A Look Inside Zalkin's Strategic Growth

A recent expansion showcases the Pro Mach company's commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions while addressing workforce challenges and sustainability goals.

Zalkin added 100,000 square feet to Zalkin’s existing 160,000 square-foot facility.
Zalkin added 100,000 square feet to Zalkin’s existing 160,000 square-foot facility.

In the quaint village of Montreuil-l'Argillé, nestled in the heart of Normandy, France, Zalkin, powered by Pro Mach, a renowned manufacturer of capping machinery, embarked on a significant expansion journey in 2021. The decision to expand was driven by the need for greater independence in parts production, a lesson learned from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the timing of the expansion coincided with the onset of the Ukraine War, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to the project, according to Laurent Fournier, president and general manager at Zalkin.

Despite this setback, the expansion was completed on schedule and dedicated in June 2024. The company tripled the size of its machining workshop, a feat that required meticulous planning and execution. It added 100,000 square feet to Zalkin’s existing 160,000 square-foot facility to increase production capacity, reduce lead time, and further accelerate company growth.

Bringing Customers to the Source

Founded in 1932 and acquired by ProMach in 2014, Zalkin employs over 460 people, 400 of whom are in France. They also maintain facilities in Mexico and the US and have 35 agents worldwide.

For more than 90 years, Zalkin has been a leader in the global bottling and capping industry with innovations, efficiency, and greater control over product quality. One of the new facility's standout features is the customer showroom, a hands-on space designed to support small local European businesses and global leaders in various industries—non-alcoholic beverages, wines and spirits, dairy products, food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and household products. (In 2023, Zalkin had consolidated global sales of more than $110 million while exporting 80% of its equipment to customers in over 120 countries.)

“We have customers from all over the world, and the showroom is about helping customers think through what they could do to improve their overall quality and performance,” Fournier says, adding that Zalkin’s unique location also plays a role in providing a true customer experience. Located in the serene farming lands of Normandy, it offers a stark contrast to the industrial areas most clients generally see in packaging equipment facilities. He further emphasizes collaboration and customization’s role when working on-site with the half-dozen customers it welcomes to the new customer showroom in an average week.