Ivrea, Italy-headquartered Tecnau said the deal will strengthen its position in the graphics industry with the addition of a well-established brand and product portfolio, and boost its diversification in the e-logistics segment (packaging for e-commerce and intralogistics), which was started recently with the opening of its new division, Tecnau Automation and Packaging.
Founded in 1965, Sitma offers direct mail and transpromo packaging systems; post-press kit including collating, inserting, addressing, paper, and polywrapping systems targeted at magazine, book, and newspaper manufacturers; film packaging systems; and e-logistics technologies for sustainable packaging.
With head offices in Spilamberto, in the North of Italy, Sitma has sales and service branches in France, Japan, and the US, which Tecnau said add to its own direct presence in the US, Germany, Belgium, Singapore, and Sweden to strengthen Tecnau’s local presence in key markets and geographies with direct sales and service support.
Tecnau and Sitma both also have a long-term distribution and agency network in over 50 countries worldwide. In the UK Tecnau kit is distributed by Intelligent Finishing Systems (IFS) while Engelmann & Buckham supplies Sitma kit.
A spokesperson told Printweek the acquisition, which was completed last week, will not affect any activity of the two UK partners “since Tecnau and Sitma remains two separated entities with their usual suppliers and salesmen”.
“We’ll surely leverage on the specific expertise of the two companies and in case make synergies to improve business together. For example, in case of specific requests from customers that might take advantage from finishing and inserting solutions (direct mail) or for e-commerce/book-on-demand applications.
“The idea is to integrate technologies when possible, to improve production and automate processes.”
Stefano De Marco, CEO at Tecnau, added he was “very excited” to welcome Sitma’s employees, customers, and partners.
“Sitma has a long history in the graphics business with a very consolidated and high-performance product mix. Over the last few years Sitma was able to diversify and apply its technical expertise to the fast-growing e-commerce business, developing sustainable, pack-to-size technological solutions as well as energy saving and low-running-cost parcel sortation systems.
“Tecnau endorses this strategy and will provide all the necessary support to retain and expand further the wide customer base in traditional segments and to broaden the portfolio and customer base in new growing areas.”
