IMA Dairy & Food names new majority owner
The company also announced the creation of an Aspectic Competence Center
IMA Dairy & Food, a Ranstadt, Germany-based company which comprises the long-established brands Gasti, Hamba, Hassia and Erca, has a new majority owner: Thomas Becker. In a press conference, Becker presented his strategy for the company’s realignment. According to Becker, the brands will act independently in the marketplace, and their individual market identities will be strengthened by offering additional solutions across a broader set of niches.
For example, Hassia Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH will expand its portfolio to include high-speed filling and sealing machines for pre-formed cups and bottles, and its range of stick pack machines will be complemented with non-aseptic execution equipment and sachet machines. Meanwhile, IMA said Erca S.A.S. added the rotary Gyro Cup filler and the newly developed Flex Cup filling and sealing machine for pre-formed cups and tubs to its machine portfolio.
IMA said the portfolio expansions should enable the two companies to better fulfill customer demands in their markets and offer a broader array of solutions. Meanwhile, Gasti will continue focusing on its well-known filling and sealing machine portfolio.
IMA said Becker is a deeply experienced majority shareholder intimately familiar with the packaging machinery business, with a reputation for helping companies quickly regain sustainable success.
“I am very pleased about this partnership with IMA and, of course, especially with the owner family Vacchi,” said Becker. “I see this investment as a commitment to further developing the group and, of course, as a challenge that I will face with passion and dedication.”
Additionally, IMA said increased consumer demands for extending the shelf lives of sensitive products without using preservatives prompted its establishment of an Aseptic Competence Center at its Ranstadt headquarters. The new venture offers customers comprehensive packaging line solutions from initial planning to configuration, testing and integration — all from a single source. The aseptic team also handles validation, troubleshooting, inspection and existing plant optimization.
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