The purchased business, which specialises in corrugated cardboard packaging, is located near Bergamo in Lombardy.
VPK said the strategic acquisition, which was announced on Thursday (24 April), would strengthen the company’s geographical footprint in one of Europe’s largest packaging markets.
It added Open Imballaggi’s location complemented VPK’s existing operations with Zetacarton and IEMME, supporting further market growth in the key industrial region around Bergamo.
Founded by the Marsetti family, Open Imballaggi was founded in 1908 and has since continued to expand, with Guido Marsetti founding Open Imballaggi in 1988.
Today, the business operates from a 22,000sqm facility in Calcinate, recently bolstered by €7m (£6m) in investments, including kit from Celmacch and Bobst.
With an annual turnover of €30m, Open Imballaggi employs around 70 staff and serves 700 clients across industries including food and beverage, cosmetics, e-commerce, and automotive.
VPK said it would continue Open Imballaggi’s family-driven culture and commitment to customer relationships, with “a focus on entrepreneurship, sustainability, and continuous investment in people and innovation”.
Pierre Macharis, CEO of VPK Group, said: “The acquisition of Open Imballaggi aligns perfectly with our strategy to strengthen our presence in key European markets.
“Their strong reputation for quality and service complements our existing Italian operations, and we are excited to welcome their experienced team into the VPK family.”
Belgium-headquartered VPK has UK sites in East Kilbride, Wigan, Leeds, Selby, Scunthorpe, Desborough, Banbury, and Wellington, as well as an Irish site in Limerick.
Earlier this year, though, the group revealed plans to close the Leeds facility on 29 August 2025, in response to concerns over the plant’s long-term commercial viability.
In December, VPK announced it had entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Scottish packaging firm McLaren Packaging, combining VPK’s East Kilbride sheet factory with McLaren’s Port Glasgow corrugate factory.
