The Plastics division of DS Smith (London / UK; www.dssmith.uk.com) has acquired Croatian beverage and food packaging producer Kaplast (Karlovac; www.kaplast.hr) for an undisclosed amount. The company – located about 80 km southwest of the capital Zagreb – will be integrated into the UK group’s Injection Moulded Products business, which is centred at Bilzen / Belgium. The purchase is in line with DS Smith’s strategy of investing in higher growth markets in eastern Europe – for details, see Plasteurope.com of 04.07.2014.

“The acquisition of Kaplast builds on our market leading position in Europe and will allow us to grow our injection moulded product offer in the region where we already have injection moulded and extruded plastic operations,” said Hans Van Der Looij, managing director of DS Smith’s Plastics Rigid and Flexible Packaging European group. The Croatian operation will remain under the helm of Kaplast General Manager Ivan Feitl.