DE SOTO, KAS. — Huhtamaki, Inc., a specialty packaging company, has acquired the business and assets of Ample Industries, Inc. for $31 million. Additionally, Huhtamaki announced a series of capital expansion projects at its existing facilities around the United States.

Based in Franklin, Ohio, Ample is a privately held maker of folding paperboard cartons for the food service industry. The company operates a manufacturing family in Franklin with more than 200 employees. According to Huhtamaki, Ample’s annual sales are about $60 million.

Huhtamaki said the acquisition will allow it to better serve the food service industry. In particular, the company cited Ample’s nested trays, fry cartons, and clamshells as an excellent complement to Huhtamaki’s line of tableware, cups, containers, carriers, trays, and serviceware.

In addition to the acquisition, Huhtamaki said it is expanding pressed paperboard plate capacity at its Albertville, Ala., facility, with a second phase of plate capacity currently being planned. New paper drink cup capacity will be installed in the company’s facilities in Fulton, N.Y., De Soto and Los Angeles during the first half of 2012.

“A second phase of cup capacity is planned for 2013,” the company said. “Huhtamaki’s intention is to become a major player in these markets in the next five years.”

Huhtamaki Inc. is a division of Huhtamaki Oyj, a global packaging company headquartered in Espoo, Finland.