Why Dairy Packaging Uptime Is Suddenly Big Business

ProMach’s AmHolt acquisition shows how packaging uptime, not volume alone, is reshaping competition in US dairy plants

26 Jan 2026

US dairy processors are placing greater emphasis on how reliably products are packed and shipped, as labour shortages and wider product ranges strain plant operations. Packaging performance, once a secondary concern, is increasingly central to efficiency and cost control.

That shift helps explain ProMach’s acquisition on January 9 of American Holt, DMA Solution and Pride Engineering, together known as AmHolt, from Arcline Investment Management. The US based packaging machinery group said the deal would expand its range of engineered aftermarket parts and packaging related components. Financial terms were not disclosed.

According to statements from ProMach and Arcline, the acquisition brings together businesses that supply replacement parts and consumables used daily on packaging lines. These components are designed to reduce wear, prevent breakdowns and shorten repair times when equipment fails.

For dairy processors, the issue is practical. When packaging lines stop, the impact goes beyond lost production minutes. Delays can disrupt refrigerated supply chains, increase product waste and jeopardise deliveries to retailers. Access to parts and service support is often as important as the machinery itself.

Mark Anderson, ProMach’s chief executive, said the deal would strengthen the company’s ability to support customer equipment over its full lifecycle, reflecting a shift towards long term performance rather than one off machinery sales. Arcline described AmHolt’s products as mission critical items that customers depend on to keep operations running.

The transaction also reflects a broader trend in the packaging sector. Suppliers are consolidating to offer integrated platforms that combine equipment, parts and service. For food processors, this can simplify procurement and maintenance while improving response times when problems arise.

The trade off is a narrowing supplier base, which may reduce choice over time. However, many processors see consolidation as a way to improve reliability without investing in new plants or major capacity expansions.

In the dairy industry, where margins are tight and volumes are high, incremental gains in uptime can translate into meaningful cost savings. As processors look for ways to increase output and reduce waste, packaging support is becoming a competitive tool rather than a back end function.

Deals such as ProMach’s acquisition of AmHolt suggest that the focus on packaging reliability, and the consolidation that supports it, is likely to continue.