In line with its strategic expansion plan, tna has snapped up starch moulding equipment supplier NID, a key player in confectionery technology.
The acquisition of NID, effective 6 March and announced as Australian OEM tna prepares to kick off its 35th anniversary celebrations at Auspack, places the company in a strong position to become a leading single source supplier to the confectionery industry.
The move forms part of tna's global expansion plan, which saw it buy inserting and labelling equipment supplier Unique Solutions last year and food processing specialist Florigo in 2015.
Recognised as an industry pioneer in the development of starch moulding equipment, NID has been supplying complete mogul lines to the confectionery industry for over 60 years.
The acquisition gives tna access to NID’s starch moulding technology, including its latest generation M3000 Mogul capable of production speeds of up to 35 trays per minute.
“NID was the perfect fit for tna,” says Alf Taylor, CEO and co-founder of tna. “We share so many similarities. Both companies are family-owned businesses that started out with a passion for innovation, entrepreneurship and the determination to design equipment that could 'do better' and go that one step further than anything that’s been before."
Akin to the groundbreaking first prototype of the tna robag - vertical form fill seal equipment that neatly doubled the bag filling speeds possible at the time - NID’s first designs were revolutionary for the confectionery industry, challenging industry standards.
"We’re very honoured that this great Australian success story has now become part of our own story and are thrilled to be able to welcome the entire NID team into the tna group,” Taylor says.
Founded by entrepreneur and innovator Hans Arthur Faerber in Sydney in 1952, NID was the first company worldwide to patent the current form of tray stacking on a starch mogul.
Faerber’s innovations were capable of speeds unprecedented in the industry up to that point. Since then, NID has proven itself in starch moulding machinery and ancillary equipment, with more than 600 NID moguls installed across the globe.
“The integration of NID into the tna family is excellent news for our customers around the world,” comments Esther Faerber, NID chairman and daughter of the late Hans Arthur Faerber.
“tna’s extensive resources, including its experienced sales and service team, multiple manufacturing sites and well-established global distribution network will enable us to better service our existing customers by reducing lead times and accelerating time to market,” she says.
“It’s a great opportunity for both companies and I’m sure that our shared commitment to engineering excellence and continuous research and development will provide a fantastic basis for the production of market-leading designs that will continue to ‘break the mould’.”
