Bosch, Farmington Hills, Mich., is currently looking to sell its packaging machinery business (PA), more specifically the pharmaceuticals and food units of the packaging technology division.
“This decision will allow Bosch to narrow its focus on issues of importance for its future, such as the transformation of the Bosch Group and its future digitalization strategy, including the Internet of Things, and to pool its resources accordingly,” says Dr. Stefan Hartung, board of management member responsible for the energy and building technology and industrial technology business sectors. “Both PA and Bosch will benefit from this decision. A reorganized packaging technology business will be able to adapt more flexibly to the diverse requirements of this typically SME market, while Bosch will be free to focus its attention entirely on the group’s impending profound transformation.”
“My colleagues in PA executive management and I are confident of future business success. We’re one of the biggest companies in our industry, and the path we have chosen is clearly the right one. We will stay together as a strong and stable unit. Under new ownership as well, our tried and tested team will continue to provide our customers with excellent manufacturing solutions and services,” says Dr. Stefan König, chairman of the managing board of Robert Bosch Packaging Technology GmbH, Germany. “PA has always led a largely independent existence within the Bosch Group, and will in the future be able to respond even better to the requirements of the packaging industry. Our customers will benefit from this.”
From a business perspective, the past two fiscal years were difficult for certain PA units. Under new management, however, the company is beginning to realign.
PA currently employs some 6,100 associates in its global packaging technology operations. The goal is for all associates and locations to be retained by the eventual buyer.
The company’s special-purpose machinery manufacturer Robert Bosch Manufacturing Solutions GmbH is a separate entity, and will remain part of the Bosch Group.
