STI Group

What STI Group does

STI Group (legal name: STI – Gustav Stabernack GmbH) is a fourth-generation, family-owned German manufacturer of fibre-based packaging and point-of-sale displays, founded in 1879 and headquartered in Lauterbach, Hesse. The company operates seven production sites across Germany (Lauterbach, Alsfeld, Greven, Neutraubling), Hungary (Kecskemét), the Czech Republic (Rumburk) and the United Kingdom (Gillingham, trading as InContrast), supported by sales and design offices in France, Switzerland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and employs more than 2,000 people. Its core technology stack combines offset, flexo and digital printing on cardboard, folding-box board and corrugated board, with proprietary innovations such as Chrowell, DROP'N POP, water-based barrier coatings, laser-applied GS1 Digital Link QR codes and the patent-pending Click-Box mono-material detergent packaging.

The company serves brand owners across FMCG, food and beverage, cosmetics and personal care, pharmaceuticals, electronics, household care, automotive, spirits and retail, with named customers including Henkel, Danone, Ferrero, Lindt, Suntory, Coty, Weleda, Bosch, BIC, Beefeater, JDE, Continental, Lidl, Kaufland and Migros. Its go-to-market is direct enterprise sales via field representatives and dedicated account managers, complemented by trade-show presence (SHOP!, POPAI, drupa) and content marketing, with revenue generated through one-time manufacturing contracts for custom packaging and POS displays, supplemented by co-packing services at Kecskemét and consulting services around packaging harmonisation, modularisation and sustainability strategy.

STI Group differentiates through 450+ international design awards, EcoVadis Platinum status (two consecutive years), SBTi-validated net-zero climate targets, FSC/PEFC-certified sustainable sourcing, and a multi-decade track record of serving multinational brand campaigns across Europe. Recent strategic emphasis has been on regulatory-compliant, recyclable and digitally-enabled packaging in anticipation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, with notable capital investments in laminating technology, new folding-carton capacity, solar power and a sharpened product launch cadence around PPWR-ready SKUs.

Name

STI Group

Legal name

STI – Gustav Stabernack GmbH

Website

https://sti-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1879

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

STI Group is a fourth-generation, family-owned German manufacturer of fibre-based packaging and POS displays, operating seven production sites across four European countries and serving enterprise customers in FMCG, food, cosmetics, pharma, electronics and retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Printing and Related Support Activities (323)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons) (CRADALAL), Paper-Based Foodservice Packaging (Cups, Lids, Trays, Takeout Containers) (IMALACAJ)

Keywords

• Fibre-based packaging
• Corrugated packaging
• POS display solutions
• Folding carton manufacturing
• Sustainable packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Lauterbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Packaging Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of fibre-based packaging solutions including folding boxes, corrugated packaging, shelf-ready packaging, food packaging, transit packaging, and specialized packaging (dangerous goods, detergent pods). Revenue generated through direct B2B sales to brand manufacturers.
2. POS Display Solutions: Design and production of point-of-sale displays including floor stands, counter displays, pallet displays, modular displays, permanent displays, and specialty promotions. Custom and standard solutions for retail environments.
3. Co-Packing Services: Co-packing services offered at Kecskemét facility including product filling and packaging operations.
4. Consulting Services: Packaging consulting including harmonisation and modularisation of packaging and display ranges, material selection optimization, and sustainability strategy.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

STI Group designs and manufactures fibre-based packaging solutions (cardboard folding boxes, corrugated board packaging, shelf-ready packaging, food-safe packaging, transit packaging, dangerous goods packaging, detergent pod packaging, bag-in-box, rigid boxes, contour boxes and advent calendars) and point-of-sale displays (floor stands, counter displays, pallet displays, modular shelf displays, DROP'N POP columns, permanent displays, decorations and digital signage). The company serves enterprise FMCG, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, electronics and household care brand manufacturers across Europe and globally, with 7 production sites and over 2,000 employees.

Product overview

STI Group is a fourth-generation family-owned packaging and POS display manufacturer with over 140 years of experience and 7 production sites across Europe. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of fibre-based packaging solutions (cardboard folding boxes, corrugated packaging, shelf-ready packaging, food packaging, transit packaging, bag-in-box, and specialty packaging like the One-Piece Click Box) and point-of-sale display solutions (floor stands, counter displays, pallet displays, DROP'N POP columns, modular displays, permanent displays, and digital signage). The portfolio also includes smart packaging technology featuring GS1 Digital Link QR codes, sustainable barrier coatings, and the Gravity-Feed Tray innovation. Services include design and innovation consulting, material and recycling services, printing and finishing, and quality certifications. The company differentiates through sustainability leadership (EcoVadis Platinum, FSC/PEFC certification, SBTi-validated climate targets) and over 450 international design awards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DROP'N POP: Column displays for creative in-store marketing
• chrowell
• Circular Innovation

