Italian specialist machine manufacturer group Mechitronic has announced its acquisition of UK-based complex assembly automation expert Lambert (formerly Mpac Lambert) to expand its industrial automation platform into pharma and medtech.
Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Tadcaster, Yorkshire, Lambert builds highly customised automation solutions for customers' product assembly processes.
These include web converting and specialist filling and dosing applications, serving the medical, healthcare, personal care and consumer goods markets.
The firm was previously part of Mpac Group and had revenue of €26m at the end of 2025 and around 160 employees.
Mpac Group issued a profit warning last month that its full‑year profits would fall substantially short of expectations due to delayed customer decisions and pricing pressures.
It simultaneously announced the sale of Lambert to Mechitronic, with the proceeds designated to pay down group net debt, which sat at £47.9m at the end of December 2025.
The acquisition is valued at around €20m and follows a string of purchases including Rotzinger PharmaPack in Germany, Apex Machine in the United States, RK Ferramentaria in Brazil and Colamark in China, as the Group looks to extend into medical and pharma markets.
The Group now consists of a network of 15 highly specialised brands, employing more than 1400 people and operating more than 20 production sites worldwide.
In its statement, Mechitronic said the addition of Lambert could allow the Group's aggregate revenue to reach €285m.
“Lambert fits perfectly into the Group's strategy of focusing on the leading global players in the pharmaceutical and personal care sectors,” said Marco Giovannini, Chair of Mechitronic.
The expertise the company has developed in automated solutions for medical devices and FMCG products integrates naturally with the path we are building across the entire value chain.
"Lambert also strengthens our presence in the United Kingdom, one of the most important markets for the global pharmaceutical sector, allowing us to further expand our customer portfolio and our international development opportunities."
He added that having a presence in York was a particular advantage due to the concentration of electronic and mechanical engineering skills, allowing the company to "attract highly qualified new talent and to develop professionals."
"Lambert is extremely proud of the automation expertise we have built over more than five decades and of the reputation we have earned by supporting customers across the healthcare, consumer goods and medtech industries,” added David Taylor, Managing Director of Lambert.
“Joining Mechitronic is an exciting next step for our business. It gives us the opportunity to bring our specialist knowledge in complex assembly automation for FMCG, pharma and medical device applications into a wider Group strategy focused on growth in these high-value sectors, while also opening new opportunities for Lambert and all the markets we serve."
We see real benefit in being part of a federation of like-minded, expert companies, where complementary technologies and experience can be combined to support customers from early-stage process development through to scalable, high-performance production solutions.
