IMA DAIRY & FOOD Strengthens Indian Operations

In the first quarter of 2015, I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. (Italy) completed its purchase of the OYSTAR Group, including the brand names Hassia India, Benhil, Erca, Gasti, Hamba and Hassia. After the takeover, the top executives in the IMA S.p.A. and the new division IMA DAIRY & FOOD traveled to its subsidiary Hassia Packaging Pvt. Ltd. (Hassia India) in Pune, India, to discuss strategies for additional growth with local management. IMA already operates two factories in the important Indian market, in Mumbai and Indore. They manufacture machinery for the pharmaceutpackaging icals and cosmetics industry.

“The product range of Hassia India is ideal for enhancing our product portfolio for the dairy and food industry,” explains Andrea Malagoli, CEO of IMA S.p.A. “These markets have been skyrocketing in India for years now, so the local demand for packaging machines keeps rising steadily. Our new setup combines our leading expertise in the business and lets us expand our capacities.”

Markus Ehl, CEO of IMA DAIRY & FOOD, adds: “By bundling our know-how, we secure even more successful growth in the Asian markets and we can promote our business here even more intensely in the future.” Over the last few months, for example, the company has sold four wrapping machines manufactured by its affiliate Benhil and one P300 FFS machine by Hassia to Indian customers for packaging butter into individual servings. Altogether, the former OYSTAR Group has already sold more than 100 packaging machines to India.

Packaging Know-how
Hassia India specializes in vertical FFS bagging machines. The customized solutions offer flexible packaging of food, agrochemicals, washing detergent, shampoo, hair oil, and nutraceuticals. Its product range also includes StickPack machines and small cup FFS machines. The company has a strong presence on the Indian subcontinent and exports 30 percent of its products. Its largest external markets include Africa, SAARC and Southeast Asia. Many global players with production sites in the region are counted among its client base.

The plant in Pune features 4,033 square feet of production and administration space and currently houses 104 employees. “Our current production facilities give us a very good setup for expanding our business in the nearby Far Eastern markets, whose enormous potential is similar to India’s,” points out Markus Ehl.

IMA is a global market leader in the development and production of packaging machines for the pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tea, coffee, dairy and food & beverage industries. The group has more than 4,600 employees in more than 80 countries and operates 34 production sites – in India, Italy, Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland, Spain, the US and China – as well as a worldwide sales and service network.

Source: Oystar Group