Products and services

• Packaging (Folding Boxes, Corrugated, Transit) Fibre-based packaging solutions including cardboard folding boxes, corrugated board packaging, shelf-ready packaging, transit packaging, food packaging, detergent packaging, bag-in-box, rigid boxes, contour boxes, and advent calendars manufactured across 7 European production sites for enterprise brand customers.
• POS Displays Point-of-sale display solutions including floor stands, counter displays, pallet displays, modular shelf displays, permanent displays, special promotions, decorations, plywood displays and DROP'N POP columns for creative in-store marketing, sold to enterprise brand customers and retailers.
• One-Piece Click Box Patent-pending child-resistant detergent packaging made from corrugated board with integrated tamper-evident closure, moisture protection via water-based barrier coating, and full recyclability, designed for laundry detergent pod brands seeking sustainable, child-safe packaging.
• Gravity-Feed Tray Combined transit and secondary placement packaging solution without additional filler pieces, ensuring products are always presented in the front row for retail-ready shelf presentation.
• DROP'N POP Column displays for creative in-store marketing, developed with 4D packaging development capabilities for FMCG brands and retailers seeking flexible modular display solutions.
• Smart Packaging (GS1 Digital Link QR Codes) Laser-sensitive coating technology enabling serialized GS1 Digital Link QR codes applied directly onto folding-carton and corrugated-board packaging without labels, serving as the physical basis for Digital Product Passports.
• Shelf-Ready Packaging Retail-ready packaging solutions designed for efficient shelf placement and visual impact at point of sale, sold to FMCG brands and retailers.
• Food Packaging Certified food-safe packaging solutions including direct food contact packaging with FSSC 22000 certification at multiple production sites, serving food and beverage manufacturers.
• Digital Signage Digital signage solutions for modern product presentation at point of sale, integrated with POS display offerings for retail environments.
• Consulting Services Sustainability consulting, packaging harmonisation and modularisation, design consultation, and supply chain optimisation services for brand manufacturers across Europe.
• Sustainable Barrier Coatings Water-based recyclable coatings replacing conventional PE linings for moisture and grease barrier protection in food and frozen-goods packaging, sold to brand manufacturers as a sustainable alternative to plastic linings.
• Duobreak Packaging optimisation solution that increases volume utilisation for bags and pouches inside retail-ready packaging, reducing empty space ratio to under 50% to help brand manufacturers comply with PPWR requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 330M packaging/year production capacity at Lauterbach headquarters
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers29 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PAPACKS®coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Cooperation to jointly develop plastic-free packaging and displays. PAPACKS provides expertise in sustainable packaging solutions.
• OndapackminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Italian packaging and display specialist partnership for expanded European capabilities.
• VIRTUminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Russian POS-experts partnership for expanded Eastern European market coverage.
• Frenkel - C.D. Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Strategic partnership with Israel's leading packaging and display manufacturer. Deep collaboration spanning over two decades.
• Grupo MirallescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Joint venture STI - Display Emballage Creation S.A.R.L. established with Spanish packaging specialist for French market presence.
• ive GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian partner for regional expertise and market coverage.
• Infinya Packaging IND.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIsraeli packaging partner under Frenkel-C.D. Ltd. relationship.
• Vlastuin CDI B.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetherlands/Belgium partner for Benelux market coverage.
• AIPIA (Active & Intelligent Packaging)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for active and intelligent packaging. Research findings contribute to STI Group innovation capacity.
• Deutsches VerpackungsinstitutminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman packaging industry institute for research and industry standards.
• EHI Retail InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute for retail trade providing consumer trends and market insights.
• POPAI - shop! D-A-CHcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association for point-of-sale marketing. STI Group participates in awards and industry events.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stora Enso: Nordic pulp, paperboard and biomaterials giant with a packaging materials division producing folding boxboard and consumer board. Operates upstream of converters like STI Group but is a broad incumbent in the same fibre-based packaging value chain with overlapping sustainability positioning.

Direct peers

• Heinzel Group: Austrian family-owned industrial group with paper, packaging, and pulp operations across Central and Eastern Europe, including folding carton production comparable to STI Group's folding box business and serving similar European FMCG customers.
• Graphic Packaging Holding Company: U.S.-listed paperboard packaging producer (including through AR Packaging in Europe) with major FMCG customers in folding cartons, food packaging, and beverage carriers — comparable to STI Group's blue-chip CPG customer profile.
• Autajon Packaging: French family-owned packaging group with European production footprint covering folding cartons, labels, and POS displays for luxury, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical customers — directly comparable to STI Group's diversified packaging and display offering.
• Mondi Group: Mondi is a European-headquartered paper and packaging group with significant operations in corrugated packaging, kraft paper, and folding cartons for FMCG and consumer brand customers — overlapping directly with STI Group's fibre-based packaging portfolio and European customer base.
• Van Genechten Packaging: Belgian family-owned folding carton manufacturer with 9 European production sites, serving major FMCG and consumer brand customers. Highly comparable business model and customer base to STI Group, including premium cartons and POS displays.
• Smurfit Westrock: Formed in 2024 from the merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, Smurfit Westrock is the world's largest containerboard and corrugated packaging producer, serving many of the same FMCG and consumer brand customers as STI Group across folding cartons, corrugated packaging, and POS displays.
• Mayr-Melnhof Karton (MM Group): Austrian folding carton specialist with European production footprint serving similar FMCG, food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical customers. MM Karton's focus on recycled and virgin fibre folding cartons is a direct overlap with STI Group's core folding box business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/STIGroupcom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sti-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/incontrast_uk
• Xx.com/STIGroup_Global

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 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 STI Group