Orbis acquires custom dunnage provider Response Packaging

Plastic pallet and container manufacturer Orbis Corp. said today it has acquired Response Packaging, a privately held provider of custom dunnage and fabricated steel rack solutions for the automotive industry.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Response Packaging, which is headquartered in Piedmont, S.C., will now operate and be branded as a part of Orbis. The acquisition includes design, testing, and manufacturing facilities in Piedmont, and Greenville, S.C.; Auburn Hills, Mich.; and León, Mexico.

Oconomowoc, Wis.-based Orbis will leverage the acquisition to expand into new regions and markets, the company said. Orbis said the move would also strengthen its position in the automotive sector, which Orbis now serves with plastic reusable totes, bulk containers, pallets, and dunnage, as well as supply chain tracking services. Dunnage is inexpensive material used to load and secure the cargo as it is being shipped.

"Orbis has been pursuing a strategy to expand its custom business to serve customers with a broader portfolio of solutions," Jim Kotek, president of Orbis' parent company, Menasha Corp., said in a statement. "The acquisition of Response Packaging supports this objective by adding complementary capabilities and establishing a manufacturing presence in the Southeast, and expanded capabilities to meet our customers' needs in Mexico."

Response Packaging says it specializes in highly engineered, custom dunnage designed for part protection for customers in the automotive and industrial markets. The company also provides fabricated steel rack and dunnage systems for the safe and efficient transport of vehicle components in the supply chain, it said.