We’re pleased to announce that we have acquired Switchback Group, Inc; a US-based supplier of packaging machines and automation solutions.

Founded in 2006 and based near Cleveland, Ohio; Switchback designs, manufactures and sells secondary packaging machinery and automation solutions for the healthcare, food and beverage industry. Having benefitted from the shift towards recyclable packaging, it is a business with profitable growth and a strong leadership position in the European craft brewing market.

This acquisition supports Mpac’s expansion into Europe and gives us a platform to further build and evolve our business in the USA. And with access to Switchback’s vast product range, we can add more breadth and depth to our already extensive product portfolio to enhance our offering.

Providing more customers with more variety fits with our strategic intent of being a market leader in the provision of global manufacturing solutions. Our recent rebrand reflects this growth strategy and evolution as a business; ‘Automation Ecosystems’ encapsulates Mpac’s unique proposition of whole line, whole life, whole planet solutions with limitless ingenuity.

Tony Steels, Chief Executive of Mpac, said: 

“The acquisition of Switchback represents another key stage in the strategic development of Mpac, providing a strong USA footprint, together with a great range of products, and talented employees that have demonstrated entrepreneurial growth to become market leaders with embedded customer relationships.

I am very excited by the opportunities presented by bringing Switchback into the Mpac Group, providing the resources to support the continued growth and the improved overall Mpac customer proposition.

Switchback’s performance during the COVID pandemic has been strong with a good order book, demonstrating the high quality of the business.”

Mpac will continue to support Switchback’s growth strategy and talented US team, providing access to group resources, global sales and service network. Dave Shepherd (previously a shareholder) will remain President of Switchback as we evolve together throughout the next phase of exciting developments. To that end, we hope to leverage opportunities in our existing core markets of health, personal care, food and beverage, as we continue to adapt and grow.