Brown Machine, Epco merged within Pacific Press Technologies

Thermoforming machine manufacturer Brown Machine (Beaverton, MI) and sister firm Epco Machinery (Fremont, OH), which services, repairs and refurbishes plastics processing machinery, were merged into Pacific Press Technologies (Mount Carmel, IL), a manufacturer of metal fabrication machinery. All three belong to Madison Capital Partners (Chicago, IL).

Pacific Production Technologies also manufacturers a range of compression molding machines for processing of thermoset plastics. Jim Robbins, VP marketing at Brown, says the merger brings almost no change to Brown or Epco. “We''ve the same management group, same CEO of all three, no real change,” he says. Mike Stein already was CEO of the three firms. With the merger there may be some opportunity for synergies in administration and manufacturing, says Robbins, who adds Brown had a bang-up 2006, especially its fourth quarter. The firm sees solid demand for both cut-sheet and inline thermoformers.

Last summer Madison acquired Mannesmann Plastics Machinery (MPM; Munich, Germany), which includes injection molding machine makers Demag Plastics Group, Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik and Netstal, plus Berstorff, which makes compounding and sheet extruders plus rubber extrusion machinery. Krauss-Maffei also makes extruders and polyurethane processing equipment.—[email protected]