Tag Archives: Industry

Bencis announces sale of Curtec

Bencis

Boston, MA & Rijen, Netherlands — July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Ampersand Capital Partners (“Ampersand”), a private equity firm specializing in growth equity investments in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, today announced the acquisition of CurTec Group B.V. (“CurTec”), a Netherlands-based manufacturer of high-performance plastic packaging solutions for pharmaceutical and specialty chemical applications from Bencis Capital Partners (“Bencis”) in partnership with management.

Headquartered in Rijen (Netherlands), CurTec has manufacturing operations in the Netherlands and the United States and sales offices across Europe, North America and Asia. CurTec designs and manufactures GMP-compliant, UN-certified packaging solutions engineered for the secure storage and transport of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), excipients and other high-value and sensitive biopharma and chemical ingredients used in regulated environments where cleanliness, compliance and durability are critical.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ampersand as our new partner as we focus on scaling U.S. operations, advancing product innovation, expanding our footprint and growing into adjacent markets,” said Bart van Berkel, CEO of CurTec. “Their deep expertise in the life sciences supply chain and their US network will help accelerate our global presence while reinforcing our commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.”

“CurTec is a premium brand trusted by leading pharmaceutical companies – including those within Ampersand’s portfolio – for its exceptional product quality and regulatory standards,” said Hidde Van Kerckhoven, Principal at Ampersand. “We look forward to working closely with Bart and his team to expand capacity, strengthen commercial capabilities, and support long-term growth.”

“We look back on a very successful partnership with CurTec and the team, evolving into a global leader in regulated packaging through innovation, operational and ESG excellence, and a clear focus on pharma,” said Zoran van Gessel, Managing Partner at Bencis. “It’s been a pleasure supporting CurTec over all those years together with Fred Lammers, the former CurTec CEO, and we wish the team and Ampersand continued success in this next chapter.”

CurTec recently expanded its manufacturing footprint with the opening of a state-of-the-art facility in Westminster, South Carolina, complementing its European site and positioning the company to better serve the fast-growing North American market. Its global customer base includes over 300 companies across pharma, specialty chemicals, and high-integrity logistics.

New product launches such as the Fold Pack – which improves handling and supply chain efficiency – demonstrate CurTec’s leadership in sustainable GMP packaging solutions aligned with evolving industry standards.

About Ampersand Capital Partners

Ampersand Capital Partners, founded in 1988, is a middle-market private equity firm with $3 billion of assets under management, dedicated to growth-oriented investments in the healthcare sector. With offices in Boston, MA, and Amsterdam, Netherlands, Ampersand leverages a unique blend of private equity and operating experience to build value and drive long-term performance alongside its portfolio company management teams. Ampersand has helped build numerous market-leading companies across each of the firm’s core healthcare sectors.

For additional information, visit  ampersandcapital.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Bencis

Bencis is an independent investment company founded in 1999. The company supports entrepreneurs and management teams in realizing growth ambitions and invests in successful businesses in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. With offices in Amsterdam, Brussels, and Düsseldorf, Bencis combines extensive experience in growth, acquisitions, and sustainable business practices.

For additional information visit www.bencis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

About CurTec

CurTec is a premium manufacturer of high-performance plastic packaging for the pharmaceutical, specialty chemicals, and logistics industries. With production facilities in Europe and the United States, CurTec partners with over 300 companies worldwide to ensure the safe, clean, and efficient transport of valuable goods. The company is committed to innovation, sustainability, and quality, helping customers protect their products and enhance supply chain performance.

For additional information, visit  www.curtec.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Marc Martens
MarCom Manager
+31 6 4625 8649
marc.martens@curtec.com

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Cottonwood Technology Fund’s first investment from our new Fund IV

We are proud to announce Cottonwood Technology Fund‘s first investment from our new Fund IV: inPhocal. A real deep tech impact investment. This Dutch deep tech startup has developed a revolutionary laser-based marking technology that eliminates ink and enables high-speed, high-precision marking on curved and complex surfaces. inPhocal’s sustainable and scalable approach is poised to transform industrial marking across sectors such as food & beverage, semiconductors, and beyond. We look forward to supporting inPhocal’s growth as they expand their impact globally.

