JAMES Jones & Sons Ltd has announced that pallet manufacturing will soon be a part of its Australian operations following the acquisition of Rodpak Pty Ltd by its Australian subsidiary, Hyne Timber Pty Ltd.
Rodpak is a Melbourne-based pallet and packaging manufacturer. The announcement comes two years after James Jones & Sons acquired a controlling stake in Mayflower Enterprises Pty Ltd in Australia, the holding company of Hyne Timber and XLam. Last year the group acquired a majority stake in Rocky Point Pty Ltd, an Australian manufacturer and supplier of products to the nursery, agriculture, home gardeners and erosion management industries.
Tom Bruce-Jones, chairman of James Jones & Sons, said, “We are delighted to welcome Rodpak Pty Ltd to the group. The acquisition forms part of Hyne Timber’s diversification and growth strategy and represents our first entry in to the pallet sector in Australia.”
Hyne Group CEO Jim Bindon added, “Rodpak is a highly regarded business with a long history in the manufacture of softwood timber pallets, with quality equipment and technology, and great customer relationships. While it will be business as usual for Rodpak’s staff, suppliers and customers, being a part of the Group brings the strengths of the international connections with James Jones and Sons Ltd, who are a leading pallet manufacturer in Europe, with 14 manufacturing sites throughout the United Kingdom.
“I am very pleased the current owner, Dean Roderick, will be staying on within the business, as he is well respected in the market and indeed internationally within the pallet sector. Dean has been known to the James Jones & Sons pallets & packaging division for some years, and he is most highly regarded by them also.”
Dean Roderick said the new ownership model was a welcome move to take the company forward. He stated, “Becoming part of a national and global ownership model is a significant milestone for us as a business, for our team members, customers and suppliers and we have been pleased with the process to get to this point. Rodpak is a great business with strong partnerships, built over many years.”
