Starlinger has acquired the woven packaging division of Germany-based flexible packaging machinery manufacturer Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H).
The parties did not disclose financial details of the transaction.
The Austrian manufacturer produces both plastic recycling systems and woven sack machinery. Unlike many of its European peers, Starlinger saw record sales during the 2023/2024 financial year, with a turnover just under €400 million.
As part of the acquisition, Starlinger will also be taking over W&H’s Viena-based subsidiary W&H Machinery GmbH, which employees around 25 workers.
Starlinger hopes to strengthen its position as world-leading supplier of machinery for woven plastic packaging. W&H woven packaging portfolio includes extrusion lines for woven PP, tapes made of PP and PE, as well as for laminates based on woven fabric. Its machines make up tape stretching, tape winding, and extrusion coating and laminating lines.
Starlinger said in a statement it sees ‘significant potential for synergy effects’ in integrating its technology with W&H’s, as well as in their engineering, service, and sales offerings.
The Austrian manufacturer will market products of W&H’s woven packaging portfolio going forward. It will also take over the worldwide customer support for spare parts and sales.
“The acquisition of W&H’s woven packaging division means that we can extend our portfolio and offer even more individual solutions to producers of sustainable woven plastic packaging,” said Angelika Huemer, CEO and Managing Partner of Starlinger. “We expect synergy effects and advantages for our customers not only with regard to technology, but also through our well-developed worldwide sales and service network.”
Sacks made of plastic tape fabric for packaging dry bulk goods such as cement are lighter and more resistant than paper and film sacks, providing a sustainable alternative to these materials.
W&H said the acquisition of its woven packaging division will allow it to focus its resources on growing its paper and film packaging market.