For over 40 years, Cascadia has provided high-quality thermoplastic components to highly regulated and attractive markets such as medical, aerospace and consumer goods. Cascadia operates out of manufacturing facilities in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Woodinville, Wash. The acquisition will expand VRC’s manufacturing footprint into the Pacific Northwest, offering increased capability and flexibility for both VRC and its customers.

Sebastian Diensthuber, Greiner Packaging’s global product group manager, is thrilled by the innovation. "When developing the thin-walled, injection-molded cups made of PET, it was important for us to develop a solution that was not only innovative but also able to withstand our customers' industrial requirements. The cups we developed together with Brink and Engel are designed in such a way that a transition to the new generation of cups is possible, both in filling and sealing”.

Cascadia is VRC’s first add-on acquisition since Blue Point acquired the platform in August 2019. “The thesis supporting our investment in VRC was to provide unique resources to drive organic growth, while at the same time leveraging our M&A competency to expand the platform via acquisitions,” said Blue Point Partner John LeMay. “The Cascadia platform fits squarely within the key end markets and capabilities of our focused add-on strategy, and we are enthusiastic about the opportunities available to the combined company going forward.”

“This acquisition strategically marks the next phase of growth for both VRC and Cascadia. Uniting the respective company visions and leveraging their combined capabilities, services, technologies and expertise across all locations will offer significant benefit to our customers,” said Blue Point Partner Jonathan Pressnell. “The geographic and end market expansion, along with the potential for cross-selling opportunities, makes the combined company well-positioned for growth.”

“Our partnership with Blue Point is highlighted by their support in identifying the best, complementary capabilities to execute against our core growth strategies. Over the past 50 years, VRC has committed to expanding our platform and continually adding value for our customers,” said VRC President Tom Gebhardt. “The Cascadia acquisition provides additional capabilities and synergies which allow us to offer a more diverse product portfolio and a one-stop-shop. I am excited to work with the collective team to continue to build a world-class organization rooted in operational excellence and superior customer service.”

The use of 100% rPET results in up to a four-fold reduction in carbon dioxide equivalent emissions compared to virgin PP, according to data using the Ecoinvent v.3.9 database.

Blue Point Capital Partners and its portfolio company VRC Engineered Solutions has announced the acquisition of Cascadia Custom Molding. The acquisition will expand VRC’s product offerings and geographic footprint into the Pacific Northwest while enhancing manufacturing capabilities and diversifying end-markets served.

The lightweight packaging made of recycled material that can be readily recycled is a model of an optimally sustainable packaging from environmental and regulatory aspects.

Greiner Packaging, Engel, and Brink combine forces to develop thin-walled injection-molded recycled PET (rPET) cups designed for a circular economy.

In the future, it won’t only be PET bottles that will serve as resource for recycling and reuse as rPET, but PET and rPET plastic cups as well.

After an intensive development phase, Greiner Packaging has achieved a breakthrough in cooperation with injection molding machine maker Engel and mold maker Brink: Thin-walled cups made of recycled PET can now also be produced using injection molding technology. Suitable for filling lines, sealable and offering considerable carbon dioxide savings potential, the breakthrough opens new opportunities for packaging designed for a circular economy.

Blue Point and the VRC management team value Cascadia’s diverse customer base and focus on complex, low-volume parts, as well as in-house capabilities that further expand VRC’s tooling, materials, production and service capabilities.

With over 25 custom material manufacturer investments over the course of its 20-year history, Blue Point and its network of operating executives bring substantial commercial, operating and technical experience to support the management teams. Dale Meyer, who along with his wife, Janeanne Upp, has owned Cascadia for 18 years, said, “We decided to partner with VRC, and Blue Point, because we could see the same philosophical approach and strategic fit between the companies, the management teams and our vision of the future for Cascadia.” P&M Corporate Finance (PMCF) served as financial advisor to Cascadia in the transaction.