Milacron sells blow moulding activities

In its first quarter financial report, issued April 30, Milacron announced that it will be offering for sale the Uniloy blow moulding machinery business. Uniloy’s line of blow moulding machines includes reciprocating screw blow moulders, injection blow moulding presses, shuttle machines and accumulator head blow moulding machines. The business also is a major manufacturer of blow moulds, for dairy and other markets. Uniloy also provides aftermarket parts, service and rebuild/retrofit capabilities and will continue in its entirety with these products in the go forward portfolio.

The structural foam equipment will remain with Milacron and it is integrated into the Milacron injection moulding business. This business was acquired at the same time as the blow moulding machinery operations from Johnson Controls. The structural foam equipment is also known as LPIM, (Low Pressure Injection Machines) and will continue in the Milacron APPT segment.

Milacron will cease all blow moulding machine manufacturing and assembly operations in its facility in Policka, Czech Republic. Despite the closure of the Policka facility, Uniloy will remain very active and is committed to serving the European blow moulding market through its aftermarket services which includes parts, service, and retrofit/rebuild offerings.

Uniloy will continue to have a strong presence in Europe to support its extensive installed base of machines. In Europe, Uniloy will focus on its aftermarket organization. A team of experts based across Europe (Germany, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, and Italy) will continue to support blow moulding services and technology. The Magenta, Italy facility will serve as the European technical centre.

The Afton, Ohio blow moulding machine manufacturing and moulds operation in Tecumseh, Michigan will continue without interruption. In Latin America, Uniloy will continue to serve the aftermarket needs of its customers through the shared Milacron HIT centre in Queretaro, Mexico.

For Asia, Uniloy will continue to manufacture blow moulding machinery at Milacron’s facility in Ahmedabad, India.

In addition, regional sales and service contacts in South America, the United Kingdom, and Asia will continue to provide Uniloy’s global coverage.

Uniloy will continue to have a strong presence in the global blow moulding industry with a strategic and well represented global footprint that will ensure customers continue to receive the best support. Uniloy will continue to meet the needs of our local and regional customers as a key consideration in the completion of this plan, and we remain committed to ensuring the highest level of quality and performance for our products and customers. Milacron entered blow moulding in 1998 when it bought Johnson Controls Inc.'s Uniloy blow moulding and structural foam moulding business.

Uniloy Milacron is based in Tecumseh, Mich. The machinery maker moved production of Uniloy blow moulding machines and structural foam presses to Milacron's main assembly plant in Batavia, Ohio, in 2002.

In 2015, Milacron consolidated European manufacturing of its blow moulding machines into Policka, Czech Republic, and ended new machinery manufacturing in Magenta, Italy, which will continue as the aftermarket and technical center for European blow moulding. “Market operators have showed a positive interest in the acquisition of Uniloy, and negotiations are now at an advanced stage. The Uniloy Italia headquarters are serving, and will continue to serve, as an aftermarket and technical center for the entire blow moulding industry”, confirmed Corrado Zanga, sales manager of Uniloy Italia.