US conveyance systems business looks to Salford for latest acquisition

Conveying equipment systems manufacturer Proline Engineering has been snapped up by a US company.

The Greater Manchester-based firm is now part of CPM Holdings, a supplier of high-speed, high-volume conveyance systems and services for the metal packaging industry.

Proline said its global growth will expand significantly through the deal, which saw it become CPM’s fourth UK facility.

The other CPM-owned businesses in the UK are Blackburn-based Greenbank Technology, Crown Europe in East Yorkshire and Glasgow’s Wolverine Proctor.

Former Proline owners Ivan Wroe, Stephen Rimmer, Colin Timms and Gary Jones will take on leadership and management positions following the deal.

Ivan Wroe said: “With CPM, Proline will accelerate its global growth and development and we will build on our industry-leading conveyance technology to connect critical process equipment to create bespoke system solutions to customers around the world.”

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

“Most importantly, Proline shares CPM’s core values, operating philosophies and unyielding customer commitment.”

Proline was founded in 1996 and is today based in Worsley, Salford.

CPM is headquartered in Iowa and operates from 20 facilities across Europe, North and South America, Russia and Asia.

Accountancy and business advisory firm CLB Coopers advised Proline Engineering on the transaction alongside KBL Solicitors.

Andrew Feeke, corporate finance senior director at CLB Coopers, said of the deal: “This deal is a culmination of years of planning to help shape the business, to optimise shareholder value and to work with the company to put in place a range of options to help them to proactively realise that value; this is exactly the type of transaction that our corporate finance team has the expertise and experience to support and we are proud to have worked with Proline’s management team to help them achieve its ambitions.”

Jonathan Shorrock of law firm KBL said: “Proline and its management team have been clients for many years and it has been a pleasure working with them on this important transaction for both the company and the people who created and grew it. We at KBL wish all concerned well for the future.”

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