The deal will see Italian packaging firm Marchesini Group own 48% of vision system software company SEA Vision, a firm they have partnered with on various projects in the past including for serialisation technology systems.
“SEA Vision is really important for the Marchesini Group. In 35 years, this is the first M&A operation that involves not a mechanical firm but a softwarehouse,” Marchesini spokesperson Antonio Leggieri told in-Pharmatechnologist.
“SEA Vision is a world point of reference for vision systems in the pharma industry,” and already their systems are present on 85% of the Marchesini machines, he said.
Leggieri did not reveal how much the company paid for the 48% share but said it is worth €125m ($156m) as a long-term strategic agreement between the two companies.
SEA Vision clocked in sales of €32m last year, but has predicted revenues to shoot up by 40% this year due to pharma serialization regulations across an increasing number of markets.
In the US, for example, a second-wave of track-and trace regulations came into effect last year and in Europe the Falsified Medicines Directive (EUFMD) makes serialisation of licensed drug products a legal requirement from early 2019.
3D printing
The Marchesini Group is also set to inaugurate a facility built entirely for 3D printing.
The 1,000m2 factory, located within the firm’s headquartes in Pianoro, Bologna, represents an investment of between €5-6m and will be available to all customers.
“The parts printed are used for the customers’ machines,” said Leggieri. “The printers are also able to create prototypes, so the Group can develop them inside and not outside.”