Taghleef Industries (TI, Dubai / United Arab Emirates; www.ti-films.com), number two on the BOPP world market behind Jindal Films (New Delhi / India; www.jindalfilms.com), is taking over one of the largest biaxially oriented PP (BOPP) film producers in South America. The UAE-based company is to acquire Biofilm (Bogotá / Colombia; www.biofilm.com.co), with the transaction expected to close by the end of 2018.

The acquisition will increase TI's total film capacity from 410,000 t/y to more than 500,000 t/y. This narrows the gap to Jindal's approximately 550,000 t/y, with the Indian giant recently acquiring Treofan's European business – see Plasteurope.com of 10.08.2018. TI CEO Detlef Schuhmann is expecting synergies in production and service.

Biofilm operates two plants – one in Cartagena / Colombia and the other in Altamira / Mexico. The capacity of the two lines in Altamira is around 55,000 t/y, and in Cartagena there are three lines with an additional 40,000 t/y. According to the company, its metallisation capacity is about 22,500 t/y.

Biofilm produces transparent and opaque, co-extruded and metallised films for food packaging, including some high-barrier films and labels. Its products are supplied to the Americas as well as Europe.