Windmöller & Hölscher prepares for 150th anniversary after record year

Turnover last year was approximately €835 million (US$1 billion), with the supplier reporting growth in all three of its product areas: extrusion, printing and conversion. In the unit of flexographic and gravure presses, it achieved sales of €270 million (US$381 million) worldwide.

W&H CEO Dr Jürgen Vutz said: ‘All of the product areas – extrusion, printing and conversion – together with the service division, developed positively in the past year.’

Innovations based around the guiding concept of ‘Packaging 4.0’ were cited as drivers for the company’s consistent growth.

‘To us, Packaging 4.0 means intelligent systems, integrated processes and intuitive operation,' continued Vutz. ‘We utilize new, digital technologies to make our customers’ production process more efficient and economical – from automated, faster job changes to monitoring and control via smartphone.’

Peter Steinbeck, chief sales officer at W&H, added: ‘We have a strong presence worldwide. It is important for us to serve as a long-term partner for our customers, regardless of regional growth trends.’

The company plans further growth in 2018, while 2019 will mark its 150-year anniversary. Leading up to this anniversary, the company is investing millions of euros in its headquarters in Lengerich, Germany to expand its technology center.

Vutz commented: ‘In 2019, our headquarters will have the world’s largest technology center for machines for manufacturing flexible packaging. In future, customers will be able to gain an overview of the entire process chain, all of the system types and production peripherals in a state-of-the-art environment’.

W&H is one of a number of label and packaging printers and suppliers celebrating a milestone anniversary in the near future, including L&L, which will mark its 40^th anniversary in issue 6, 2018.