Inglass/HRS Flow Italian mould and hot runner company buys French shop, to open US factory

The expansion steps have been taken to meet specific strategic requirements.

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Italian mould and components firm Inglass has announced the takeover of Ermo, a French maker of multi-cavity moulds, and the company’s HRS Flow division plans to open a US factory for hot runners.

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The purchase of Ermo is expected to close in June, according to Inglass, which focuses on building moulds for automotive lighting. The company said it decided to buy the French shop to “create a leading supplier of moulds and services” with high technological content in all demanding sectors in moulding, ranging from automotive lighting to personal care, cosmetics, medical and closures.

“This transaction will lead Inglass to a further diversification process development of its activities from the automotive sector,” the company said.

It explained that Inglass and Ermo will jointly have 800 employees and expect turnover to reach €110 million this year.

The company said it planned to open its US production site in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the first half of 2014. It reportedly will use the site to better support local customers.

The company explained that it needs a North American site to be a worldwide hot runner systems supplier. It already runs production sites in Europe and Asia.

Inglass said that, considering its successful experience in China at the production plant built in Hangzhou in 2009, it also plans to use the same machinery and quality standards as the Italian headquarters at the US site.

It added that this strategy will assure the best quality of its operational and management processes.

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