Shelton, Conn.-based thermoformer Inline Plastics Corp. has opened a new manufacturing plant in Gladwin, Mich., formerly belonging to Cam Packaging LLC, securing its first Midwest production and distribution facility.

Inline needed to expand to meet consumer demand for secure food packaging, such as tamper-evident and tamper-resistant polypropylene containers for hot food, it told Plastics News in an emailed statement.

"Consumers continue to look for convenient packaging that offers … food safety," the statement said. "This acquisition allowed us to immediately expand our operations and begin producing and supplying our customers from a Midwest location."

The purchase included Cam Packaging's thermoforming machines, Inline said. Cam Packaging's workforce has continued under the new owner, now as Inline employees.

The new facility is up and running, a May 3 news release said.

"[Cam Packaging's] large-bed thermoforming machines and talented workforce will provide Inline with an instant increase in capacity to fulfill customer and consumer demand for our food packaging that delivers quality, freshness and eye-catching merchandising," Tom Orkisz, chairman and CEO of Inline Plastics, said in the release.

Inline also has facilities in McDonough, Ga.; Shelton; and Salt Lake City.

Inline is a family-owned business, founded by brothers Rudolph and Gene Orkisz in 1968. The company is No. 33 in Plastics News' ranking of North American thermoformers, with sales of $86 million.

Joe Oberloier founded Cam Packaging in 2015. He previously owned Packaging Direct and has been in the thermoforming sector for more than 40 years, starting out as a teenager sweeping floors at equipment maker Lyle Industries.

Cam Packaging was tied for No. 163 in the PN ranking, with sales of $3.5 million.

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