Pro Mach is a provider of packaging and processing systems, covering food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors, and other consumer goods.
Benchmark makes conveyers, infeeds, loading, stacking and packaging equipment for food and bakery manufacturers.
John Eklund, vice president marketing, Pro Mach, told FoodProductionDaily.com the acquisition will strengthen Pro Mach’s capabilities in the food and bakery markets. With the bakery market ‘poised for growth’, it is an ideal time to bring the Benchmark brand into Pro Mach, he added.
7% global growth for bakery
“Within our Pro Mach brands food is one of the largest markets we serve,” he said. “Benchmark specializes in food automation equipment and has a particular expertise in the bakery space and particularly with items like crackers, cookies, etc.
“Bakery is a large market with significant growth – we've seen projections of around 7% global growth over the next few years, which is faster than the global packaging machinery industry as a whole.
“Our Shuttleworth and Kleenline brands already serve the bakery marketplace within our material handling group, and we've seen growth as well within our flexible packaging group.”
Mark Anderson, president and CEO, Pro Mach, said the acquisition of Benchmark fits in with Pro Mach’s aim of being a single source provider for packaging and processing technology. Benchmark’s focus in bakery will improve Pro Mach’s offer to the sector and strengthen its provision for existing customers, he added.
Benchmark Automation at Pack Expo
The Benchmark Automation team will join Pro Mach, including founders and partners Vince Tamborello and Mike Rupert. Tamborello will serve as vice president and general manager, reporting to Pro Mach’s material handling group senior vice president Bret Ranc. Rupert will serve as director of operations.
Benchmark’s management team and employees will continue to operate from their facilities in Athens, Georgia. The company will be at Pack Expo, Chicago, November 2-5.
Pro Mach is a provider of integrated packaging and processing products, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through its brands, the company provides product packaging and processing equipment, PMMI certified training, installation, parts, and service in bottling and capping, primary packaging, flexible packaging, material handling, identification and tracking, and end-of-line packaging.