One of the most venerable names in Australian pneumatic conveying and powder handling, Kockums Bulk Systems (KBS), is being acquired by one of the world’s largest packaging equipment manufacturers, Premier Tech Chronos.
Kockums Bulk Systems is being integrated into Premier Tech’s industrial equipment group which includes the packaging equipment manufacturer Premier Tech Chronos. “This first acquisition in Australia will allow Premier Tech Chronos to increase its worldwide reach as well as reinforcing its engineering and client services presence to all its existing clients in Australia and New-Zealand,” explained André Noreau, president, industrial equipment group, Premier Tech. “It is also aligned with KBS’s ambition to expand its expertise to new international markets.”
The acquisition will allow Premier Tech Chronos to deploy a complete commercial offer in Australia and New Zealand by adding a new engineering competency in industrial bulk handling.
“Together, Kockums Bulk Systems and Premier Tech Chronos expect to achieve much more in the years to come for their customers searching for industrial packaging solutions,” said Francois Steyn, chief executive of KBS.
Premier Tech Chronos has mainly grown by acquisition. It has made 14 in under 20 years, including Chronos Richardson in 2002.
The company is based in Canada with offices around the globe. Well-known in the flexible and rigid packaging industries, Premier Tech Chronos offers specific packaging machines as well as complete packaging lines for small- and large-scale productions. Its wide product portfolio includes bagging machines, valve bag fillers, FFS machines, robotic case packing machines, robot palletisers, bag palletisers, case palletisers, stretch wrappers, stretch hooders, and conveyors.
ABHR will include more detailed coverage of Premier Tech’s takeover of Kockums Bulk Systems in its May/June 2018 print edition. The coverage will include interviews with Kockums’ chief executive, Francois Steyn, and founder and chairman, Ivan Price.