JBT Corporation Acquires PLF International

JBT Corporation, a global technology solutions provider for the food and beverage industry, has announced it has purchased PLF International Limited (PLF), a provider of powder filling systems for the global food and beverage markets, for GBP28m.

“JBT and PLF have collaborated on numerous, successful projects over the past 10 years,” said Tom Giacomini, chairman, president and CEO of JBT. “Specifically, customers have purchased PLF fillers and JBT closers as part of an integrated solution. Adding PLF’s expertise and complementary products to Liquid Foods provides a valuable extension to our portfolio. Additionally, we can expand PLF’s business geographically and strengthen its aftermarket opportunities.”

The acquisition of PLF adds annual revenue of approximately USD25m.
JBT designs, produces and services sophisticated products and systems for multi-national and regional customers through its FoodTech segment.

Since 1994, PLF International has designed and manufactured what is considered to be one of the most flexible, user-friendly powder filling machines – for rigid and semi-rigid containers – in the world, says JBT.

PLF’s range of filling machines are all built to facilitate the stringent demands of the food industry, i.e. easy to clean with quick changeover, minimum giveaway, gentle product handling. They can be semi or fully automatic and are built so that performance can be enhanced to meet production demands. Each machine can be fitted with PLF’s accumulated or individual head-update weight control systems to ensure maximum accuracy and minimum giveaway.