IBS of America Corporation

What IBS of America Corporation does

IBS of America Corporation is the North American subsidiary of IBS Paper Performance Group, a family-owned Austrian industrial technology company founded in 1967 by Heinrich Bartelmuss in Teufenbach, Styria. The company provides system solutions and machine components to the pulp and paper industry, serving paper, board, pulp, and tissue manufacturers globally. Its core technology centers on paper machine optimization—dewatering systems, vacuum control, machine vision, starch preparation, and web monitoring—designed to reduce raw material and energy consumption while improving paper quality and production output. The group operates over 800 employees across 24 locations worldwide.

The flagship product is iTABLE maXX, the first fully automated sheet forming zone for Fourdrinier machines, which integrates patented ACTIVITY maXX dewatering blades, EVA maXX and EPB maXX vacuum control systems, Papertech machine vision solutions, RFID-equipped dewatering elements, and AI-driven automation. Supporting products include HYDROLINE maXX dewatering systems, SUPER STEAM VAC steam technology, PGA starchPERFORMER starch cookers, iFIBER fiber processing systems, WebVision WMS and WebInspector WIS machine vision systems, iSTOP+ winder automation, and iPRESS press optimization. IBS claims customer savings of up to €2 million annually per installation with ROI measured in months.

IBS operates a B2B enterprise sales model, selling customized equipment solutions directly to major paper manufacturers through a technical sales force and global service network. Revenue streams include one-time equipment and system sales, installation and commissioning services, ongoing maintenance contracts, and process optimization consulting. The North American operations are headquartered at 3732 Profit Way, Chesapeake, Virginia, serving USA and Canadian markets, with a manufacturing facility that added high-precision CNC grinding capacity in August 2024.

Name

IBS of America Corporation

Legal name

IBS of America Corporation

Website

https://ibs-ppg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IBS of America Corporation provides paper machine optimization technology—including dewatering systems, vacuum controls, machine vision, and starch preparation—to North American pulp, paper, board, and tissue manufacturers as the US subsidiary of family-owned Austrian group IBS Paper Performance Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesapeake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment and Systems Sales: Sale of paper machine optimization equipment including dewatering systems, vacuum control systems, machine vision systems, starch preparation plants, and related machinery. Products include both standard and customized solutions for paper, board, pulp, and tissue manufacturers.
2. Installation and Commissioning Services: On-site installation, commissioning, and start-up support services for IBS equipment worldwide through service technicians
3. Maintenance and Support Services: Product and installation services including maintenance, repair, troubleshooting, and ongoing technical support
4. Process Optimization Consulting: Technical consulting including audits for paper machine optimization, wet end optimization, vacuum systems, dewatering elements, and starch plants

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IBS of America Corporation supplies engineered components, machine systems, and technical services that optimize paper, board, pulp, and tissue manufacturing machines. Core offerings include dewatering systems and elements, vacuum control systems, machine vision and web monitoring solutions, starch preparation plants, reel change systems, and AI-driven automation platforms, complemented by on-site installation, audits, and aftermarket services delivered through a global field service network.

Product overview

IBS Paper Performance Group offers a comprehensive, modular product portfolio for paper, board, pulp, and tissue machine optimization. The core offering centers on the iTABLE® maXX™ — the world's first fully automated sheet forming zone for Fourdrinier machines — which integrates ACTIVITY maXX™ dewatering blades, EVA maXX™ and EPB maXX™ vacuum control systems, Papertech machine vision solutions (JetVision, ActivityVision, FlocVision, LineVision), and AI-powered automation. Supporting products include HYDROLINE dewatering systems, forming board systems (FlexLINE maXX™), SUPER STEAM VAC® steam technology, PGA starchPERFORMER and iFIBER fiber processing systems, RCS reel change systems (6000, 5000, 3001 touch), WebVision® WMS and WebInspector® WIS quality monitoring systems, iSTOP+® winder automation, iPRESS press optimization, FabriCare cleaning systems, and comprehensive audit/consulting services. The portfolio includes acquired brands: Papertech (machine vision, 2016), PGA Anlagenbau (starch systems), Transphase (steam systems, 2015), ROPTEC (camera services, 2018), Horst Sprenger (metering systems, 2020), and V.I.T. Papertec (metering systems, 2021). The company claims savings potential of up to €2 million annually per installation with ROI of just a few months.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• maXX™: Product line for paper machine optimization offering savings of up to €2 million per year
• iTABLE® maXX™
• iPRESS
• PGA starchPERFORMER
• WebVision® WMS
• WebInspector® WIS
• SUPER STEAM VAC®
• FabriCare
• ACTIVITY maXX™
• EVA maXX™
• EPB maXX™
• safetyMASTER
• iSAFETY

