South Africa´s packaging industry appears to be in an intensive globalisation thrust, or at least moving into Europe in full force. On the heels of a takeover by Nampak Ltd (Sandton, 2146 South Africa) of UK blow moulder Plysu plc (GB-Milton Keynes MK17 8SE) – see Plasteurope.com 22, 1999 – competitor Malbak Ltd (4 Pybus Road, Wierda Valley, Sandton, 2196 South Africa) is now also taking the offensive in the UK.

Malbak, which has interests in paper and cardboard as well as flexible and rigid plastics packaging, has made a bid to acquire the remaining 36% of M.Y. Holdings plc (Guildford Road, GB-Bagshot, Surrey GU19 5NG). The UK offshoot contributed EUR 90m to Malbak´s EUR 212m sales in H1 of financial year 1999/2000 (30 September), with the M.Y. Plastics segment supplying a third of the contribution. That company´s 724 employees produce thermoformed trays and containers, dual ovenable PET-C trays and blister packaging for food and consumer goods at four sites in England and Scotland, whereby the emphasis is on meat packaging.

MY Plastics added considerable critical mass in June 1998 with the takeover of the trays and container business of AEP Borden (European HQ: NL-6650 AC Beuningen). In line with the South African parent company´s strategy of expansion through acquisition, the British group can also be expected to take steps in this direction once the deal with Mabak has been completed.