MarquipWardUnited to acquire UK’s Apollo Sheeters

-- Converting Magazine, 6/19/2008

Phillips, WI-based MarquipWardUnited (www.marquipwardunited.com), an equipment supplier to the corrugated and folded-carton industries, says June 9 that it will acquire Apollo Sheeters, Ltd. (www.apollosheeters.com), of Bedford, UK. Apollo Sheeters manufactures sheeting equipment across a broad range of paper, board, laminates and films.

Randy Lorenz, MarquipWardUnited vp of sales, commented that the acquisition is in alignment with the company’s vision of becoming a full-sector sheeter supplier covering the entire market from mills to small converters. “This acquisition will add a valuable UK manufacturing operation that will complement the MrquipWardUnited

manufacturing operations in the US and Hungary, while Apollo’s experienced build and design team will allow MarquipWardUnited to better support a rapidly growing

installed base in Europe,” Lorenz says.

Steve Brimble will serve as managing director of the Apollo product line in addition to his responsibilities as product manager for the MarquipWardUnited SheetWizard. Brimble has more than eight years of experience with Apollo prior to joining MarquipWardUnited in January 2007.

“We wish to make it clear that both the Apollo brand and manufacturing site will be retained,” Brimble adds. “We have long recognized the success that Apollo has enjoyed building cost-effective single- and twin-knife sheeters for the converting industry. The MarquipWardUnited SheetWizard has been a huge success, with 25 machines sold in 22 months, and the Apollo range of sheeting solutions will allow us to compete in yet another market sector.”