By Bill Bregar
SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
Published: July 17, 2013 4:00 pm ET

Swiss industrial conglomerate Wifag-Polytype Holdings Ltd. has purchased Italian thermoforming machinery maker OMV Machinery srl.
Wifag-Polytype, based in Fribourg, Switzerland, runs a global group of companies that makes production lines for aluminum and steel aerosol containers, beverage bottles, tubes and sleeves, plastic cup and lid printing machines, coating lines for flexible packaging and films/foils, and newspaper and book printing machines. The privately held group employs 1,200.
OMV, based in Verona, Italy, employs 45.
In a deal announced July 17, Wifag-Polytype bought OMV shares from Verona-based ISAP Packaging SpA. Terms were not disclosed.
OMV, found in 1963, makes high-output thermoforming equipment and integrated lines, including extruders and tooling. The company has been known for its large-platen thermoforming machines, but in recent years has targeted food packaging and in-mold labeling.
Officials of OMV and Wifag-Polytype were not immediately available for comment.
The deal adds thermoforming to Wifag-Polytype’s extensive portfolio of packaging-related equipment. Polytype makes dry offset printing machines that can print from six to nine colors on plastic cups and lids.
Its other plastics-related equipment includes machinery to make tubes and sleeves for packaging. Wifag-Polytype also manufacturers coating and laminating equipment for flexible packaging applications such as barrier film, metalized paper, labels and tapes, blister foils and backsheets for solar cells.