INKMAKER srl

What INKMAKER srl does

Inkmaker srl is the founder entity of IM GROUP, a private industrial manufacturer of integrated dispensing and mixing systems headquartered in San Gillio, Turin, Italy. Founded in 1987, the company designs, manufactures, and services automated dispensing platforms used primarily by paint and coatings, ink manufacturing, specialty chemicals, and packaging producers. Following a 2018 management buyout by KRCV Srl, the group rebranded to IM GROUP in April 2021 and executed a multi-year roll-up, acquiring Rexson Systems and Vale-Tech (UK, 2019), Tecnopails (Italy, 2020), SWESA Dosiersysteme (Germany, 2020), and progressively consolidating IEC+ (Italy, 2021–2026) for dispersing, grinding, and mixing. The company operates direct sales and support offices in 15+ countries across five continents, with manufacturing in Europe, North America, and Asia, and counts Sherwin-Williams, PPG, Akzo Nobel, Boeing, Avery Dennison, International Paper, Tetra Pak, and DIC Corporation among its disclosed enterprise customers. In Brazil, IM GROUP has won the Paint & Pintura Award for Best Industrial Tinting System for 13 consecutive years, with a 41% market vote share in 2026.

Name

INKMAKER srl

Legal name

Inkmaker SRL

Website

https://inkmaker.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Inkmaker srl, founder of Italy-based IM GROUP, manufactures integrated dispensing and mixing systems and proprietary IMAESTRO software for paint, coatings, ink, and chemical manufacturers. The company serves Fortune 500 enterprises globally through 15+ country offices and custom turnkey solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Dispensing Systems

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dispensing & Pump Systems (Pumps, Sprayers, Misters, Droppers) (IMALAJAB), Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG), Digital & Specialty Inks (Inkjet, UV, Conductive) (IMAEAHAI)

Keywords

• Industrial dispensing systems
• Paint manufacturing equipment
• Ink mixing systems
• Tinting solutions
• Process automation software

Headquarters

HQ city

San Gillio

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dispensing Systems Sales: Sale of integrated dispensing and mixing hardware systems including P-Series, GT36, Croma, Piccolo, and EASYPAINT solutions. Systems are manufactured in three continents and sold to industrial customers in paint, coatings, ink, and chemical sectors.
2. Proprietary Software Licensing: IMAESTRO software platform available in over 30 languages, integrated with dispensing systems and ERP/MRP programs. Available as part of system packages.
3. Turnkey Solutions & Engineering: Complete engineering studies, custom plant engineering, and turnkey solutions including design and manufacturing through to engineering studies.
4. Service & Support: Customer support, ASIST services, and customer interactive experience services for system maintenance and optimization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

INKMAKER srl designs, manufactures, and sells integrated industrial dispensing and mixing systems for paint, coatings, ink, and chemical manufacturers. Its portfolio spans high-efficiency dispensing hardware (P-Series, Piccolo, Croma, GT36, PESA, EASYPAINT, InkTraSyst), proprietary automation software (IMAESTRO, IMPRIMO, IMAGO, IMTECNO), and turnkey engineering services including custom plant design, installation, and after-sales support.

Product overview

Inkmaker is the founder of IM GROUP, a global manufacturer of integrated dispensing and mixing systems that enhance productivity using Industry 4.0 automation (IIoT). The company's product portfolio is organized into a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on proprietary IMAESTRO software, which serves as the brain behind all dispensing, mixing, and production operations. Core dispensing products include the P-Series (high-capacity with up to 96 valves), Piccolo (compact automatic), Croma (cost-efficient for small-medium operations), GT36 (swinging arm valves), and PESA (blending system). Paint dispensing is served through EASYPAINT Water-based and Solvent-based Solutions, each available as In-Can (batches <400L) or In-Batch (400-2000L) modules. Supporting products include Automatic Additives Dosing Systems, the InkTraSyst ink distribution system, and Pre-QC/Laboratory Units including the Campione. The software portfolio comprises IMAESTRO (main production control), IMPRIMO (ink supply/transfer), IMAGO, and IMTECNO. IM GROUP has expanded through acquisitions of complementary brands: Rexson (UK automated dispensers), Vale-Tech (UK ink dispensers), Swesa (German dosing systems), Teko (Asia-Pacific tinting), Tecnopails (Italian filling/packaging), and IEC+ (Italian grinding/mixing equipment). All products and brands are unified under IMAESTRO software and integrated with SAP ERP, spectrophotometers, and VEGA sensors for complete process automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EASYPAINT: Water-based and solvent-based paint dispensing solutions for various batch sizes.
• InkTraSyst
• P-Series
• Piccolo
• Croma
• GT36
• PESA
• IMAESTRO
• IMPRIMO
• IMAGO
• Campione

