German bottling equipment manufacturer Krones (Neutraubling; www.krones.com) has acquired toolmaker MHT Holding (Hochheim / Germany; www.mht-ag.com), which specialises in the production of injection moulds for PET preforms and hot runner systems.

With 125 employees, MHT generates sales of around EUR 25m. Its headquarters remains in Hochheim, with the current management continuing to run the company. MHT was established in 1996 and has three production and service locations in Germany, Brazil and the US.

In April 2018, Krones acquired 70% of Swiss company Integrated Plastics Systems (Zug; www.ipsplastics.com), an injection moulding systems specialist for PET beverage bottles. With its latest acquisition, the German bottling machinery specialist's expertise includes in-house production of preforms for PET bottles, extending the span of its PET value chain from mould to preform and bottle production, as well as filling and recycling.

For fiscal 2018, Krones recently lowered its full-year forecast. Negative currency effects and postponed large-scale projects have weighed down its balance sheet. An "adverse product mix" also dampened quarterly results. The company is evidently counteracting this with its recent acquisitions.