EDMONTON, Alta. — Manitoulin Group of Companies has acquired Cratex Industries, an Edmonton-based crating, packaging and export services company. The acquisition is Manitoulin’s fourth since May

“We are delighted to welcome Cratex Industries into our expanding Manitoulin family,” said Gord Smith, CEO of Manitoulin Group of Companies. “The company shares our culture of excellence and dedication to customer service, and is a terrific fit for us. Cratex is a valuable addition to Manitoulin as it complements our existing businesses. Our intent is to eventually expand Cratex to other locations and provide an even greater breadth of service for our customers.”   

Headquartered in Edmonton, with a facility in Calgary, Cratex has been providing professional packaging for the shipment of manufactured goods since 1989. A supplier to Alberta’s oil and gas technology services sector, the company’s offerings include: crating, skidding, poly wrap, container loading and unloading, mobile site teams and project packaging.

“Cratex has been sought out worldwide to securely package items as delicate as an entire dinosaur fossil, to something as immense and bulky as a C-130 freight plane,” says Smith. “Clearly, we’re bringing in a capable company with the expertise to handle a highly diverse range of packaging requirements. We’re extremely excited about how this new addition will enhance our existing customer offerings.”

Manitoulin officials say the company intends to retain all Cratex employees, with Ron Holdinga, its former owner, staying on as president.