Products and services

• P-Series Intelligent Dispensing System
• Piccolo
• Croma
• GT36
• PESA Blending System
• EASYPAINT Water-based Solutions
• EASYPAINT Solvent-based Solutions
• Automatic Additives Dosing Systems
• InkTraSyst System
• Pre-QC & Laboratory Units
• IMAESTRO Software
• Rexson Systems
• Vale-Tech
• Swesa Dosiersysteme

Quantifiable outcome

• 41% market vote share in Brazil's industrial tinting systems category, outperforming competitors Corob (35%) and Santint (24%)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Fast & Fluid Management Asia (FFM Asia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Inkmaker has been a certified Channel Partner of Fast & Fluid Management Asia since 2021. FFM designs, builds and supports paint dispensers, mixers, shakers, and software for Asian markets. Both Inkmaker and Teko (IM GROUP members) operate as FFM channel partners in Asia, with Teko winning multiple awards at FFM Asia Forum events.
• SAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationSAP serves as IM GROUP's cloud solution technology partner. The group implemented SAP S/4HANA and SAP Leonardo, and now uses SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) integrating data and planning from multiple sources with Machine Learning Technology and Embedded AI for data-driven decision making across global operations.
• VEGAcoreTechnology or IntegrationInkmaker selected VEGA's level and pressure sensors for its integrated dosing and mixing systems dedicated to ink, paint, and packaging sectors. Partnership based on precision of devices, advanced technology, and worldwide support service. VEGA sensors are integral to InkTraSyst system for automatic ink transfer monitoring.
• IEC Plant Engineering MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEC Plant Engineering SDN BHD specializes in design and manufacture of Dispersion, Grinding, and Mixing equipment with over 33 years of experience. The company integrates IR4.0 and IoT capabilities and has established production integration with IM GROUP's global operations, including manufacturing capabilities for IEC+ products.
• ERP/MRP System IntegratorssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProprietary software integrates with all leading management applications and common ERP and MRP programs, enabling full Computer Automated Manufacturing (CIM-CAM) capabilities for customers.
• Global Regional Sales & Support PartnerssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIM GROUP operates with affiliated trusted agents throughout the world with a global network of regional sales and support partners covering multiple continents.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fast & Fluid Management: Netherlands-headquartered global supplier of paint dispensers, mixers, shakers, and tinting software that is both Inkmaker's channel partner (FFM Asia since 2021) and a direct competitor across the same industrial and retail tinting end markets.
• Santint: China-based industrial tinting and dispensing system manufacturer with European roots that holds 24% market vote share in Brazil behind Inkmaker and Corob, directly contesting Inkmaker in industrial paint-dispensing installations.
• Corob: Italian-headquartered global manufacturer of automatic dispensing, mixing, and tinting equipment for paints, inks, and coatings - the chief direct competitor cited in Inkmaker's Brazil market vote share data (35% share vs Inkmaker's 41%).
• Dromont S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of automated dosing and tinting systems for paints, inks, and specialty chemicals - a directly comparable Italian-domestic peer serving overlapping industrial customers with similar turnkey tinting line offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Netzsch Feinmahltechnik: German manufacturer of grinding, dispersing, and mixing equipment widely used in paints, inks, and coatings - comparable process-engineering hardware used upstream and downstream of Inkmaker's dispensing systems in the same customer plants.
• Bühler Group: Swiss industrial conglomerate serving paints, inks, and chemicals with mixing, dispersion, and dosing equipment lines among its broader process technology portfolio - relevant incumbent in adjacent pigment processing steps to Inkmaker's dispensing systems.
• Bürkle GmbH: German manufacturer of surface finishing, coating, and dosing equipment whose industrial dosing and application systems target paint and chemical customers similar to Inkmaker's industrial user base.

Others

• VEGA Grieshaber: German sensor manufacturer that supplies the level and pressure sensing hardware embedded inside Inkmaker's dosing systems - an enabling technology partner whose instruments underpin Inkmaker's automated ink-transfer and dosing functionality.

Regional players

• Danish Fluid Equipment (DFE): Danish supplier of dosing, mixing, and process equipment for paints, inks, and similar liquids - comparable regional player addressing overlapping industrial European customers in fluid dosing applications.
• Hasslacher Norica Timbers (Hasslacher / Dispensing Division): Dosing and metering equipment supplier active in DACH-region specialty chemicals and coatings manufacturing, comparable to Inkmaker's SWESA German dosing operations for industrial liquid-chemical customers in Central Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3358408/admin/dashboard
• Xx.com/Inkmake

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INKMAKER srl