Piovan acquires Aasted to build end‑to‑end processing power

PiovanGroup has moved to accelerate its expansion in food‑processing automation by agreeing to acquire Aasted, one of the world’s leading suppliers of chocolate and bakery processing equipment.

The deal positions Piovan to offer fully integrated production lines — from ingredient handling to finished‑product processing — and strengthens its push into high‑growth food categories.

Piovan is acquiring Aasted to combine two sets of complementary strengths. Piovan brings global leadership in raw‑material handling, storage and treatment, while Aasted contributes advanced tempering, moulding, enrobing and integrated line technologies. By uniting these capabilities, Piovan will deliver turnkey systems that food producers increasingly want from a single partner, especially in fast‑growing and developing markets where full‑line integration reduces complexity and speeds up commissioning.

Nicola Piovan, executive chairman, said the agreement “marks the beginning of a new chapter,” adding that both companies share a commitment to innovation, quality and long‑term customer relationships. He emphasised that Piovan intends to build on Aasted’s heritage while scaling its global reach.

Strengthening Piovan’s food‑processing division

The acquisition significantly expands Piovan’s Food & Powders division, which the group has built through a series of strategic purchases since 2015. Piovan entered the food sector with Penta, then added Fea, BHT and Mix&Co, culminating in the creation of the Food & Powders division in 2025.

With Aasted, the division’s revenues will reach around €200 million, supported by new investments in people, technology and manufacturing, including facility developments in Scarnafigi and Modena.

Piovan expects the combination to unlock commercial and operational value quickly. The two companies serve many of the same global customers, creating immediate cross‑selling opportunities. The merger also expands Piovan’s service footprint across Europe, the Americas and Asia, while combining engineering and R&D teams to accelerate innovation.

Chief executive officer Filippo Zuppichin said the acquisition “significantly strengthens our position in attractive segments such as chocolate processing” and makes Piovan “the first to offer fully integrated, end‑to‑end solutions” across the production line.

What the deal means

For manufacturers, the acquisition promises greater efficiency, reliability and simplicity. Instead of coordinating multiple suppliers for handling, tempering, moulding and enrobing, producers will be able to work with a single partner offering:

• integrated line design and installation
• improved system compatibility
• faster commissioning and reduced downtime
• stronger global service and maintenance support

Aasted CEO Piet H. Tæstensen said joining Piovan “creates even more opportunities for Aasted, our customers and our employees,” while preserving the company’s culture and long‑term mindset.

As demand grows for chocolate, bakery and nutrition‑bar production capacity, the combined group aims to offer producers a more streamlined route to scaling operations, modernising plants and improving performance across the entire production chain.