Achilles Gruppe

What Achilles Gruppe does

Achilles Gruppe, legally Werner Achilles GmbH & Co. KG, is a family-owned German print finishing and packaging manufacturer founded in 1946 in Celle, Lower Saxony. The group operates three business divisions: Achilles präsentiert (custom presentation products and packaging, including magnetic boxes, slipcases, B-Joy bottle packaging, Twinbox, tasting boxes, advent calendars, and ring binders/lever arch files), Achilles veredelt (contract print finishing services covering foil lamination, screen printing, embossing, lamination, transfer metallization, and roll cutting), and Achilles films (proprietary specialty laminating films, notably the X-treme Matt scratch-resistant series and a Low Migration variant for indirect food contact). Only printing is outsourced; all finishing and assembly processes are performed in-house across seven production sites in Germany and the Czech Republic, with sales entities in Austria and Switzerland.

Achilles serves primarily enterprise customers in publishing, luxury packaging, beverage, automotive, electronics, paints and coatings, furniture, and government, providing both custom project manufacturing (quote-based, multi-year enterprise contracts) and small-run consumer/SMB fulfillment through its easyOrdner.de e-commerce platform (minimum order 20 units). Its technology differentiation rests on proprietary post-coated laminating films developed since 2008, foil-free transfer metallization that reduces plastic usage, and emerging NFC-based smart packaging functionality that links physical packaging to digital content. The company is led by Fabian Roessing, grandson of the founder, who has repositioned the business toward "less mass, more class," consolidating operations in Celle (2021), investing in renewable energy (99 kWp in 2022 plus 809 kWp planned at Celle), expanding the Leipzig competence center (2025-2026), and relaunching the easyOrdner.de platform (July 2026).

The business model combines (1) custom project manufacturing for brand manufacturers, publishers, and agencies, (2) contract print finishing services for the printing industry, (3) specialty film production and global distribution through partner companies, and (4) small-run e-commerce sales. Pricing is quote-based for custom work and unit-based for e-commerce. Reported annual revenue is approximately EUR 40 million (2023) on a headcount of roughly 300 employees, with no external funding and full family ownership across three generations.

Name

Achilles Gruppe

Legal name

Werner Achilles GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://achilles.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Achilles Gruppe is a family-owned German print finishing and packaging manufacturer serving enterprise customers in publishing, luxury packaging, beverage, automotive, and consumer goods with custom packaging, finishing services, and proprietary specialty laminating films across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Celle

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Manufacturing Projects: Custom packaging and print finishing projects for publishers, brand manufacturers, and agencies. Products include magnetic boxes, slipcases, presentation folders, and specialized boxes. Project management and consulting services included.
2. Specialty Film Sales: Production and sale of specialty laminating films (X-treme series) worldwide through partner companies. Films are post-coated and customized for various applications.
3. E-commerce Product Sales: Online shop easyordner.de sells individual folders, boxes, and packaging products for small runs starting at 20 units. Customers configure and order directly through the platform.
4. Print Finishing Services: Contract finishing services including foil lamination, screen printing, embossing, varnishing, and transfer metallization for the printing industry.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Achilles Gruppe manufactures custom packaging (magnetic boxes, slipcases, bottle packaging, twin boxes, tasting boxes, advent calendars, ring binders) and proprietary specialty laminating films, while providing print finishing services (foil lamination, screen printing, embossing, transfer metallization, roll cutting). The company serves publishers, brand manufacturers, agencies, and the printing industry directly, and sells standardized small-run products via the easyOrdner.de e-commerce platform.

