ProMach Acquires Lako, Fortifying Flexible Packaging Leadership

CINCINNATI, OH – March 12, 2026 – In a significant strategic move, processing and packaging giant ProMach announced today its acquisition of Lako Tool & Manufacturing, a highly regarded international leader in specialized components for the flexible packaging industry. The deal brings Lako’s expertise in high-performance sealing, cutting, and punching solutions into ProMach’s extensive portfolio, reinforcing the company’s dominance in the rapidly growing consumer-packaged goods market.

This acquisition is more than a simple expansion; it represents a calculated fusion of scale and specialization. ProMach, a family of dozens of best-in-class brands, gains a critical asset in Lako, a company renowned for its precision engineering and ability to solve complex challenges, particularly with sustainable packaging materials. The move is expected to create powerful synergies, offering customers a more integrated and innovative partner for their entire production line.

“We are excited to welcome the Lako team to ProMach,” said ProMach President and CEO Mark Anderson in a statement. “Their addition to our business continues the expansion of our product solutions portfolio, and it significantly expands our ability to serve our customers.”

A Strategic Play in a Surging Market

ProMach's acquisition of Lako is the latest in a long and deliberate series of strategic investments. The company has a well-documented history of acquiring specialized technology leaders to build a comprehensive, single-source ecosystem for its global clientele. With over 40 acquisitions completed since 2006, ProMach has systematically broadened its capabilities across every stage of the production line, from processing and filling to robotics and end-of-line solutions. This strategy allows ProMach to offer turnkey systems, reducing complexity and risk for manufacturers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to smaller, privately-held businesses.

The timing of this acquisition is particularly astute. The global flexible packaging market is in the midst of a major growth phase, with market valuations projected to surge from approximately $270 billion in 2025 to over $463 billion by 2034, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of over 6%. This expansion is fueled by powerful trends, including the explosive growth of e-commerce, which favors lightweight and durable packaging, and a profound consumer-driven shift towards sustainability. Lako’s expertise directly addresses these market demands, positioning ProMach to capitalize on this momentum.

By integrating Lako, ProMach not only enhances its existing flexible packaging brands, Matrix and Bartelt, but also gains a crucial competitive edge in providing components that are vital for package integrity and efficiency, especially in high-demand sectors like snack foods, pet food, and personal care.

Driving Innovation in Sustainable Packaging

At the core of this acquisition lies Lako's advanced technological capabilities. The company is celebrated for its ability to design and manufacture durable, high-performance components that extend machinery lifecycles and ensure superior seal integrity. This is particularly critical as the industry grapples with the challenges posed by new, sustainable materials.

Recyclable mono-material films and compostable plastics, while environmentally friendly, often behave differently than traditional multi-laminate structures, requiring specialized equipment to achieve reliable seals without compromising line speed or product safety. Lako has built its reputation on solving these exact problems.

“Lako is well recognized for quality designs, precision engineering and high-quality component manufacturing,” Anderson noted. “With a world‑class reputation for understanding complex customer requirements and delivering solutions that extend part lifecycles and ensure superior sealing for challenging, sustainable materials, we are proud to welcome their best‑in‑class products into the ProMach portfolio.”

This sentiment was echoed by Don Deubel, Senior Vice President of ProMach’s flexible packaging business line. “The addition of Lako to ProMach underscores our commitment to providing our customers with the best products and aftermarket support in the industry,” Deubel stated. He highlighted Lako’s “consultative approach to solving complex technical challenges” as a key factor that will allow ProMach to become an even more significant partner for its customers.

Lako's Next Chapter: Scaling a Specialized Leader

For Lako Tool & Manufacturing, the acquisition marks a new chapter in a history that dates back to its founding in 1976. After being acquired by John Sullivan in 2007, the company grew into a world-class solutions provider known for its innovation and customer focus. Now, its 59 employees will join ProMach’s Systems & Process business unit, led by Group President Ryan McCart.

Lako CEO John Bialecki, who will continue to lead the business as its new Vice President and General Manager, expressed enthusiasm for the transition. “We are excited to join the ProMach family,” Bialecki said. He credited the company’s previous owner for the vision that allowed Lako to flourish and noted the immense potential for future growth.

“Being a part of ProMach will allow us to significantly scale Lako by leveraging the tools, processes, and customer relationships that ProMach has developed,” Bialecki continued. “We have known ProMach for many years, and we share similar philosophies around the importance of serving our customers well. We are thrilled to join the ProMach team.”

This integration promises to provide Lako with the resources and market access of a global powerhouse while allowing it to maintain the specialized focus and innovative spirit that made it a leader in its niche. The synergy between ProMach’s machinery brands and Lako’s component expertise is expected to yield more robust, efficient, and comprehensive solutions for the entire flexible packaging segment, ultimately benefiting a wide range of manufacturers striving to meet the evolving demands of the modern marketplace.