Manchester-based Proline Engineering (www.proline-eng.co.uk) has been acquired by US-based CPM Holdings.

Founded in 1996, Proline supplies high-speed and high-volume conveyance solutions, installation and after-market services for the metal packaging industry.

It will join Blackburn-based Greenbank Technology in CPM’s metal packaging solutions division and will be the group’s fourth UK facility (alongside Crown Europe in East Yorkshire and Wolverine Proctor
in Glasgow).

Iowa-based CPM Holdings is a leading international supplier of equipment and engineered systems to the animal feed, bio-energy, engineered materials and oil-seed processing markets, with 20 facilities in Europe, North and South America, Russia and Asia.

CPM president Ted Waitman said: “Proline brings terrific synergies to our metal packaging offering. Its bespoke material-handling solutions complement our leading position in washer and thermal technologies for the two-piece can industry.”

The former owners of Proline Engineering — Ivan Wroe, Stephen Rimmer, Colin Timms and Gary Jones — will stay with the business, in leadership and management positions.

Mr Wroe said: “With CPM, we will build on our industry-leading conveyance technology to connect critical process equipment to create bespoke system solutions for customers around the world.”