Aetna, a manufacturer of stretch wrapping, shrink bundling, cartoning wraparound packaging machines and systems, told FoodProductionDaily.com it had purchased 100 per cent of Bologna-based firm on 8 June, 2010. Prasmatic specialises in the food, dairy and health care packing sectors.
The move will see Prasmatic, whose customers include Nestlé, Kraft, Danone and Unilever, join forces with Aetna’s three brands: Robopac, a supplier of vertical, horizontal stretch wrapping, shrink wrapping and taping machines; Robopac Sistemi, that makes automatic vertical and horizontal stretch wrapping machines and end of line automation systems; and Dimac, a provider of shrink bundling and packaging machines for the beverage sector.
Market penetration
The company, based in the Rimini region of Italy, gave a number of reasons for the buyout. Expansion into the food and dairy markets “only marginally penetrated by the Dimac brand” – was highlighted as a key factor.
It added that Prasmatic was a “healthy, well-managed and economically sound company that could effortless merger with the Group”. Aetna also said it want to maximise the two outfits’ joint capabilities to “develop the best solutions, combining film, (and) cardboard”.
The company said the move was part of its constant growth strategy to insulate itself from recessionary effects.
“By purchasing Prasmatic, Aetna Group boost its market position in the new competitive context brought on by the crisis and developed customer expectations,” said a company statement.