ACMA celebrates 100 years of innovation

ACMA, a Bologna-based company part of the Coesia Group and leading player in the Emilia-Romagna’s « Packaging Valley » is turning 100 years old. Since 1924, the company has specialized in the design and production of automatic machines and systems for packaging consumer goods.

Founded on 31 July 1924, with a capital of 350.000 Lire, ACMA began its journey under the leadership of its first Administrator, Gaetano Barbieri. Since then, the company has set industry standards, specializing in the design and construction of automatic machines for packaging home and personal care products, confectionery, and food. Among the company’s early successes were the revolutionary powder wrapping and dosing machines, along with innovative solutions for wrapping candies and chocolates.

The company distinguished itself with flourishing growth from the beginning, consistently incorporating new technologies and ideas into its offer. During the 1920s, ACMA obtained numerous patents for its pioneering inventions, including a powder doser and a rotary machine for printing and folding sheets. After Gaetano Barbieri’s death in 1959, ACMA was acquired by Emhart A.G., subsequently passing under the control of Emhart Industries and, later, Barry-Wehmiller. In 1986, it became part of what would later become Coesia, a group of companies specializing in highly innovative industrial and packaging solutions, operating globally under the leadership of Isabella Seràgnoli.

The drive for technology is still in the company’s DNA. A recent example of this is ACMA’s entry into the e-commerce sector with the E-SWL, a solution to produce shipping bags based on the product dimensions and with the customer’s desired print.

« ACMA Next », a research and development laboratory within the company, has also recently been inaugurated. Here, thanks to a unique synergy between creativity and technological skills, new frontiers in packaging technologies are explored, aimed at developing increasingly sustainable and cutting-edge products. ACMA Next goes beyond the concept of a laboratory: it is an incubator of ideas that transforms visions into tangible realities. The commitment is also, in this case, aimed at exceeding expectations, consistently placing innovation and responsibility at the center of the work.