German family-owned enterprise Arburg is set to acquire Netherlands-based Stork Plastics Machinery (Stork IMM) from Stibbe Participaties, uniting two established operational entities within the plastic injection moulding machine market. The corporate transaction is expected to close within two months, though specific financial terms associated with the deal remain undisclosed.
Strategic Value and Packaging Market Focus
The acquisition enables Arburg to build upon its market footprint by integrating Stork IMM’s specialised manufacturing capabilities. Stork IMM produces high-performance equipment designed for demanding packaging applications, holding a strong industry background in high-output machinery. In particular, the Dutch manufacturer is recognised for large, rapid-cycle equipment tailored for thin-wall packaging solutions, including food packs, crates, and pots. Beyond machinery manufacturing, Stork IMM maintains an active installed base through spare parts, servicing, retrofit operations, and complete overhaul projects across Europe and select international territories.
Speaking on the strategic fit of the transaction, Stork IMM CEO Eric Pans stated: “The acquisition by Arburg will help to strengthen and expand Stork’s business activities, among other things through international sales and service capacities, a broader product range, synergies in purchasing and supply chain, as well as further professionalisation of processes.”
Global Machinery Portfolio and Operational Expansion
Headquartered in Lossburg, Germany, Arburg is among the global industry leaders in manufacturing injection moulding machines. The overall Arburg group encompasses electric drive systems developer AMKmotion alongside its core plastics processing technologies. Its product line features Allrounder injection moulding machines, customized turnkey systems, robotic automation, and dedicated digital solutions. These technologies serve multiple global market sectors, including medicine, mobility, electronics, construction, equipment engineering, leisure, and packaging.
Arburg operates directly across 37 locations in 27 nations and maintains a commercial presence in more than 100 countries through trading partnerships. Of its 3,400 global employees, approximately 2,800 are located in Germany, with around 600 working across international units.
Commenting on the consolidation, Arburg CEO Volker Nilles noted: “With this acquisition, two strong brands that have been well known on the market for many decades are now coming together: a clear win-win situation for everyone, and especially for customers.”
