Italian flexible system producer acquired by US company

Italian flexible packaging machine producer Simionato has been taken over by HayssenSandiacre as part of a strategy to expand into emerging markets.

Michael T. May, president of the US-based company, confirmed this week the acquisition would boost both its portfolio offerings and enlarge its geographical footprint.

Simionato Integrated Packaging System S.r.l., previously owned by Vela Capital, is based in Mestrino, Italy. No financial details of the deal were available.

Expansion

With the Italian buyout, HayssensSandiacre said it now has major operation bases in Italy, England and America and boasts annual revenues approaching US$100m (€74m).

The US firm said the integration of its new asset would see gain a greater hold in the European, Middle Eastern and South American marketplaces

“This strategic combination of organizations and technologies is very much in alignment with our vision of providing system solutions to meet the range of our customer’s global operational needs” said Simon Lagoe, HayssenSandiacre Europe managing director.

Simionato began producing vertical packaging machines in 1963. It has expanded its product offering and now manufactures multihead weighers, linear weighers, metal detectors, volumetric dosers and loading and outfeed systems.

The company said it has more than 5,000 installations across the globe.

HayssenSandiacre confirmed that Monica Pugiotto will continue as COO of the Simionato operation in Italy.

“The addition of Simionato expands HayssenSandiacre’s range of flexible packaging equipment solutions as well as our geographical presence in new global markets,” May said. “By leveraging the products and experiences of our U.S., U.K. and Italian operations, we are confident the Simionato product line will be immediately accretive to the worldwide HayssenSandiacre business model.”

The US firm specialises in both vertical and horizontal form fill seal (FFS) technology. Part of the Barry-Wehmiller Companies engineering consulting and manufacturing group, it is headquartered in Greenville-Spartanburg area of South Carolina.