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July
1999
For Immediate Release
3M,
Combi America and Siat Announce Joint Venture to Revolutionize
Packaging Equipment Industry
London -
3M, a worldwide resource for total packaging solutions, Siat
S.p.A., a global packaging equipment manufacturer, and Combi
America, a leading case erector manufacturer, announced recently
that, pending final contract approval, they will create a
new packaging equipment resource through a joint venture called
Combi Packaging Systems LLC. As co-owners of this new, independent
company, the three packaging leaders are positioned to become
a leading North American manufacturer of equipment used in
automatic erecting, filling and sealing of corrugated boxes.
"This joint venture brings together three
packaging leaders with complementary expertise," said Pete
Ballos, president and CEO of Combi America, who is slated
to become president of Combi Packaging Systems. "Combi America
brings its case erector and packaging equipment; Siat provides
its manufacturing expertise; and 3M supplies its vast marketing
and distribution channels. Together, the three companies can
supply customers with a single source for all of its packaging
line equipment."
Through the joint venture, high volume corrugated
carton users can access a complete line of packaging equipment,
as well as soft goods such as tape and taping heads through
established 3M distributor channels.
No employment changes are anticipated in any
of the three companies. All employees of Combi America will
become employees of Combi Packaging Systems LLC.
Key to the success of the joint venture is
the superior equipment manufactured by Combi America. Combi
America designs and manufactures a wide range of case erecting
and packaging equipment in their 55,000 square-foot facility
in Canton, Ohio. Ballos started the company 20 years ago and
believes the joint venture will provide significant growth
opportunities for Combi America and its 45 employees. "Being
part of this joint venture opens Combi America to global opportunities,"
said Ballos. "The expanded distribution channels, through
more than 120 3M sales representatives and distributors, will
generate more sales for products manufactured at Combi America.
Ultimately, the joint venture secures long-term growth and
security for our company and our employees." As Combi Packaging
Systems president, Ballos will run the day-to-day operations
of the joint venture that will continue to headquater in Canton.
"Combi America is a leader in the packaging
industry because of the experience of its employees. A joint
venture best preserves Combi America's flexibility and independence
to continue doing what we do best Ð manufacturing the highest
quality equipment in the packaging industry," said Ballos.
In addition to its manufacturing expertise,
Combi Packaging System's engineering and design team will
capitalize on the growing trend to outsource the assembly
of complete packaging lines. Many companies are reducing or
eliminating industrial engineering\ departments typically
charged with establishing packaging assembly lines. In response,
manufacturers have looked to integrators or packaging specialty
distributors to assemble\ full packaging lines. The joint
venture will fill this need with a single source and offer
the customer service and technical support that integrators
lack.
Says Alan McLachlan, business manager, 3M Packaging
Systems Division, 3M Canada, "This is the first three-way
joint venture for 3M. It fits our long-term growth strategy
of being a single source supplier of packaging solutions through
both soft goods and equipment, combined with experience and
service."
Siat CEO Peter Guella agrees that the joint
venture best leverages each company's strengths as well as
solidifies Siat's 25-year partnership with 3M. "With addition
of the case erector product line and 3M distribution channels,
this joint venture provides an excellent opportunity for Siat
to increase sales of its core product line of packaging equipment,"
said Guella.
The direction for the joint venture will come
from six members of the board of directors. From Combi America,
Pete Ballos, president and Janice Ballos, chief financial
officer. Representing 3M, Jim Bauman, manufacturing director
of 3M Packaging Systems Division, and Mike Faust, packaging
equipment business manager of 3M Packaging Systems. Representing
Siat, Peter Guella, chief executive officer, and Ulrich Joerg,
president of International Packaging Equipment, a U.S. subsidiary
of Siat.
Siat S.p.A.
Siat S.p.A., manufactures several lines of packaging equipment,
specializing in case sealers. Based in Turate, Italy, the
company has a global reputation for developing top-line automatic
packaging machines. For more information, call 0039-02-964951
or visit the web site at www.siat.com.
Combi America
Combi America provides custom packaging solutions for case
erecting, loading and sealing for customers across the nation.
For 20 years, the Ohio-based company has designed and manufactured
a variety of packaging equipment from best-in-class case erectors
and sealers to customized end-to-end integrated solutions.
For more information, call 330-456-9333 or visit the Combi
America web site at www.combi.com.
3M
3M Packaging Systems Division is a world leading supplier
of automatic, semi-automatic, and manual packaging systems,
as well as a full line of packaging tapes and supplies. For
more information, call 1-888-3M HELPS or visit our web site
at www.3M.com/pkg.
3M Canada Company was established in 1951 as
one of the 3M global company's first international subsidiaries.
Sales in 1998 were $864.9 million. It employs more than 2,000
people who manufacture and market about 50,000 products serving
industrial, commercial and consumer markets.
For an electronic version of this news release
and information on other innovative 3M Products, visit our
"Press Box" web site at www.3M.com/CA/news.
Additional information is also available by calling 1-888-3M HELPS,
or writing to 3M Canada Company, P.O. Box 5757, London, ON,
N6A 4T1
Contact 3M
Canada PR department.
3M and Diamond Grade are trademarks of 3M. Used
under license in Canada.
Siat is a trademark of Siat S.p.A.
Combi America is a trademark of IMBX Corporation.
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