Japanese joint venture takes over Uxbridge packaging company with major auto clients

A Japanese logistics and transportation giant with more than $2 billion in annual sales has teamed up with a Japanese packaging company to buy Uxbridge-based Pine Valley Packaging.

The joint venture by Konoike Group and Kanepackage is the first foray by the companies into Canada and the Uxbridge site will serve as the new company’s base of operations.

“We are excited to embark on this new chapter in Canada,” said Konoike’s Junjiro Imoto, the newly appointed President of Pine Valley Packaging. “The Toronto region’s strong automotive sector and skilled workforce make it an ideal location for our growth. With Pine Valley Packaging as our base, we are well-positioned to enhance our services and deliver innovative, sustainable solutions to our clients across North America and beyond.”

Konoike Group serves a diverse range of industries, including automotive, and the decision to establish a presence in the GTA reflects the area’s robust automotive manufacturing ecosystem and its strong talent pipeline. The region’s business environment is also “well-aligned” with Konoike and Kanepackage’s objectives to support existing customers in Canada, the mid-west US, and Mexico while driving advancements in world-class, sustainable packaging technology.

Pine Valley Packaging, which was established in 1984 and employs more than 100 people, boasts GM, Ford, Toyota and Honda and several major Tier 1 suppliers among its customers.

The company moved into an 80,000 sq. ft manufacturing facility in 2003 and later added a 30,000 sq. ft. indoor storage compound and a fully equipped design lab, as well as an additional 30,000 sq. ft. outdoor storage area.

Konoike and Kanepackage worked closely with a Toronto-area economic development agency, Toronto Global, to make connections and navigate the steps of this major expansion, and Imoto thanked Toronto Global’s Catherine Lee for helping put the deal together.

“From the very first time we met Catherine, we felt welcomed by her and the GTA region. She became the source of our information gathering and knowledge gaining (and) gave us that added confidence to invest in the region,” he said.

The Koinoike and Kanepackage alliance plans to use the acquisition to boost operations in international markets such as China, Southeast Asia and India, as well as its Canadian customers.

Konoike Group is a publicly listed Japanese logistics company serving more 20 countries with 25,000+ employees.

Kanepackage is a privately held packaging company based in Japan which designs, manufactures and sells a wide range of custom packaging and cushioning products for various industry requirements.

Pine Valley Packaging, Uxbridge