Ball acquires Neumann Aluminum

Ball Corporation announced that it has acquired Neuman Aluminum, the leading North American manufacturer of aluminum slugs used to make extruded aerosol cans, beverage bottles, aluminum collapsible tubes and technical impact extrusions. The transaction price was not disclosed.

Neuman Aluminum operates plants in Verona, Va., and Sherbrooke, Quebec, which produce aluminum disks, or slugs, that are converted into premium packaging for personal care, household, beverage and other products.

"This strategic acquisition is an investment by Ball in a business that has technology to access new markets and opportunities to grow Ball's packaging platform," said Raymond J. Seabrook, executive vice president and chief operating officer, global packaging operations.

Neuman Aluminum had sales of approximately $128 million in 2009. The two plants, which employ about 180 people, will become part of Ball's metal food and household products packaging segment.

Ball Corporation is a supplier of high-quality packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,000 people worldwide and reported 2009 sales of more than $7.3 billion.