M&A roundup: Ahlstrom completes Stevens Point acquisition, Duravant adds Pattyn Group to global portfolio

USA – Fibre-based specialty materials leader Ahlstrom has officially concluded its acquisition of the Stevens Point facility in Wisconsin, a strategic move aimed at strengthening its position in sustainable food and consumer packaging markets.

The Stevens Point site—previously owned by Pixelle Specialty Solutions—specializes in advanced packaging solutions for food, consumer goods, and e-commerce applications.

It brings to Ahlstrom a portfolio of high-quality products, well-established customer relationships, and a skilled workforce of 260 employees.

Importantly, the facility enhances Ahlstrom’s finishing and coating technologies, complementing its existing capabilities.

Konraad Dullaert, Executive Vice President and CIO of Ahlstrom’s Food and Consumer Packaging division, emphasized the value of this acquisition, “Stevens Point’s superior technical expertise and top-class team are an exciting addition to Ahlstrom’s technology portfolio and global manufacturing network.

“This expands our market reach and positions us to meet better the evolving needs of our customers in North America and beyond.”

President and CEO Helen Mets echoed the sentiment, stating, “This move is a clear investment in our future. By integrating Stevens Point, we strengthen the breadth and quality of our sustainable offerings, leading the way in innovative packaging solutions.”

The acquisition follows Ahlstrom’s recent investment in its Saint-Séverin plant in France, where it launched a new parchmentiser (PMZ5) with a €15 million (US$16.8m) budget to accelerate innovation in sustainable food packaging.

Duravant acquires Pattyn Group to bolster global packaging automation reach

In parallel M&A news, Duravant, a leading provider of engineered equipment and automation solutions, has finalized its acquisition of Pattyn Group, a Belgium-based packaging automation company known for its end-to-end bag-in-box systems and industrial packaging solutions.

The agreement, first announced in February 2025, significantly boosts Duravant’s technological capabilities and global footprint in the food and non-food packaging sectors.

Pattyn operates six specialized manufacturing facilities across Belgium, France, and Spain, and supports customers through dedicated sales and service networks in North America and Asia.

The company offers integrated systems for case erecting, bag inserting, weigh filling, and palletizing, along with cutting-edge bakery packaging lines equipped with 3D vision and robotic pick-and-place technology.

Mike Kachmer, Chairman and CEO of Duravant, commented on the acquisition, “Pattyn’s robust technology portfolio and focus on value-driven solutions perfectly align with Duravant’s mission to deliver success for our customers.

“This partnership enables exciting cross-company collaboration and strengthens our ability to serve global markets with innovative automation solutions.”

Pattyn’s solutions also extend to high-volume bag-in-box filling lines for octabins, serving petrochemical, food processing, and industrial customers.

Stan Pattyn, the company’s owner, noted the strategic benefits of joining forces with Duravant, “Duravant’s strong presence in high-growth sectors like protein processing and their expanding footprint in emerging markets—such as Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, China, and India—create a powerful platform for growth and innovation. We look forward to scaling our impact together.”

Together, these acquisitions mark a significant evolution for both Ahlstrom and Duravant as they scale up operations, technology, and geographic reach to meet the growing demand for sustainable and automated packaging solutions worldwide.

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