Pro Mach, Inc. (ProMachInc.com) has acquired Benchmark Automation (BenchmarkAutomation.net), a leading manufacturer of specialty material handling solutions and packaging equipment. Benchmark complements Pro Mach’s existing material handling product line and strengthens capabilities in the food and bakery markets. Pro Mach’s Material Handling Group, which includes Shuttleworth and KLEENLine brands, serves a wide range of customers worldwide and enhances Pro Mach’s strength in providing turnkey integrated systems across the entire packaging and processing line.

Benchmark manufactures a wide range of high-quality conveyors, infeeds, loading, stacking, and packaging equipment tailored to the unique needs of food and bakery manufacturers. Founded in 2001 and based in Athens, Georgia, Benchmark built its reputation by delivering superior specialty solutions and responsive customer support focused on high-performance, ease of use, and low maintenance.

The Benchmark Automation team will join Pro Mach, including founders and partners Vince Tamborello and Mike Rupert. Mr. Tamborello will serve as Vice President and General Manager, reporting to Pro Mach’s Material Handling Group Senior Vice President Bret Ranc. Mr. Rupert will serve as Director of Operations.

“We’re pleased to welcome the outstanding Benchmark Automation team,” said Mark Anderson, Pro Mach president and CEO. “Benchmark fits well with our focus on being a single source provider for packaging and processing solutions and the leader in integrated packaging systems. Benchmark’s leadership in bakery provides opportunities to better serve that market and strengthen our complete solution set for existing customers.”

Pro Mach is one of North America’s largest packaging and processing machinery manufacturers and integrated system providers, with more than 20 equipment brands sold throughout the world. In addition to material handling, it manufactures and integrates solutions for primary and secondary packaging, bottling and capping, flexible packaging, end of line packaging, and identification and tracking. In recent years Pro Mach has increased its focus on markets outside North America, particularly Latin America and Europe.