BILA Acquires REO-PACK

Corporate

Denmark's largest automation house is set to become even larger and stronger in the field of automation products. With the acquisition of Denmark's largest specialised factory for stretch film machines in Mariager, BILA can now offer industrial customers both domestically and internationally a complete automation solution for packaging, palletising, and final wrapping and labeling of pallets.

 

REO-PACK's stretch film wrappers and labeling solutions now complement the offerings of the BILA Group. This acquisition is part of the international expansion that BILA is currently undergoing in Europe and the USA.

 

Time is crucial when it comes to packaging, palletising, wrapping, and transporting finished goods in the industry. Therefore, BILA Group is now adding the two technologies that were missing from its automation portfolio to provide a complete end-of-line product program: stretch film wrappers and labeling for finished pallets.

 

BILA and REO-PACK customers can choose logistics products as needed, like building blocks that can be seamlessly integrated into a reliable automation solution. They now have a single supplier responsible for everything, including robots, AGVs/self-driving trucks, palletisers, film wrappers, and more.

 

BILA's acquisition of REO-PACK is a result of a generational shift, where the current owner and founder, Thorvald Christensen, is selling all his ownership to BILA. He ensures that knowledge, experience, and networks are thoroughly transferred as he continues as the daily manager of the company's 50 employees for the next three years.

 

"I entrust my life's work to BILA Group because I know it is an owner, who will further develop and secure my company for the benefit of my good employees, customers, and suppliers. There have been other buyers in the picture, but BILA is absolutely the best match. Entrusting REO-PACK to BILA gives me peace of mind,"

 

Thorvald Christensen, CEO at REO-PACK

 

Simple construction and long lifespan

 

Founded in 1988 in Mariager, REO-PACK has built an impressive global customer base of heavyweights in the industry worldwide, including Nestlé, DHL, Rockwool, Carlsberg, Quaker Oats, Velux, Coca Cola, Arla Foods, Salling Group, Haribo, Procter & Gamble, CoRo Food, Pepsico, Glatfelter, and Saint Gobain. The secret to global success lies in high quality and low maintenance costs.

 

"The very first wrappers we built 30 years ago are still in operation. Machine number 1 was delivered to Tvilum Scanbirk, and when they wanted to use some of our newer machines with lower film consumption, I took the machine back to our own factory. Now it wraps our own products. Haribo and others have over the years wrapped several million pallets with our wrappers in their fully automated systems. Essentially, it's reliability that we sell to our customers, not just machines," fortæller Thorvald Christensen, CEO at REO-PACK.

 

BILA's acquisition of REO-PACK opens up obvious synergies and increased exports to markets such as England, Germany, and the Benelux countries, where both BILA and REO-PACK have local branches. As European market shares grow, expansion into the American market will receive extra focus.

 

Forty percent of BILA's current sales are exports. This share will not decrease, and the acquisition is part of our growth strategy to achieve a billion in revenue, says Ole Madsen, CEO of BILA Logistics.


BILA customers already choose REO-PACK


"When we automate in manufacturing, we often encounter REO-PACK's quality wrappers at our customers. Internationally, the food industry focuses on one-stop shopping for modular products, especially for end-of-line solutions. REO-PACK's product portfolio complements BILA perfectly,"

 

Ole Madsen, CEO at BILA Logistics

 

REO-PACK continues under its existing name and at the same location. Through the new ownership, employees gain an even stronger workplace with the capability to foster further development, growth, and international sales. In recent years, BILA has significantly strengthened its presence in logistics automation, which is under-automated in many markets, presenting significant export potential. In 2017, BILA acquired all activities of Dan Palletiser in Vemmelev on the island of Zealand, which, for 44 years, has provided palletising solutions, especially to the food industry, including Kelloggs, C&D Foods, and Friesland Campina.

 

Published in September 2020.

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