IMA Group launches IMA Coffee Hub

European manufacturer Ima has launched the Ima Coffee Hub, offering a variety of machines and technologies to reach every corner of the coffee handling, processing, and packaging sector. According to Klaus Peters, Ima’s Hub Director, the Coffee Hub was designed as a one-stop-supplier to provide high to low speed pods and capsule filling machines, a range of processing equipment for green coffee handling, and form fill and seal machinery. “We offer our customers a variety of solutions via one commercial network,” Peters says. The Ima Coffee Hub consists of companies including Petroncini, Mapster, Tecmar, Gima, Spreafico Automation, and the Ima BFB division. Each provides a key slice of experience and expertise needed to serve the coffee industry from A to Z.  “We looked at these companies and realised that if we wanted to grow, we should do it together. From there, the idea was to consolidate a cluster of specialist brands to serve the coffee industry world-wide,” Peters says. In the beginning, Peters says it was a little challenging to have different companies congregate and settle on one goal, but the result has been worthwhile. “Ultimately, what got us to where we are today was having a common view on what the market was missing and through working together, we will strengthen the position of each company within the coffee market,” he says. Peters explains that each company plays an integral part to the business, bringing new ideas and products to the table. “We call it a Coffee Hub because it’s a group of companies that are bringing different levels of expertise, experience, and products to the coffee sector,” Peters says. Petroncini provides expert consultancy and a complete range of equipment for green coffee handling and processing, roasters for all capacity requirements, and high-quality grinders. Spreafico designs medium speed machines for the packaging of coffee capsules and soluble products. It creates specialised machinery to customise standard capsules according to specific requirements and is considered a market leader in its field due to its mechanical expertise and technical competence. Machines for soft and hard pods are also designed and offered at the Ima Coffee Hub. Gima produces high-speed packaging machinery for single serve capsule filling, as well as paper coffee pods. Coffee capsules that are ready to leave the production site benefit from Gima’s cutting-edge secondary packaging solutions that aim to uphold product integrity and provide top-rate protection right through to delivery. In comparison, Mapster produces low-speed capsule filling machines. Together with Gima and Spreafico, the three can cover 100 per cent of the marketing demand for capsule filling machines. Mapster and Techmar (Ima’s latest acquisition located in Argentina) offer a full array of machines to handle dosed filling of flexible, sealed packages in all shapes and sizes. Lastly, the Ima BFB division produces end of line solutions. Its bundling and wrapping machines, case packers, palletisers, and depalletisers cover a wide range of speeds. “The advantages of speaking to one single supplier are numerous. Synergies come into play, timing issues are easier to coordinate, everyone you speak to is focused on your key objectives, and consistent quality and shared knowledge is guaranteed,” Peters says.  “The coffee industry is a very dynamic and challenging market. We want to cater to this market, providing customised solutions to roasters and the entire coffee industry.” He adds that each company is continuously learning and growing from each other. “Each company brings something different to the Hub. Through combining our forces, we’re able to showcase our strengths and have created a family,” Peters says. “We believe in the managers of these companies, and we will continue to promote each other and make it possible to continue to cooperate in the next years.” Peter adds the Coffee Hub will consistently evolve its technology to ensure customers have access to the most up-to-date products. “Customers rely on good technology and we want them to have confidence in our machines, technologies, and services,” Peters says. Looking to the future, Peters says Ima’s goal is to expand the Coffee Hub worldwide. “We believe there is a tendency to build in new areas,” Peters says. “We’re seeing more countries converting to coffee. These are the markets where we believe there is an interest in tech. We want to be the first ones saying, ‘we’re here, we can offer you everything’.” For more information, visit www.ima.it/beverage/brands/ima-coffee/