▶️ Ink‑free laser marking: Replaces traditional inkjet printing (such as expiry dates, QR codes) with a patented laser-based method—eliminating toxic ink, reducing maintenance, and avoiding messy consumables High-Tech Systems

▶️ Curved‑surface capability: Can print on complex shapes—eg bottles, cans, fruits & eggs—with precision comparable to flat surfaces, thanks to extended focal depth

▶️ High throughput & speed: Achieves marking speeds up to ~3000 unique QR codes/minute; roughly 3× faster than conventional inkjet and up to 10× faster than typical laser systems

▶️ Extended focus range: Optical innovation extends laser’s effective focal depth by up to ~400×, enabling high-quality marking despite surface irregularities

▶️ Seamless integration: Plug‑and‑play design fits into existing production lines without causing downtime or requiring major retrofits .

▶️ Energy & environmental benefits: Consumes up to 50× less energy than inkjet printers, prevents plastic sticker waste, reduces food recalls through more durable codes, and lowers CO₂ emissions.

For more info visit  the website of inPhocal

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AE Industrial Partners Establishes Aerospace MRO Services Platform with Investment in Air Transport Components

Ae Industrial Partners

Partnership with ATC launches a specialized component MRO platform with repair capabilities across a wide range of commercial, cargo, and military aircraft

BOCA RATON, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AE Industrial Partners, LP (“AE Industrial”), a private investment firm specializing in national security, aerospace, and industrial services, today announced the acquisition of Air Transport Components (“ATC” or “the Company”), a provider of aircraft component maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services. ATC will be the cornerstone of a new platform offering a full suite of aviation component and accessories repair services for the commercial, cargo, and military markets. This partnership builds upon AE Industrial’s history of successful investments in the aviation aftermarket, which includes Yingling Aviation, AIM MRO and Kellstrom Aerospace, among others. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1998, ATC specializes in the repair and overhaul of critical aerospace components, possessing strong technical expertise across engine mounts, landing gear, hydraulics, airframe and structures, tracks, flight controls, electrical components, and avionics. With over 100,000 square feet of capacity across three state-of-the-art facilities in Gilbert, Arizona, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Company delivers component repair services for nearly every major U.S. commercial airline. With over 1,000,000 components repaired in the last 25 years, ATC offers a breadth of creative repair solutions that combine its differentiated technical capabilities with enhanced technology and excellence in customer service.

“As the global installed base of aircraft grows and production constraints for new aircraft persist, keeping older aircraft operational longer, while continuing to service active fleets, has become a critical necessity. This is a dynamic that ATC is well positioned to address due to their extensive capabilities, deep technical knowledge, proven responsiveness, and safety record,” said Bryan McElwee, Partner at AE Industrial. “The Company has built an outstanding reputation and serves a deeply entrenched, blue-chip client base. We’re excited to partner with the experienced team at ATC and expand the platform’s portfolio of services, both organically and through acquisitions, establishing a truly market leading MRO platform.”

“We have already developed a very strong relationship with AE Industrial and look forward to working with them closely to scale the platform and build on our strong position,” said Jimmy Newman, CEO of Air Transport Components. “Their deep operating expertise, network of relationships within the aerospace community, and track record of building highly successful businesses make them the ideal partner to help us capitalize on exciting opportunities in the MRO space.”

EY served as financial advisor to AE Industrial on the transaction, while Akerman LLP served as legal advisor.

About AE Industrial Partners:
AE Industrial Partners is a private investment firm with $6.4 billion of assets under management focused on highly specialized markets including national security, aerospace, and industrial services. AE Industrial Partners has completed more than 130 investments in market-leading companies that benefit from its deep industry knowledge, operating experience, and network of relationships across the sectors where the firm invests. With a commitment to driving value creation in partnership with the management teams of its portfolio companies, AE Industrial Partners invests across private equity, venture capital, and aerospace leasing.

About Air Transport Components:
ATC was founded in 1998 and specializes in the repair and overhaul of components and accessories for both commercial and military air transport aircraft. The company handles all repairs, engineering, quality control testing, and refinishing in-house at its state-of-the-art facilities, totaling over 100,000 square feet, located in Gilbert, Ariz., and Tulsa, Okla. ATC Gilbert, ATC Tulsa, and Unicorp Systems are all integral parts of the overall ATC business, working together to provide innovative solutions and exceptional services. Each division plays a unique role in the company’s overall operations, contributing to its growth and success.

