News

Vale Peter Marks

Peter Marks, Director of Foodmach, has passed away following a three-month battle with cancer.

Peter held the position of Director of Capability and Export for the company and has been a central figure in the Australian packaging industry for decades.

He started with Foodmach in 1977 and, together with four coworkers, led a management buyout in 2002. Peter and his co-directors have worked full time within the business since then, nurturing the team through year-on-year growth.

In his 44 years with the company, he worked in design, manufacturing, project management, installations, sales, estimating and R&D.

Foodmach CEO Earle Roberts said he was a visionary whose warmth and empathy touched everyone.

“He was loved by many in the wider packaging industry from customers to partners and competitors alike. Our thoughts are with his wife Maggie, his daughter, Steph and his son and daughter-in-law Cameron and Roberta,” Roberts said.

Finance Director, Ian Whiting said, “Foodmach’s Echuca factory is like a family unit, and Peter was one of our most important members. We will miss his dry wit and can-do philosophy.”

Operations Director, Dallas Coote said, “Our personal heartbreak aside, we can never replace Peter’s special kind of leadership. He somehow managed to be actively connected to everyone in the business across all departments. He led with the kind of enthusiasm for a great idea that made us all want to dig in and help.”

Peter was the driving force behind Foodmach’s recent Project Med-Con, which saw the company re-engineering one of Australia’s only medical mask machines in 60 days. His career highlight was the award-winning Robomatrix, which set the standard for high speed palletising and fast product changeovers in Australia.

Geoff Murdoch, Director said, “Peter’s true legacy is a thriving Australian business that will continue to provide a livelihood for hundreds of talented engineers, designers, manufacturing and trades people and their families. It has been a privilege to work by his side.”

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