Product overview

Achilles Gruppe is a family-owned print finishing and packaging manufacturer operating across three divisions — Achilles präsentiert (presentation products and packaging), Achilles veredelt (print finishing services), and Achilles films (specialty laminating films). The portfolio spans high-quality rigid and folding packaging (magnetic boxes, slipcases, bottle packaging, Twinbox, tasting boxes, advent calendars), folders and ring binders, and a full suite of finishing services (foil lamination, screen printing, embossing, lamination, transfer metallization, roll cutting). The company also produces proprietary specialty films including the X-treme Matt scratch-resistant series. Products are available from small runs (20+ units) via the easyOrdner.de e-commerce shop, with bespoke projects handled directly by the sales team.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Premium Packaging (Hochwertige Verpackungen) Custom high-quality packaging solutions including folding boxes, rigid boxes, and bespoke presentation packaging made from rigid cardboard, serving brands across cosmetics, food, beverage, and consumer goods industries.
• Ring Binders and Lever Arch Files (Ringmappen und Hebelordner) Individual ring binders and lever arch files with customizable mechanisms, materials, and finishes. Available in 2-ring and 4-ring Combimechanik configurations and multiple spine widths (10–65 mm) with or without Rado space-saving eyelets.
• Boxes (Schachteln) Diverse box formats including stülpdeckel (tuck-in lid boxes) for cosmetics, retail, and gift packaging applications.
• Magnetic Boxes (Magnetboxen) Premium rigid boxes with concealed magnetic closures, available in multiple sizes and configurations. Used for luxury packaging, corporate gifts, trophies, and high-end product presentation.
• Hinged Boxes (Klappkassetten) Hinged lid boxes suitable for gift packaging and product presentation, customizable with various print and finish options.
• Slipcases and Magazine Files (Schuber und Stehsammler) Slipcases and standing magazine/file holders for books, brochures, and multi-volume collections, often combined with embossing or foil stamping finishes.
• Sample Collections and Presentation Cases (Musterkollektionen und Präsentationskoffer) Bespoke sample presentation boxes and cases for displaying product samples in cosmetics, materials, and color industries, often incorporating multiple finishing techniques.
• Bottle Packaging and B-Joy (Flaschenverpackungen) Bottle packaging solutions including B-Joy, a standardized wine bottle gift box made of 1.9 mm cardboard with 7 surfaces, concealed magnetic closure, and optional NFC chip. Designed for the beverage and luxury goods industry.
• Twinbox Dual-compartment packaging box designed for combined product presentations, particularly for the beverage industry (e.g., gin + filler + snacks). Can incorporate NFC technology and sensor-controlled lighting modules.
• Tasting Boxes (Tasting Boxen) Customizable boxes for product sampling and tasting experiences, suitable for food, beverage, and cosmetics sampling. Can incorporate world map prints and multiple compartments.
• Advent Calendars (Adventskalender) Premium custom advent calendars with pull-out drawers, perforated doors, or innovative opening mechanisms. Can incorporate magnetic closures, embossing, and multi-functional reuse designs combining longevity with second-use concepts.
• Foil Lamination Service (Folienkaschierung) Foil lamination service applying glossy, matt, silver, gold, and holographic films to printed sheets and packaging materials for protection and visual enhancement.
• Screen Printing Service (Siebdruck) Screen printing applications for printed sheets and packaging, enabling specialized coatings, textured varnishes, and structural effects on packaging surfaces.
• Embossing Service (Prägen)
• Lamination Service (Laminieren)
• Transfer Metallization Service (Transfermetallisierung)
• Roll Cutting Service (Rollenschneiden)
• Specialty Laminating Films (Spezialkaschierfolien)
• easyOrdner.de E-commerce Shop

Quantifiable outcome

• Products laminated with Achilles OPP films and Achilles laminating adhesives can be recycled with high fiber yield, eligible for Blue Angel environmental label.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• SealpacminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAchilles provides lamination services for FlatSkin food packaging developed by Sealpac and Van Genechten Packaging, a sustainable packaging solution for the food industry.
• FFI (Forschungsgesellschaft für die grafische Industrie)minorOthersIndustry association membership for the printing and finishing industry.
• VDM NordostminorOthersRegional industry association membership for print and media businesses in northeastern Germany.
• GRAVOmerminorOthersIndustry association membership for printing and media companies.
• creaturaminorOthersCreative industry network partnership.
• F-MP (Fachverband Medienproduktion)minorOthersIndustry association for media production companies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• rlc packaging group: rlc packaging group is a broader European specialty packaging group covering rigid boxes, books, and luxury packaging; comparable in product categories (magnetic boxes, book covers, slipcases) but at larger scale than Achilles.
• Autajon Group: Autajon Group is a larger French-headquartered specialty packaging manufacturer serving luxury, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals with folding cartons, labels, and finishing; a comparable European mid-to-large peer with overlapping product lines to Achilles.
• Leonhard Kurz: Leonhard Kurz is a global leader in hot-stamping foils, coating, and digital metalization with deep overlap in surface finishing and decorative film technology, the core of Achilles's specialty films and finishing-services division.

Direct peers

• Karl Knauer Group: Karl Knauer is a German premium packaging manufacturer specializing in folding cartons, rigid boxes, and creative packaging for cosmetics, beverages, and luxury—closely overlapping with Achilles's presentation products, finishing, and bespoke packaging work.
• API Group: API Group is a UK-headquartered foil and laminate manufacturer with a portfolio of foils, laminates, and security substrates—directly comparable to Achilles's X-treme specialty films and foil-lamination services for the printing and packaging industry.
• Edelmann Group: Edelmann Group is a German family-owned packaging manufacturer producing folding cartons, book covers, and rigid boxes with integrated finishing—an essentially comparable mid-market German specialty packaging peer to Achilles.
• Model Group: Model Group is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer of cardboard packaging and presentation products with in-house printing and finishing—comparable to Achilles in product mix, customer segments (luxury, publishing, beverages), and Central-European footprint.
• WEILBURGER Graphics: WEILBURGER Graphics is a German manufacturer of coatings, varnishes, and adhesives for the graphic and packaging industry; highly comparable to Achilles's coating, lamination, and finishing-services business, especially X-treme film post-coating.
• Panther Packaging: Panther Packaging is a German family-run producer of folding cartons and rigid packaging with finishing capabilities—a comparable size and product set to Achilles, particularly in presentation products and finishing services for German mid-market brands.

Regional players

• Pawi Verpackungen: Pawi Verpackungen is a Swiss specialty packaging manufacturer serving premium and luxury brands with custom boxes and finishing; a regional peer with comparable presentation-products capabilities but a Switzerland-first GTM.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Achilles Gruppe