Reshuffle at Rexam creates healthcare unit
pharmafile | October 7, 2009 | News story | Manufacturing and Production | Rexam, packaging
Packaging giant Rexam is merging three of its units into one global healthcare division headed by former Rexam Pharma chief Marc Haemel.
The London-based comapny has seen its financial performance affected by the downturn in demand for consumer goods and sees an investment in healthcare as a way to insulate its business from the prevailing economic turbulence in more cyclical sectors.
Its current healthcare business, and particularly the plastic packaging unit, has been resilient in recent months at a time when other divisions such as food and beverage containers and personal care have been under pressure.
Over the last six years Rexam has made a string of acquisitions in healthcare packaging, including US firms Owens-Illinois and Precise Technology, India's Truepack, UK firm Risdon Pharma and France's Plastic Omnium Medical.
Now, the new Rexam Healthcare unit will be formed by merging the pharmaceutical unit with Rexam Primary Packaging and Rexam Prescription to create an entity employing 3,370 staff at 16 facilities across Europe, North America and Asia.
"Globalisation and increasing regulatory requirements in our industry are driving consolidation of supplier," said Haemel.
The aim is to develop an integrated packaging business, with a global scale, that will be able to negotiate wide-ranging, strategic deals with large multinational pharmaceutical companies.
"The larger scope of our business will enhance our skills and expertise in global project management, multi-site manufacturing, strong R&D capabilities and regulatory support," Haemel added.
Rexam Pharma specialises in drug delivery systems such as inhalers and medical devices, while the primary packaging unit provides plastic containers and closures and includes a dedicated unit serving the ophthalmic sector. The prescription business focuses on vials and closures and includes a complete line of pharmacy automation equipment.
The latest move is part of a much wider restructuring at Rexam which has seen the firm close two food packaging factories, one in the US and the other in France, and a cosmetics facility in Russia. The company says the intention is to emerge as a leaner, stronger player when market conditions improve.
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