KHS acquires Scandia Packaging Machinery, plans to enter candy, cosmetics, and entertainment media sectors

Filling and packaging systems provider KHS USA Inc. said Friday it has acquired Scandia Packaging Machinery Co., a packaging systems manufacturer with a specialty in compact machines.

KHS USA is the North American subsidiary of Dortmund, Germany-based KHS GmbH, and has locations in Waukesha, Wisc., and Sarasota, Fla., where it produces filling and packaging solutions for the beverage, food, and non-food markets.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the company said that Fairfield, N.J.-based Scandia will now operate as KHS USA, and operate in the Sarasota location. Former Scandia president Bill Bronander III will now manage business development and sales.

The acquisition will enable KHS to expand its portfolio to include compact cartoners and secondary packaging machines, and to enter new market segments including candy, cosmetics, and entertainment media, the firm said.

"There's a trend towards smaller single-serve products," Donald Deubel, vice-president and business unit leader at KHS USA, said in a statement. "In taking over Scandia, an expert in compact packaging machines, we're developing attractive growth areas in this very segment."