The Japanese group Toppan is taking over 80 per cent of the Italian film manufacturer Irplast. The investment is intended to expand international business and strengthen the sustainable orientation of the packaging division.
The Japanese Toppan Group is acquiring 80 per cent of the shares in the Italian company Irplast S.p.A. via its Indian subsidiary Toppan Specialty Films. The acquisition is being made from the previous majority owner Cheyne Strategic Value Credit (SVC), a British investment fund. The transaction is expected to be completed in April 2025, subject to the usual regulatory approvals.
Irplast will remain on board with its management team: CEO Fausto Cosi and COO Luca de Bartolo will jointly retain 20 per cent of the shares and will work closely with the management of the Toppan Group in future.
Synergy effects and capacity expansion
Irplast is currently in an expansion phase. A new production line with LISIM technology from Brückner Maschinenbau is being put into operation at the Atessa (CH) site, which will triple the capacity of film production. The acquisition by Toppan is intended to increase the operational and commercial clout of both companies.
Toppan, a global provider of integrated solutions in areas such as printing, packaging, electronics and digital transformation, sees the acquisition as a strategic step towards strengthening its market presence in Europe. Irplast is an established supplier of BOPP films for labelling, adhesive tapes and multipack solutions, particularly for the food, personal care and household goods industries.
Focus on sustainability and the circular economy
Irplast emphasises its strong commitment to sustainability. The company produces customised, biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films and pursues a vertically integrated business model - from the raw material to the finished product. According to the company, particular attention is paid to the reduction of material thicknesses, the use of renewable and chemically recycled raw materials and the reuse of production waste. Irplast has been documenting its progress in the area of sustainability with its own report since 2020.
Toppan wants to further promote this focus, it says. Integration into the global network should help Irplast to better fulfil European sustainability requirements and make a contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions.
By joining Irplast, Toppan is strengthening its position in the European packaging market and focussing on growth through technological innovation and sustainability. For Irplast, the partnership means access to an international network and the opportunity to drive forward its own expansion.
Source: Irplast
