Comar builds capacity with Unicon buy

US drug packaging firm Comar says acquisition of Universal Container Corp (Unicon) provides capacity for growth, particularly in key liquid medication delivery device market.

Cavey, Puerto Rico-based Unicon produces injection, blow and extrusion moulded high-grade plastic packaging and container parts for the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry

Financial terms of the transaction, which completed on April 16, were not disclosed, neither were details of the likely impact on Unicon’s existing manufacturing workforce.

Comar president Mike Ruggieri suggested that: “Unicon’s products, production capabilities, and facility will complement and enhance Comar’s existing product lines and position the combined entity for future growth.

He highlighted manufacturing space as a key motivation for the deal, explaining that it “gives our business a high quality, redundant facility for production while also expanding our capacity to keep up with our rapid organic growth.”

The acquisition is the latest step in Comar’s strategic refocusing on building in plastic pharmaceutical and medical packaging, which began in 2007 with the sale of its glass vial unit to Germany’s Gerresheimer.

The addition of Unicon’s various plastics moulding and production capabilities also fits with Comar's recent efforts to expand its range of oral, liquid medication dispensing technologies.

Earlier this month the Buena New Jersey-headquartered firm announced the launch of enhancements to its tow-piece oral dispenser line, specifically changes to barrel and plunger design.

Comar also began using new standard colorants that contain no fillers and all use the same carrier resin which, it claimed, will provide greater performance consistency across the product range.