Edelmann: Thirteen acquisitions in just over 110 years!

With revenue of 300 million euros, a workforce of 2,800 employees, and more than 4 billion folding cartons and assembled boxes produced each year, as well as just over 1 billion package inserts, all manufactured in 12 plants worldwide across a total production area of more than 115,000 m², the German Edelmann Group—which has remained family-owned for 113 years—was the first folding carton manufacturer to implement digital finishing technologies enabling the application of tactile varnishes, textures, and metallic films. “These digital technologies,” explain company executives, “reduce time-to-market, eliminate the need for heavy investments in tooling, and offer brands unprecedented design possibilities. In addition, we have successfully expanded the capacity of our plant in Poland to produce packaging for beauty products.” Among the group’s latest flagship launches are those for YSL and Jimmy Choo. An update from Meino Adam, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO).

A few words about your group as it stands today. A journey since its founding in 1913 that remains a model of its kind, with no fewer than thirteen acquisitions in just over 113 years!

Meino Adam: The Edelmann Group is one of the world’s leading packaging manufacturers. We operate in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. We have a presence in India (Edelmann Packaging India (P) Ltd.) with a plant in Chandigarh, as well as in Mexico, Brazil, Hungary, Poland, and, of course, six plants in Germany. As an independent, family-owned company with over 113 years of experience in the packaging industry, we carry on a long tradition of creating unique experiences. Our core competencies lie in the development and production of packaging solutions for brands in the healthcare, beauty care, and consumer goods sectors. Of course, other clients from various market segments also benefit from our expertise in printing, finishing, labeling, and quality management. Cardboard and paper are our materials of choice. Functionality, manufacturing quality, and—particularly in the highly sensitive healthcare sector—therapeutic safety and anti-counterfeiting measures are of paramount importance to us. Every product presents its own challenges, and every client places very specific demands on our designers and developers. Whether it’s a classic folding box, a packaging system, complex shapes, or special die cuts, we give each package a unique identity. Each folding carton is custom-designed for its contents, must fit them perfectly, and effectively protect them from damage and deterioration.
Another essential element—for example, in pharmaceutical packaging—is the patient information leaflet, which addresses patients’ fundamental need for safety and information while complying with increasingly stringent legal requirements. It serves as an ideal complement to high-end packaging and represents a significant portion of our product range.

What are the main industrial advancements you’ve made in recent months?

Meino Adam: We’ve successfully increased the capacity of our plant in Poland to produce packaging for beauty products, including UV printing, varnishing, and cold foil stamping. Furthermore, we’ve consistently pushed the boundaries when it comes to new technologies. For example, we were the first manufacturer of folding cartons to implement digital finishing technologies that enable the application of tactile varnishes, textures, and metallic films. Digital technologies reduce time to market, eliminate the need for heavy investment in tooling, and offer brands unprecedented design possibilities. To this end, we have partnered with Steinemann and installed a DM Maxliner machine that enables high-quality digital finishing and the application of varnish in a single pass. Thanks to selective application, digitally printed packaging is fully recyclable and can contribute to improved environmental performance.
And that’s not all: over the past two years, we have continued to make significant progress in terms of responsibility and transparency. We are, of course, supporting our partners in managing the challenges posed by the PPWR regulations. We are very proud of this result, as we achieved our best score to date.
In addition to existing technologies such as cold transfer or hot stamping, digital decoration is one of the latest additions to our portfolio, offering excellent visual results without compromising environmental performance. Replacing cellophane film, eliminating plastic, and optimizing design are just a few examples of our innovations aimed at reducing our environmental footprint. We offer 100% cardboard solutions. We have also supported many customers in their transition from hybrid or all-plastic packaging to cardboard solutions.
Finally, we must not overlook packaging optimization, particularly when designing a folding box to save on cardboard.

Price pressures, the general reevaluation of packaging… what are the consequences?

Meino Adam: As for tariff increases, we’ve been affected in a few cases, but thanks to our global presence, we often find ways to source packaging close to our partners to mitigate this risk. Furthermore, our three distinct market segments, our presence in various regions of the world, and the ability of a family-owned business to make quick decisions help us adapt and remain resilient in these challenging times.

Some key dates!

1913
Carl Edelmann Sr., a trained letterpress printer, became an entrepreneur: he purchased the Weller printing plant in Heidenheim for 83,000 Marks.

1923
Carl Edelmann Sr. and his son founded Edelmann GmbH.

1924
In addition to printing business stationery, postcards, and Notgeld (emergency currency produced by private companies during periods of hyperinflation), the company produced folding boxes for the first time.

1940
Carl Edelmann Jr. took over the company.

1948
Carl Edelmann Jr. became the first president of the new Folding Box Industry Association.

1958
The production of folding boxes became the company’s most profitable business.

1960
Edelmann, which had initially been a simple printer of folding cartons, had become a manufacturer of high-end packaging for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other luxury products. The company set the standard in terms of investment, human resources, and quality assurance, and was a pioneer in the adoption of computerized processes.

1970
Carl Edelmann’s sons-in-law, Karl-Josef Ehrhart and Manfred Weber, take over the company.

1974
Edelmann opens its first branch in Paris.

1975
Mr. Dziallas is appointed CEO.

1977
First acquisition: Wepack GmbH of Weilheim comes under Edelmann’s control. This transaction significantly increases the company’s production capacity.

1984
Edelmann surpasses the 100-million-mark revenue milestone.

1985
Edelmann becomes the first German company to receive the RAL quality seal for pharmaceutical packaging.

1995
The company is organized into divisions.

1997
With the acquisition of G. Braun Pharmadruck Bitterfeld GmbH, the company specializes in packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry.

2003
The French company Spic SAS becomes Edelmann’s first production site outside of Germany.

2005
Operations begin in Eastern Europe: Eldruk Sp. z o.o. becomes Edelmann Poland.

2007
With the acquisition of Artur Theis and its sites in Wuppertal and Beijing, Edelmann establishes a presence in China.

2009
Graphopak GDG becomes Edelmann’s production site in Mexico.
With the acquisition of Koopmann Leverkusen, Edelmann enters the market for patient information leaflets and becomes a supplier of complete packaging systems.

2010
The acquisition of Lindauer Druckerei Eschbaumer GmbH makes Edelmann Germany’s largest producer of patient information brochures.

2011
The company strengthens its presence in Eastern Europe with the acquisition of Zalai Nyomda Zrt, Hungary’s second-largest packaging printer.
Edelmann Leaflet Solutions GmbH is founded.

2013
Janus Packaging becomes Edelmann’s production site in India.

2015
Sulgrafica becomes the Group’s Brazilian site.
The New York sales office reopened its doors.

2016
Bert-Co became the production site in the United States, with a location in Ontario.

2022
Inauguration of the new plant in Burscheid, Germany.