Probat becomes chocolate equipment supplier after Ladco buy

Coffee processing equipment supplier Probat will produce machinery for chocolate manufacture after acquiring the Ladco Group.

Probat is predominantly a supplier of coffee processing equipment, but also manufactures cocoa roasting machines and other equipment such as alkalisation and pretreatment plants. It will now be able to supply equipment for the entire chocolate supply chain, from bean to bar after acquiring Ladco Group.

It has established Hamburg Dresdner Maschinenfabriken as a new division of the Probat Group.

 “This move supports its growth strategy in this segment, which is similar to the coffee industry in that flavour and taste play a central role,” said the company in a statement.

The division will be led by Günter Simon who previously managed the Group subsidiary Bauermeister

Probat will continue to use the same production sites in Germany (Emmerich am Rhein, Norderstedt, Dresden) and Scotland (Arbroath).