Bio-on and GimaTT together for the bio-based packaging of products derived from tobacco

Italian industrial biotech company Bio-on, specialized in the sector of bioplastic of high quality, organic and biodegradable at 100%, set up AMT Labs S.p.A., a newco dedicated to the study, development and production of innovative materials for the tobacco world. Now AMT Labs company, capitalised with 10 million euros, sees the entry of GimaTT, with a 20% share for an investment of 2.2 million euros. GimaTT is a leader in the design and assembly of automatic machines on eletronic basis for the the packaging of products derived from tobacco and, in particular, those of new generation at reduced risk. Gima TT is controlled by IMA S.p.A. and is listed on the Star segment of the Italian Stock Exchange since October 2017.

“I am extremely satisfied to share this important challenge with Gima TT”, explained Marco Astorri, CEO of Bio-on. “Being able to study and develop new materials for the world of packaging and tobacco through the technology set up by Bio-on allows us to imagine a future full of interesting innovations”.

“The tobacco market – Mauro Comes Franchini, Bio-on’s Chief Scientific Advisor, added – is rapidly changing and the low risk cigarette sector is the protagonist of a strong innovation that will lead in the next few years to the development of a wide range of innovative materials that have never been used until now. Sustainability is confirmed to a be priority issue in every sector”.

All the PHA bioplastics (polyhydroxyalkanoates) developed by Bio-on, are made from renewable plant sources with no competition with food supply chains; they can substitute many traditional polymers today obtained by petrolchemical processes using hydrocarbons as raw materials; moreover – the company claims – they guarantee the same thermo-mechanical properties of the traditional plastics with the advantage of being completely eco sustainable and 100% biodegradable naturally.

AMT Labs will expand the presence of Bio-on and GimaTT also in the field of cutting-edge materials allowing the company to enter into new strategic sectors.