Premier Tech's Industrial Equipment Group

About us

Corporate Presentation

Premier Tech’s Industrial Equipment Group (IEG) consists of three major business segments – flexible packaging, rigid packaging, bulk processing and peat moss field equipment –  that offer innovative solutions and approaches to complete and integrated systems. Each project is tailored to our customer’s specific needs. In flexible packaging, Premier Tech Chronos offers complete bag packaging solutions including weighing and feeding, bagging, valve bag packing, palletizing and load securing equipment, for a wide range of materials in various industries: pet food, food, growing media, minerals (loose), feed, seeds and crops, forestry, chemicals, insulation, etc. Premier Tech Systems offers complete end-of-line solutions including conveying, robotic case packing, palletizing and load securing equipment for various kinds of containers such as boxes, bundles, cans, kegs, etc. Premier Tech Industrial offers bulk processing solutions as well as peat moss field equipment, including screening systems, mixing lines, harrows, vacuum harvesters, etc.

The entire IEG team is dedicated to supporting the growth of its customers and providing a safe working environment. In addition, the module automation program allows customers to either start right away with a fully automatic system or purchase a semi-automatic system and easily upgrade it to full automation later on. 

Corporate Structure - IEG

  • 460 team members in the Americas
  • 270 team members in Europe and Asia
  • Over C$130 million in annual sales

Choosing IEG as your single-source supplier means optimizing your production and meeting all your dependability and after-sales service expectations.

History

Premier Tech’s Industrial Equipment Group (IEG) was born in 1989 to satisfy a need for automation at Tourbières Premier (now Premier Tech Horticulture, IEG’s sister company). IEG started out as the company’s engineering department, manufacturing equipment to support internal technological needs. IEG soon decided to sell its equipment outside the company and became an international leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of state-of-the-art industrial equipment. Mostly involved in the organic industry at the beginning of the 1990s, IEG quickly expanded its activities towards non-organic markets through both its extensive IR&D programs and the acquisition of Chronos Richardson Systems. By adding this 125-year-old German company to its team, IEG paved the way for major growth in the food, chemical and mineral industries while complementing its product lines with new packaging technologies. With its wide range of products and innovative solutions tailored to its customers’ specific needs, IEG is now an international leader in the field of industrial flexible packaging (IFP) equipment.

Acquisitions

The eleven acquisitions Premier Tech has made for IEG in less than 15 years fall within one of the company’s strategic initiatives. Acquisitions have been Premier Tech’s dominant growth factor over the past 20 years.

  • 1995

    Acquisition of Les Équipements Tardif

    The acquisition of this supplier gave IEG extended production and sales capacity. It also allowed for the launch of the Starscreener in partnership with Erin Screen Systems, an Ireland-based company specializing in screening systems.

  • 1997

    Acquisition of Erin Screen Systems

    Two years after the signing of a strategic alliance between IEG and Erin Screen Systems, the parties began talks that would lead to a purchase offer from Premier Tech.

  • 1999

    Acquisition of W.G. Durant

    Always striving to fill the gaps in its product portfolio, IEG took the opportunity to enter the world of valve bagging equipment during the summer of 1999. This transaction allowed IEG to penetrate new industries and markets.

  • 2000

    Acquisition of B.A.G. Equip

    Following the acquisition of a series of valve bagging equipment manufacturers, the natural move for IEG was to bring on board a line of FIBC filling equipment and further broaden its offer.

  • 2002

    Acquisition of Richard Simon

    IEG enhanced its system integration capabilities by adding Nottingham-based Richard Simon to its team. The 125-year-old company joined IEG’s ranks in April 2002.

  • 2002

    Acquisition of Chronos Holdings Ltd. (Chronos Richardson)

    Chronos Richardson specializes mainly in bagging systems and equipment for powdery and granular products. Its product lines include weighing systems, open-mouth and valve bagging systems, as well as palletizing systems.

  • 2006

    Acquisition of Les Machineries Verville

    IEG broadened its offer with the acquisition of this company specializing in industrial flexible packaging equipment for organic materials.

  • 2008

    Acquisition of GescoFAB

    GescoFAB Ltd. is mostly renowned for the design, manufacturing and installation of high-performance conveyor systems that are adapted to its customers’ needs.

  • 2009

    Acquisition of the bagging equipment division at Graphic Packaging

    STONEPAK, Premier Tech’s new valve packers line, is born from the acquisition of the bagging equipment division at Graphic Packaging International, Inc. STONEPAK will continue the tradition that has been passed down through Bates, St. Regis Bates, Stone Container, Smurfit-Stone, Altivity and Graphic Packaging.

  • 2009

    Acquisition of BTH BV

    Premier Tech acquired BTH BV, an innovative market leader in the packaging industry located in the Netherlands. It is merged with Chronos Richardson, creating a team of specialists and experts with considerable industrial know-how. Chronos Richardson and BTH now operate under the name CHRONOS BTH in Europe.

  • 2010

    Acquisition of Forberg’s intellectual properties

    Premier Tech acquired the commercial and technological assets of the mineral wool bagging division of Forberg, the insulation industry’s leader in Europe. IEG thus strengthened its position as the packaging equipment leader in the field of insulation products.

  • 2012

    Acquisition of vonGAL Corporation

    Premier Tech acquired the vonGAL Corporation in June 2012. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. vonGAL stands in the top three for conventional palletizing systems for unit loads, catering mainly to the rigid packaging market in America.