Bosch Packaging Technology, Farmington Hills, Mich., announced plans to acquire Kliklok-Woodman Corp., a Decatur, Ga.-based manufacturer of packaging machinery for the food industry. The company employs some 240 associates and supplies customers worldwide from its U.S. headquarters and a second manufacturing facility, Kliklok International Ltd., in Bristol, United Kingdom.

“This planned acquisition will further extend Bosch Packaging Technology’s position in the food and confectionery industry. Above all, it will enhance our system capabilities as single-source supplier,” says Friedbert Klefenz, president of the Bosch Packaging Technology division.

Kliklok-Woodman has more than 60 years of experience in manufacturing packaging equipment for frozen foods and dairy products, among others, secondary packaging machinery such as end-load cartoners, top-load erectors and closers, and primary packaging machinery such as vertical form-fill-seal machines.

“This is great news for our customers, especially those with growing global operations, those who value single-source systems responsibility, and those who desire variety in their flexible packaging formats,” says Bill Crist, chief executive officer of Kliklok-Woodman. “We are proud of this strategic change, which has the potential to provide our successful, international associate team with further opportunities and aligns with the core values and reputation we have built over 60 years.”

In particular, Kliklok-Woodman’s range of secondary packaging machinery will complement Bosch Packaging Technology’s portfolio for the food and confectionery industry.

“Kliklok-Woodman will help boost Bosch’s presence in this market, and the acquisition is an important step on the road to fulfilling our PA 2020 growth strategy,” Klefenz adds.