EDMONTON — Manitoulin Group of Companies has acquired Cratex Industrires Ltd., the company announced today.

Cratex is reportedly Alberta's largest crating, packaging and export services company. The company has been providing professional packaging for the shipment of manufactured goods since 1989, much of that to Alberta's oil and gas technology services sector.

"We are delighted to welcome Cratex Industries into our expanding Manitoulin family," said Gord Smith, chief executive officer, Manitoulin. "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."

"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," Smith continued. "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 intends to retain all Cratex employees, with Ron Holdinga, its former owner, staying on as president. Cratex's customers will continue to have access to all of its offering, Manitoulin noted.