ACMA commemorates its centenary milestone

Anonima Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche (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.

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, specialising in the design and construction of automatic machines including 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. This determined approach allowed ACMA to face the difficult period of World War II with resilience and resolution, continuing to innovate despite the damage suffered by its factories due to bombings.

In the years immediately following World War II, ACMA initiated a “spin-off” process in the industrial landscape. The company’s workshops and technical department were, for decades, a cradle of great talent. From here emerged visionary designers who, in the post-war period, gave rise to numerous companies in the district, which are still thriving today.

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 Companies Inc. In 1986, it became part of what would later become Coesia, a group of companies specialising in industrial and packaging solutions, operating globally under the leadership of Isabella Seràgnoli.

ACMA remains a benchmark in the packaging sector to this day, with a consolidated reputation for innovation, reliability, and the quality of its products and services.

“ACMA Next”, a research and development laboratory within the company, has also recently been inaugurated to explore new frontiers in packaging technologies, aimed at developing increasingly sustainable and cutting-edge products. ACMA Next is seen an incubator of ideas that transforms visions into tangible realities.

“This important anniversary,” says Daniele Ponzinibbi, CEO of ACMA, “is not only an opportunity to reflect on our journey from a small artisan business to a company that is part of an international industrial group, but it also represents a moment to look at the ACMA of the future, which cutting-edge technologies will drive through continuous experimentation in research and development. As pioneers of the Packaging Valley, we envision a future full of innovative and sustainable solutions, always alongside our customers.”

Related content