Media Contact:
Stanton Public Relations & Marketing
Matt Conroy
mconroy@stantonprm.com
(646) 502-3563

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Emerald Invests in Cajo Technologies, Sustainable Laser Marking Leader

Emerald

Kempele, Finland / Zurich, Switzerland – Cleantech venture capital pioneer Emerald Technology Ventures has announced an investment  in Cajo Technologies, a Finnish provider of advanced laser marking solutions. The round will accelerate Cajo’s growth and allow them to commercialize the groundbreaking  MakeBright™  marking technology for  packaging.

Advancing Sustainable Packaging Solutions

Cajo has developed and patented technologies that eliminate the need for consumables such as ink, labels, or adhesives, significantly lowering the environmental footprint of product marking. Their technology allows for the direct marking on a wide array of

Their MakeBright™  marking technology is a revolutionary new way to produce precise and permanent product markings on cardboard more sustainably, without additives like ink, glue, ribbons, or labels. This eases the recycling process and enables cost savings.

The Growing Need for Sustainable Packaging Marking

Cajo’s solutions cater to forward-thinking stakeholders in the industry looking to significantly improve production processes while lowering operational costs. Cajo’s solutions are already trusted by major industrial players across diverse sectors—including PepsiCo, SSAB, Fiskars, and Prysmian for applications ranging from primary and secondary packaging to metal, wire, and cable marking.

Capturing a High-Growth Market

The global laser marking market is forecasted to exceed EUR 4 billion by 2027, driven by increasing regulatory demands, anti-counterfeit measures, and the need for supply chain traceability. Cajo is well-positioned within this market with its scalable product portfolio—ranging from Integrable marking units to turnkey industrial systems—and its proprietary software platform.

Supporting Next-Stage Growth

With Emerald’s investment and strategic support, Cajo plans to scale commercial operations, expand internationally—particularly in Asia and North America—and advance its customer success, R&D, and production capabilities.

“We are thrilled to partner with Cajo to accelerate the transition to sustainable marking technology” said Fredric Petit, Partner at Emerald. “Cajo’s technology is not only a powerful enabler of traceability and eco-efficiency but also commercially validated by global industry leaders.”

Niko Karsikas, CEO of Cajo Technologies, added, “Emerald’s industrial network and deep expertise in scaling cleantech ventures make them an ideal partner for our next chapter. With their support, we are set to deliver impactful solutions to the global packaging and industrial sectors.”

More on sustainable packaging and materials at Emerald:

Emerald leads €6.2M investment in Vytal to fuel the reusable packaging revolution

Emerald client, SIG, invests into coating manufacturer Kalpana

How Innovation in the Field of Plastic Additives is Key for a Circular Economy

About Emerald Technology Ventures

Emerald is a globally recognized venture capital firm, founded in 2000, that manages and advises assets of over €1 billion from its offices in Zurich, Toronto and Singapore. The firm invests in start-ups that tackle big challenges in climate change and sustainability, with four current funds, hundreds of venture transactions and five third-party investment mandates, including loan guarantees to over 100 start-ups.

This is Emerald.

Bold Ideas. Bright Future.  www.emerald.vc

CONTACT FOR EMERALD:

info@emerald.vc

About Cajo Technologies

Cajo Technologies: Pioneering Sustainable Product Marking

In an era where sustainability is a key driver of industrial innovation, Finnish SME Cajo Technologies Ltd. is revolutionizing product marking with its patented laser solutions. By eliminating the need for ink, labels, and chemicals, Cajo provides an eco-friendly and cost-efficient alternative to traditional marking methods.

Headquartered in Kempele, Finland, with subsidiaries in India, Cajo Technologies is rapidly expanding its global presence. The company offers comprehensive, easy-to-use solutions for traceability and product marking, leveraging proprietary software and patented technology. Fully optimized for industrial production, Cajo’s marking solutions seamlessly integrate into existing manufacturing processes, significantly reducing maintenance and operational costs.

Beyond efficiency, Cajo’s technology ensures high-precision traceability markings, even in the harshest industrial environments, while reducing the carbon footprint by up to 90%. This sustainable alternative allows companies to eliminate consumables and harmful additives from their production, aligning with the growing demand for zero-waste manufacturing solutions.

With a trusted presence in over 80 countries and partnerships with global industry leaders, Cajo Technologies is setting a new benchmark in sustainable manufacturing. By combining innovation with environmental responsibility, the company demonstrates that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.

Choose Cajo for intelligent product marking.

CONTACT FOR CAJO:

info@cajotechnologies.com

 

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