, is particularly present in the decoration of gas bottles for domestic or medical use for which it proposes stretch and shrink sleeves, adhesive labels or booklet labels and collars.
Specialization
This strong specialization is an asset for Stratus Packaging, which is a label “generalist”, more active in more traditional sectors such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. “Decomatic has expertise in printing and laminating films, which we only do in part with the HP Indigo 20,000,” says Isidore Leiser, CEO of Stratus Packaging, before continuing: “This acquisition will allow us to expand into medium and large widths, adding envelopes and pouches for the food and beverage industry to our offering.
envelopes and pouches for the medical sector, as well as stretch sleeves.
Geographically, the acquisition of décomatic strengthens Stratus Packaging’s position in the Rhône-Alpes region, since the group can now count on three complementary sites in the sector: Viriat (Ain), Saint Priest-en-Jarez (Loire) and its new subsidiary in Isère. The amount of the transaction was not communicated. According to our information, décomatic was in search of a purchaser, the family
Allègre family having not found a successor.
Production
The two companies share values and a family shareholding, which favored their agreement. Jean Luc Allègre, the current managing director, should remain in post for a year before withdrawing.
Stratus Packaging took over the Swiss company Koch just one year ago. With the acquisition of décomatic, the label manufacturer has changed gear and grown in size with a turnover of around 90 million euros and 462 employees, bringing it closer to the leading group of French market leaders, i.e. MCC, CCL Industries and the aforementioned Autajon and Alliance Labels. The group headed by Isidore Leiser now has eight production sites in France and Switzerland, equipped with 57 printing lines for an annual capacity of 70 million square meters, with know-how ranging from
adhesive labels, in-mold labels (IML), radio frequency identification (RFID) and multi-page labels.
February 28, 2023 by Tiziano Polito
Emballages Magazine