July 31, 2026 14:58

German injection moulding machine manufacturer Arburg is expanding its portfolio with large machines for packaging applications through the acquisition of Dutch company Stork IMM, currently owned by Stibbe Participaties. The transaction is expected to close in approximately two months.

Stork IMM specialises in large-tonnage, high-speed injection moulding machines with clamping forces of up to 2,000 tonnes for the production of thin-wall packaging, a segment that Arburg does not currently serve.

According to Arburg, the acquisition comes amid changes in the injection moulding market, where volatile conditions, lower volumes, intensifying international competition and economies of scale are becoming increasingly important.

“By purchasing Stork IMM, we are investing strategically in the future with a focused and long-term view and in this way want to strengthen Arburg’s position in the global injection moulding market,” said Volker Nilles, CEO of Arburg. “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.”

At K 2025 in Düsseldorf last year, Stork IMM launched a new generation of electric injection moulding machines for high-speed packaging production, with clamping forces ranging from 250 to 900 tonnes .

In the photo, from left: Steffen Kroner, CFO of Arburg; Philip Stibbe, shareholder of Stork IMM and founder of Stibbe Participaties; and Guido Frohnhaus, CTO of Arburg.

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