Mission, Vision and History

I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche was established in Bologna.
The first machine designed by IMA was for the packaging of powdery products into folded
paper envelopes.

The Vacchi family purchased 52% of IMA, transforming it into a joint-stock company to best
promote its industrial growth.

The production of automatic tea bagging machines, a sector in which IMA is now the
undisputed world leader, began.
Development of the C20 for the packaging of tea in filter bags and launch of the company on to
international markets.

IMA began manufacturing automatic machines for the packaging of pharmaceutical products, by launching a blister machine.

Setting up of branch offices in Europe and the USA.
Acquisition of well-known Italian companies (Zanasi and Farmomac) manufacturing packaging machines for the pharmaceutical sector.

Merger of the companies acquired between 1985 and 1988 into IMA and organization on a Division basis. Acquisition of Win.Pack (blister machines).
Joint-venture with Omori, Japan.

Listing of IMA on the Milan Stock Exchange.
Acquisition of BFB, Italy (end-of-line machines), Libra, Italy (washing machines and sterilisation tunnels) and Precision Gears, India (blister and cartoning machines).


Opening of a branch office in Beijing and the setting up of two joint-ventures in China.

IMA’s Quality System was awarded ISO 9001 Certification.
Opening of two branch offices in Japan and Madeira.

Acquisition of Kilian, Germany (tablet press machines) and GS Coating, Italy (coating equipment).

 
Setting up of a branch office in Spain.

Acquisition of Ico, Italy (fluid bed granulators) and Co.ma.di.s., Italy (tube filling machines).

 
Listing of IMA’s stocks in the STAR (Prime Quality Stocks) segment of the Milan Stock Exchange.

Merger of BFB into IMA.
Setting up of the third joint-venture in China.
Opening of a branch office in Thailand.

Merger of Libra into IMA.
Acquistion of 90.7% of the US Packaging Systems Holding, owners of Nova Packaging Systems, world leader in counting machines and holding company of Swiftpack Automation, UK.

Joint-venture with the Telstar Group, Spain (freeze-drying equipment for the pharmaceutical industry).

IMA-Telstar controls 55% of the Chinese company Telstar Huadong.

Acquisition of VIMA Impianti, Italy (powder handling and washing systems).
 
Acquisition of remaining 9.3% of the US Packaging Systems Holding.
 
Acquisition of another 34% stake in Precision Gears, India.

Transfer of the activities of former Libra Pharmaceutical Technologies and of IMA Aseptic Processing & Filling Division to IMA Libra, a new company.
 
Acquisition of Zanchetta, Italy (powder handling and washing systems).
 
Merger between VIMA Impianti and Zanchetta and subsequent establishment of Zanchetta.
 
IMA and Telstar terminate the alliance.

Acquisition of the freeze-drying machinery business of the BOC Edwards Pharmaceutical Systems Group, undisputed leader in this sector.
 
Acquisition of the Chinese Edwards Tianli Pharmaceutical Systems.
 
Setting up of the Group’s new organisational structure featuring 4 leading business areas in the main sectors:
IMA Flavour S.r.l. (Tea & Coffee Packaging Solutions),
IMA Active Division (Solid Dose Solutions),
IMA Life S.r.l. (Aseptic Processing & Filling Solutions)
IMA Safe S.r.l. (Packaging Solutions).

Opening of a new branch office in Brazil. IMA S.p.A. acquires through its subsidiary IMA Life S.r.l. 51% of PharmaSiena Service S.r.l., a company that operates in the design and production of filling machines for ampoules and syringes in aseptic environments.

Acquisition of Gima (Italy), and of the “Dairy & Convenience Food” and “Chocolate & Confectionery” business divisions of the Sympak Corazza Group.

IMA and Sacmi (Italy) sign an agreement to share the newco “CMH”, dedicated to the chocolate industry.

Acquisition of the Ilapak Group (Switzerland) and of Shanghai Tianyan Pharmaceutical Machinery (China).

Sale of the entire investment in Stephan Machinery (Germany), in IMA Kilian (Germany) and in Zibo IMA Xinhua Pharmatech.

Acquisition of a minority equity interest of Continuus Pharmaceuticals.

Acquisition of Benhil, Erca, Hassia, Hamba and Gasti (Oystar Group, Germany) and of  Teknoweb Converting (Italy).

Sale of the holding in CMH.

Acquisition of the Medtech businesses of Komax Group (Switzerland), of the Italian Companies Telerobot, Mapster, Petroncini, Eurosicma, Tissue Machinery Company (TMC), Ciemme,  Spreafico Automation, ATOP, Alphamac, and Record, and of the Argentinian Companies  MAI S.A. and Tecmar S.A. Sale of the 60% of the German Company IMA Dairy & Food.

The IMA Board of Directors announces the delisting from the Milan Stock Exchange, and the BC Partners fund acquires a minority stake.

Acquisition of FASP, Phoenix Italia, Mespic, Omas Tecnosistemi and Sarong (Italian companies).

The American fund BDT/MSD Partners has acquired the stake of the BC Partners fund.

Reorganisation of IMA AUTOMATION into 3 business units: IMA MED-TECH (solutions for medical sector),  IMA IMA EV-TECH (solutions for e-mobility sector), IMA Assembly Solutions Unit (custom assembly solutions).