Acquisition-hungry Bosch swoops for Ampack Ammann in liquid food filling move

Bosch plans to buy the family-owned company, which employs 250 people, for an undisclosed sum.

If approved by the antitrust authorities, the deal will be Bosch’s second acquisition this year and aligns with the company’s strategy of developing growth markets through “diversification and internationalisation”.​

In April, packaging equipment giant Bosch closed a deal with Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai for its machinery business units.

Prior to that, in May 2011, Bosch bought the companies Hüttlin and Manesty from Oystar Group.

Stronger business position​

The previous deals were in the pharmaceutical processing machinery arena, whereas this latest deal will see Bosch strengthening its position in food, and specifically, liquid food.

Speaking to FoodProductionDaily.com this morning, Johanna Marquette, manager of PR and communications with Bosch Packaging Technology, said:

“The existing portfolio of our ‘liquid food’ business unit includes thermoform cup filling and vertical form fill seal systems for packaging of liquid, viscous and dry, free-flowing product.​

“With the acquisition of Ampack Ammann we will be able to complement our existing product portfolio in the segment of liquid and paste-like food,”​

Ampack Ammann’s equipment includes cup and bottle-filing machines as well as dosing machines and peripheral machinery. The kit is mainly used to fill and pack sensitive foods such as dairy products, baby food and hospital food, but also dosable products such as cereals.

Technological leader​

In addition, the company has conducted its own research in the field of aseptics and runs a microbiology test laboratory. By buying Ampack-Ammann, Bosch hopes to tap this aseptic expertise.

“Ampack Ammann is a technological leader in the area of low-germ and aseptic processing of pre-formed cups and bottles. With the acquisition we will be able to complement our existing product portfolio in this segment,”​ Marquette said.

Ampack-Ammann’s said that being part of the Bosch family would enable it to reach international markets.

Executive director Rainer Ammann said: “Bosch Packaging Technology’s global sales and service network will put us in an even better position to market our filling and packaging machines internationally,”​

At present, Ampack Ammann’s machines are marketed in Germany and overseas, with a focus on Europe and the Middle East. Its customers include European dairies and producers of nutritional products for hospitals and infants.

Marquette said that the Ampack Ammann name would be kept for the time being, but the ultimate plan was to integrate the firm within Bosch Packaging Technology’s liquid food product division.