A Barry-Wehmiller Company
Schib CO90e Legacy Candy Wrapper

Legacy Brands

Rose Forgrove | Sandiacre | Schib | Simionato

Four respected names in packaging machinery are now unified under the Hayssen brand, part of BW Packaging. Discover their history and how they continue to inspire our packaging machinery and equipment today.

Learn More  FAQs

A Legacy of Innovation & Performance

With decades of specialized expertise in flow wrapping, vertical form fill seal (VFFS), and weighing and bagging solutions, these legacy brands bring together a potent combination of innovation, engineering excellence, and industry-specific know-how. Their technologies have been integrated to deliver smarter, more efficient, reliable flexible packaging solutions for global food and non-food producers and manufacturers.

By combining the strengths of Rose Forgrove’s flow wrapping precision, Sandiacre’s VFFS performance, Schib’s compact Italian design, and Simionato’s advanced weighing systems, Hayssen continues to set the standard in modern automated packaging equipment. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Rose Forgrove?

Rose Forgrove is a legacy brand in flow wrapping with origins in the United Kingdom. It was formed by merging Rose Engineering and Forgrove Machinery, both early 20th-century pioneers in candy and confectionery packaging. Known for precise, high-speed horizontal flow wrappers, Rose Forgrove earned a global reputation for British engineering excellence. It was eventually acquired by Hayssen and now operates under the BW Packaging umbrella.

View our existing Rose Forgrove flow wrapping machinery:

Rose Forgrove Integra  |  Rose Forgrove Minerva
What kind of packaging equipment did Rose Forgrove specialize in? Horizontal flow wrappers, particularly for confectionery, baked goods, and snack products. Rose Forgrove’s machines are known for robust construction and consistent performance at high speeds.
Who was Sandiacre and what was its specialty?

Sandiacre Packaging Machinery originated in Nottinghamshire, UK, and focused on vertical form fill seal (VFFS) equipment. Sandiacre’s machines gained a strong reputation for hygienic design, performance, and versatility—particularly in the food and powder industries.

View our current VFFS Machines
What made Sandiacre VFFS machines stand out? Sandiacre’s balance of speed, reliability, and ability to produce various bag types made them ideal for food applications. Sandiacre was widely adopted across Europe and the Middle East before being integrated into Hayssen and later BW Packaging. 
Who was Schib and how did it contribute to packaging technology? Founded in the 1960s in Italy, Schib became known for compact and versatile horizontal flow wrappers. Schib’s equipment served both food and non-food markets, including candies, baked goods, and medical items. Known for simplicity and durability, Schib was acquired by Barry-Wehmiller in 2014 and now operates within BW Packaging. 
What differentiates Schib flow wrappers? Schib’s compact footprint, intuitive design, and versatility across applications made them popular with small to mid-sized producers looking for efficiency without complexity.
Who was Simionato?

Founded in 1963 and based in Italy, Simionato was a global leader in VFFS systems and multihead combination weighers. Simionato provided complete vertical packaging solutions for dry and frozen food products, offering seamless integration between scales and baggers.
Why is Simionato important in the VFFS space?

Simionato was among the first to offer truly integrated weighing + bagging solutions, boosting throughput and reducing waste in high-volume production lines. Their equipment has been widely used in snacks, pasta, cereals, pet food, and frozen foods.

Simionato aimed to increase line efficiency through its three main pillars:

  • INTEGRATION of the whole line from the weigher to the bagger through Simionato’s technology.
  • FLEXIBILITY to produce different bag shapes with the same configuration having a choice of 20 versions of weighers, 9 of packaging machines and over 50 accessories at its peak.
  • HIGH SPECIALIZATION on packaging the most critical products in the food sector: fragile, sticky and frozen.

In 1988, Simionato introduced its signature Radial Combination Weigher (RCW). The RCW was immediately recognized as the European packaging technology leader for its high quality, speed, weighment precision and reliability. Its combination of weighment systems with vertical packaging machines confirmed Simionato’s dedication to constant innovation in new packaging solutions strategies, supported by continuous investments in research and development.
How are the Rose Forgrove, Sandiacre, Schib, and Simionato brands connected today? All four—Rose Forgrove, Sandiacre, Schib, and Simionato—were acquired and consolidated under BW Packaging, part of the U.S.-based Barry-Wehmiller group. Together, they offer a comprehensive range of flow wrapping and VFFS solutions with global service and engineering support.
Do Rose Forgrove, Sandiacre, Simionato, and Schib still exist under their original names?

While their Rose Forgrove, Sandiacre, Schib, and Simionato names may still appear in service references, they are now part of the unified BW Packaging group, specifically united under the Hayssen brand. Their legacy technologies and innovations continue to drive product development and customer success globally.