Plastic and paperboard packaging manufacturer Robinson (Chesterfield / UK; www.robinsonpackaging.com) has sold its spirally wound paperboard containers business to Sonoco (Hartsville, South Carolina / USA; www.sonoco.com) for a cash sum of GBP 2.6m (EUR 2.9m). The business, Robinson Paperboard Packaging, based at the company's headquarters, represented 24% of the group’s GBP 24.8m (EUR 27.7m) revenues in 2010, but had not contributed to profits in the past five years. The operating loss attributable to the assets in 2010 was GBP 0.5m (EUR 0.6m) and their book value was GBP 1.9m (EUR 2.1m). Robinson will now concentrate on its plastics production operations, having closed its paperboard plant in Toronto / Canada in December 2010.

Commenting on the disposal to Sonoco, Robinson chief executive officer Adam Formela said it represented a unique opportunity to enhance the future prospects of Robinson Paperboard Packaging, “whilst allowing the company to focus on developing its plastics businesses in the UK and Poland”. Robinson says it will be using the proceeds from the sale to reduce bank debt; its 2010 accounts show year-end net borrowings of GBP 3.7m (EUR 4.1m).

Robinson Plastic Packaging has two UK plants, in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Stanton Hill, and one in Lodz / Poland. It manufactures injection moulded packaging for leading brands and OEMs across a range of consumer markets. Products include thin-wall pots and lids, containers, aerosol actuators, dispensers, caps and closures. Facilities include in-mould labelling and robotic assembly. Sonoco is a significant customer for its products, such as plastic over-caps.

Robinson is retaining the rigid box manufacturing business at the Chesterfield site and will cooperate with Sonoco on rigid box production until 31 December. The production equipment will then be relocated. Sonoco now has more than 600 employees at 10 UK locations for its consumer and industrial packaging operations. It operates 44 facilities across 15 European countries, with annualised sales of more than USD 700m (EUR 490m) and over 5,000 employees.