Products and services

• iTABLE maXX The world's first fully automated sheet forming zone for Fourdrinier machines, integrating ACTIVITY maXX dewatering blades, EVA maXX and EPB maXX vacuum controls, Papertech machine vision solutions, RFID-equipped dewatering elements, and AI-powered automation to maximize paper machine efficiency for paper manufacturers.
• HYDROLINE maXX Dewatering Systems Dewatering systems equipped with patented ACTIVITY maXX dewatering blades offering maximum flexibility in stock activity and dewatering for optimal paper properties and quality, used on paper, board, and pulp machines.
• ACTIVITY maXX Dewatering Blades Patented dewatering blades that underscore IBS's innovation leadership in dewatering technology, providing the ultimate performance boost for dewatering solutions and serving as a core component of the iTABLE maXX sheet forming zone.
• EVA maXX Vacuum Control System High-precision vacuum control system for the low vacuum area of paper machines, part of the maXX product line, offering enhanced precision and reliability for paper manufacturers.
• EPB maXX Vacuum Control System Vacuum control system for high vacuum applications on paper machines, providing a new version of IBS's proven vacuum control with greater precision and reliability.
• SUPER STEAM VAC (SSV) Combined steam and dewatering system that addresses excessive steam spillage and high energy demand in conventional steam showers on paper, board, and pulp machines.
• Transphase Z-Box Profiler Steam box technology for moisture profile control in paper machines, part of IBS's steam showers and rewetting systems portfolio.
• WebVision WMS Camera-based web monitoring system for continuous surveillance of the paper machine wire section that detects web breaks, holes, contamination, and other anomalies on the web.
• WebInspector WIS Camera-based web inspection system for comprehensive paper quality control, providing detailed inspection of paper quality across the entire web width.
• iSTOP+ Winder Automation Non-marking winder automation solution that significantly increases efficiency on paper machine winders by preventing web breaks and optimizing winder operations without marking the paper roll.
• JetVision Machine Vision System Camera-based system for real-time measurement of jet impingement point on the paper machine, providing crucial data for intelligent control of paper machine components.
• ActivityVision Machine Vision System Camera-based system for real-time measurement of stock activity, an integral component of the iTABLE maXX for monitoring and controlling paper formation on the paper machine.
• FlocVision Machine Vision System Camera-based system for real-time monitoring of sheet formation that detects fiber flocs and provides data for formation optimization on the paper machine.
• LineVision Machine Vision System Camera-based system for real-time analysis of wet line position that provides data for intelligent control of paper machine dewatering processes.
• PGA starchPERFORMER Revolutionary starch cooker based on a patented thermo-mechanical cooking process, used for both surface starch and mass starch preparation in the pulp and paper industry, offering flexibility, fast changeover, and significant reduction in starch and steam consumption.
• iFIBER deSAVER System to reduce fiber losses in the screening process, part of IBS's stock, additive and starch preparation solutions for paper and pulp mills.
• iFIBER deFLAKER System to efficiently homogenize stock suspensions by breaking up fiber clumps, part of IBS's fiber processing technology for paper and pulp mills.
• RCS 6000 Reel Change System High-performance reel change system for paper machines, part of IBS's comprehensive reel change systems portfolio.
• RCS 5000 Reel Change System Reel change system for paper machines with advanced automation features for paper manufacturers.
• RCS 3001 touch Reel Change System Touch-screen controlled reel change system with an intuitive interface for operator control on paper machines.
• iPRESS Press Section Optimization Press section optimization system that improves felt lifetime by 50% and reduces water consumption for high-pressure cleaning of felts by 80%.
• Ceramic Dewatering Elements High-quality ceramic dewatering elements for paper machines, 100% equipped with RFID chips since 2016 for improved service tracking and element lifecycle management.
• Plastic Dewatering Elements

Quantifiable outcome

• Production cost savings up to 2 million euros per year
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Grebien QualifiberstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership between IBS Paper Performance Group and Grebien Qualifiber for solutions for stock preparation. The partnership combines both companies' expertise in paper machine optimization and stock preparation technology.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Valmet: Valmet is a leading developer and supplier of process technologies, automation, and services for the pulp, paper, and energy industries, competing with IBS across paper-machine components and process optimization.
• Voith Paper: Voith is one of the largest full-line suppliers of paper machinery and services globally, directly competing with IBS in wet-end optimization, dewatering, and stock preparation as part of a much broader paper-making portfolio.
• Andritz: Andritz supplies equipment, services, and automation for pulp and paper mills worldwide, including stock preparation, drying, and process optimization that overlap with IBS's dewatering, starch, and machine-vision offerings.
• Körber (Business Area Tissue and Paper): Körber supplies complete tissue and paper production lines and process solutions, competing with IBS in stock preparation, film press optimization, and mill-wide consulting services.

Emerging players

• Cellwood Machinery: Cellwood supplies stock preparation, dewatering, and dispersing equipment to the pulp and paper industry, offering niche products in fiber processing that compete with IBS's iFIBER deSAVER and deFLAKER systems.

Regional players

• Recard: Recard is an Italy-based supplier of tissue and paper machinery, including stock preparation and drying sections, with comparable rebuild and component-supply services to those offered by IBS globally.
• Toscotec: Toscotec is an Italy-based manufacturer of paper and tissue machinery and components, particularly strong in Europe, with stock preparation, drying, and rebuild services comparable to IBS's offerings.
• A.Celli Group: A.Celli designs and manufactures tissue and paper converting machinery, winders, and rewinding technology with a focus on tissue, overlapping with IBS's tissue-machine and reel-change systems (RCS) portfolio.

Direct peers

• PMP Group: PMP Group supplies paper machinery, rebuilds, and components including Intelli-Jet V hydraulic headboxes and stock preparation systems, directly overlapping with IBS's wet-end and stock-preparation product lines.
• Kadant: Kadant is a US-based supplier of process and flow control technologies for the paper and pulp industry, offering doctor blades, roll cleaners, and fluid handling directly comparable to IBS's dewatering elements, doctoring, and stock preparation products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ibs_ppg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBDKHShidH985PS9JceZMcw
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBSAmerica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibs-of-america-corp
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibs_ppg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries10 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 IBS of America Corporation