UK-based packaging manufacturer Essentra has strengthened its position in as a global leader in beauty packaging through its acquisition of US packaging specialists Clondalkin SPD in a deal worth US$455.

The acquisition adds 2,400 people in 24 facilities, including nine in North America as well as in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands, to Essentra’s existing network.

Essentra originally announced the deal last November but it has been completed following regulatory approval.

The acquisition will broaden the range of services Essentra can offer, complementing its existing portfolio of folding cartons, product literature, labels, foil, tapes and authentication capabilities.

Essentra aims to tap into the significant growth forecasted for the global beauty and pharmaceutical packaging sector, which researchers predict will grow from US$50 billion in 2011 to US$79 by 2018.

Malcolm Waugh, Managing Director, Health & Personal Care Packaging, said, “The combination of Essentra’s existing packaging capabilities with Clondalkin’s Specialist Packaging Division is a great example of our ambition to expand our capabilities in attractive end-markets, both geographically and from a product perspective.”

“Bringing together the knowledge, expertise and skills from our combined network represents a fantastic opportunity to respond even better to our customers’ needs, and I am very excited to be leading the team going forward,” Waugh added.