IMA Life North America, part of IMA Group, has completed a USD 30m, 120,000-square-foot facility in Tonawanda, New York, expanding capacity for freeze-drying and aseptic processing equipment supplied to pharmaceutical manufacturers. The plant replaces a 60,000-square-foot facility, adds 70 jobs and retains 195 existing positions. New York State's Empire State Development agency will provide up to USD 1.1m in performance-based tax credits tied to the job creation.
Why this mattersThe expansion adds capacity for aseptic and freeze-drying pharma equipment, reinforcing IMA's supply position with multinational drugmakers.
- IMA Life North America completed a USD 30m, 120,000-square-foot facility in Tonawanda, New York, on 24 September 2026.
- The site has 90,000 sq ft of production space and 30,000 sq ft of office space on 15 acres.
- It replaces IMA Life's previous 60,000-square-foot facility at 2175 Military Road.
- The expansion creates 70 new jobs and retains 195 existing jobs in Western New York.
- New York State's Empire State Development will provide up to USD 1.1m in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits.
- IMA Group, the Italian parent, employs about 7,400 people worldwide, making freeze dryers, fillers, washers and labelers for pharmaceutical clients.
Saudi Arabian dairy producer Wardat al Mashreq Food Company has installed an IMA Hassia S600 stick-pack filling line for processed cheese and cream products and has ordered a second unit for delivery in the first quarter of 2027. The six-lane machine fills 25ml and 50ml stick packs at 14,400 to 18,000 packs per hour, a format IMA says cuts packaging material use versus tub, triangle, square or block formats.
Why this mattersStick packs can cut packaging material by up to half versus conventional dairy formats, reinforcing machinery makers' push into lighter, lower-carbon fill formats.
- Wardat al Mashreq Food Company (Saudi Arabia) has installed an IMA Hassia S600 stick-pack machine for processed cheese and cream products.
- The machine fills 25ml and 50ml stick packs across six lanes at 14,400 to 18,000 packs per hour.
- IMA says stick packs can cut packaging material needs by up to 50 percent versus tub, triangle, square or block formats.
- The packaging offers a paper-like feel with shelf life of up to 12 months.
- A second stick-pack machine has been ordered, with delivery due in the first quarter of 2027.
- IMA Hassia is part of IMA Dairy & Food Holding GmbH, based in Ranstadt, Germany.
IMA TMC has introduced a redesigned WRAP250-NXT packaging machine for single rolls and multipacks of tissue, reaching speeds of up to 220 packs per minute and 1,300 rolls per minute depending on configuration. The machine features a re-engineered belt-and-pulley elevator unit, Never-Stop Technology for automatic rejection of faulty roll configurations without halting production, and a redesigned single-level, platform-free layout for operator access.
Why this mattersFaster changeovers and non-stop fault handling let tissue converters raise line uptime and respond to just-in-time demand without added labour.
- WRAP250-NXT reaches up to 220 packs per minute and up to 1,300 rolls per minute depending on configuration
- Machine handles roll diameters up to 250 mm and standard pack heights up to 410 mm
- Format changeovers take as little as 10 minutes
- Redesigned elevator unit uses a belt-and-pulley system enabling mechanical speeds up to 250 packs per minute
- Never-Stop Technology detects and rejects deformed, misaligned or miscounted rolls without stopping the machine
- Redesign removes platforms and stairways for a single-level, fully accessible working area
IMA Group has introduced its first fully IMA-supplied suppository production and packaging line, combining forming, filling, cartoning, labelling, case packing and serialisation in one automated workflow. The line runs at up to 30,000 suppositories per hour and will be available from October 2026 at the IMA Sarong plant.
Why this mattersA single-supplier, fully integrated line reduces interface risk and coordination cost for pharmaceutical manufacturers, a selling point against multi-vendor line assemblies.
- Line integrates IMA Sarong SAAS 15, IMA Safe A83, IMA Life Sensitive AP400, IMA BFB CP18 MINIFLEX and Antares Vision technologies
- Production speed up to 30,000 suppositories per hour
- Forming, filling and sealing done in a single process using aluminium foil
- Full traceability provided from carton level to case level via serialisation and aggregation
- Line available from October 2026 at the IMA Sarong plant
Sudpack has reported a 73% cut in Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions in 2025 against its 2021 baseline, compared with a 2030 target of 76.3% under its Science Based Targets initiative commitments. Total group CO2e emissions fell 21% over the same period, while Scope 3.1 emissions from purchased goods and services fell 16%. Renewable energy now accounts for 57% of the group's energy mix, targeted to reach 88% by 2030.
Why this mattersThe results show a plastics packaging converter can cut direct emissions sharply while expanding capacity, a benchmark for peers under SBTi pressure.
- Scope 1 and 2 emissions down 73% in 2025 versus the 2021 baseline, against a 76.3% target for 2030
- Total group CO2e emissions down 21% since 2021
- The group carbon footprint rose 3.91% against 2024, attributed to higher sales volumes and the Erolzheim and Coulmer plant expansions
- Scope 3.1 emissions from purchased goods and services down 16%, targeting 25% by 2030
- Renewable energy share of the total energy mix stands at 57%, targeted to reach 88% by 2030
- All EU production sites run on green electricity after Coulmer, France switched at the start of 2025
