Vacuum and Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Melbourne, Australia-based global flexible and rigid packaging company (NYSE: AMCR). On April 30, 2025, Amcor completed its all-stock acquisition of Berry Global Group for $8.4 billion — creating the world's largest flexible packaging company with ~$23 billion in anticipated annual revenue, 400+ facilities globally, and ~70,000 employees in ~140 countries. Amcor had previously acquired Bemis Company (2019, $6.8B). The combined Amcor+Berry entity holds dominant positions in frozen food LLDPE/LDPE packaging film for IQF vegetables, frozen meat, frozen seafood, and convenience foods. Berry had been a major US blown film producer with multiple facilities. Global flexibles represent ~60% of combined Amcor+Berry's business. Brands include Cryovac (via Sealed Air — separate company), Bemis, and many unbranded OEM films.

Berry Global Group, Inc. (Evansville IN; NYSE: BERY; ~$13B revenue) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of nonwoven fabrics and plastic packaging. Berry's Nonwoven Specialties segment (including Reemay, Avgol, and Fiberweb brands acquired over 2014-2019) operates meltblown, spunbond, and SMS (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond) lines globally. Berry acquired Avgol Nonwovens (Israel/China/India) in 2019 for $430M, making it the world's second-largest hygiene nonwoven producer. Key meltblown facilities: Carlisle UK, Biesheim France, Clervaux Luxembourg, Mooresville NC, and multiple Asian sites. Berry supplies meltblown filtration fabric for N95 respirators, HVAC filters, surgical drapes, and automotive cabin air filters. Dual-use across healthcare, hygiene, and industrial filtration.

Japanese specialty chemical company (TSE: 3405); produces Trosifol® PVB and SentryGlas® ionoplast interlayer films at Troisdorf, Germany (~22% global PVB share). UNIQUE STRATEGIC POSITION: Kuraray is simultaneously the world's LARGEST polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) producer — the primary raw material for all PVB production globally — and a competing PVB maker. Kuraray was the first company to commercially produce PVA in the 1950s (Japan) and operates 6 PVA plants (Japan x2, USA, Germany, Singapore). This means Kuraray supplies the key raw material to Eastman Chemical and Sekisui Chemical while competing against them in PVB film. SentryGlas® ionoplast (5x tear strength vs. standard PVB, 100x rigidity) targets premium architectural and security glazing; celebrates 25+ years of market presence.

Charlotte, North Carolina-based food and protective packaging company (NYSE: SEE through April 2026). Cryovac division acquired from W.R. Grace in 1998 ($4.9B). 2024 revenue: $5.39B; ~16,400 employees; 200+ global locations. In 2022, acquired Charter NEX Films for ~$1.4B, adding major US blown film capacity. **April 2026: Sealed Air was taken private by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R)** in a go-private transaction. Products for frozen food: Cryovac FFS (Form-Fill-Seal) films for VFFS/HFFS lines, vacuum skin packaging (VSP) films, shrink polyolefin multilayer films — all using LLDPE sealant layers optimized for low-temperature seal integrity. Charter NEX subsidiary (Superior WI, 7 US facilities, >200M lbs/yr PE film) provides upstream blown film manufacturing for Sealed Air's food packaging systems.