Global injection moulding company Rosti (Malmö / Sweden; www.rosti.com) has bought McKechnie Engineered Plastics (Stamford Bridge, York / UK; www.mckechnie-plastics.co.uk) from manufacturing buy-out specialist Melrose (London / UK; www.melroseplc.net) for a cash price of GBP 31m (EUR 39m). Formed in the 1930s, McKechnie is one of the leading UK injection moulding companies, operating 110 machines from three facilities with a combined manufacturing space of 30,000m². It has a turnover of some GBP 75m (EUR 93m) and employs 650 people.

McKechnie employs a similar “Concept to Reality” philosophy as Rosti, providing an integrated service from design through to distribution. Its array of injection moulding technologies is supported by facilities for cosmetic painting, automated assembly, metal pressings and other value-added operations.

Commenting on the acquisition, Rosti Group CEO Borje Vernet said: “The strategic fit between Rosti and McKechnie in terms of technical competences, culture and customers is impressive. The two companies share a common approach through developing value-added solutions and providing high levels of customer service.”

Operating as a new Rosti subsidiary, Rosti McKechnie will be supplying most of Rosti’s current markets: power tools, food & drink packaging and automotive. Its moulding operations at Stamford Bridge and Pickering, both in North Yorkshire, are backed by a third plant, trading as Canning Brett and located in Pontardaew, Swansea / South Wales, that specialises in metal fabrications and fixings. Both plastics moulding plants are state-of-the-art, with particular expertise in multi-shot moulding, the processing of acrylics and drinks can widget production.

The Rosti Group now has 10 manufacturing plants in seven countries operating 460 moulding machines. It employs 2,500 workers and has a turnover of EUR 300m. It is owned by investment group Nordstjernan (Stockholm / Sweden; www.nordstjernan.se).