GWC originally signed an agreement Aug. 8 to acquire all shares of Nemco operations in Canada’s Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces.Nemco will continue to operate under its trade name as a subsidiary of GWC Services Ltd.

Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Nemco was founded in 1983 by company president George Nemeth, who had spent the previous 22 years in the motor oil industry working for companies that included Tidewater Oil, Turbo and Castrol. Today Nemco produces a combination of 900 products and packages, primarily in western Canada and northern Ontario.

Nemeth said he had dealt with Great Western for nearly 30 years. After hearing of his plans to retire, Great Western first contacted him about acquiring Nemco in February.

We manufacture our own bottles and containers, we blend, we package, we distribute, Nemeth told Lube Report. Were the only independent in western Canada thats totally vertically integrated, so its a great fit for them.

Nemeth said Nemco will continue operating as it has, with all employees retaining their jobs. He will remain on as a consultant for an indefinite period, working three days a week. GWC said it will provide Nemco with the people and resources for growth and continuous improvement. Great Western Containers probably will be setting up warehouse space in places like Edmonton, Calgary, Lloydminster and possibly Vancouver, Nemeth said, so that would give them an automatic increase in product throughput.

I am very optimistic about the opportunities that we will generate for expanding the scope of our business over the next several years due to this merger, said Nils Bodkter, president and chief executive officer of Great Western Containers.

Nemco offers blending, packaging, private labeling, bulk terminals, blow molding and distribution capabilities from its plant in Winnipeg and warehouses in Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It services the automotive, agriculture, mining, lumber, oilfield services and trucking industries. Products include automotive and commercial motor oils, automatic transmission fluid and gear oils, hydraulic and tractor oils, specialty oils, greases, antifreeze and automotive chemicals.

Calgary, Alberta-based Great Western Containers manufactures steel, plastic and fiber drums and reconditioned IBCs, steel and plastic drums. It also distributes plastic pails, steel pails, glass bottles, plastic bottles, metal cans and various packaging supplies from seven locations across western Canada.