Model Holding
Model Holding AG (Model Group) is a 100% family-owned Swiss packaging manufacturer, founded 1882, producing corrugated cardboard and paper-based packaging across 15 European countries with 4,200+ employees, serving 12 industry verticals including food, pharma, automotive, and cosmetics with custom B2B solutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1882
- HeadquartersWeinfelden, Switzerland
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Model Holding does
Model Holding AG (Model Group) is a privately-held, family-owned packaging manufacturer founded in 1882 in Weinfelden, Switzerland, currently led by the fourth generation of the Model family (Dr. Daniel Model, Chairman; Elisabeth Model, Vice-Chair). The group designs, produces, and sells corrugated cardboard and paper-based packaging — including product, transport, promotional, and e-commerce packaging — supported by three printing technologies (flexographic, offset, and digital) and proprietary innovations such as Paper-Pearls (paper injection moulding), M-fold endless corrugated cardboard, and a heat-sealable recycling paper for non-food flow-pack applications designed to comply with the EU PPWR. Operations span 15 European countries with more than 4,200 employees and 20+ manufacturing facilities concentrated in Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic (five plants, the largest single-country footprint, operated via subsidiary Model Obaly a.s.), Poland, and Croatia, plus a paper mill at Niedergösgen and recycling services under the Model Recover brand.
The business model is a B2B enterprise sale of custom, quote-based packaging solutions, complemented by direct e-commerce channels (shop.modelgroup.com, packshop.cz, packshop.hr) selling standard assortments to SMBs and consumers. Revenue is generated from packaging manufacturing and sales, paper production and sales, and a full-service offering (consulting, design, co-packing, logistics, recovery) arranged as multi-year contracts. The customer base is diversified across 12 industry verticals — food, pharma, automotive, cosmetics and hygiene, e-commerce and retail, beverages, electronics, household and consumer goods, furniture and manufactured goods, chemicals, and logistics and transport — with named relationships including Läderach, Lindt & Sprüngli, HUG Familie, ON, Pilsner Urquell, V-ZUG, and Trezor. Consolidated group sales were CHF 936 million in the most recent financial year (Annual Report 2025), with the company 100% owned by the Model family and no external funding rounds disclosed.
Model Holding firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Model Holding
- Legal name
- Model Holding AG
- Website
- https://modelgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1882
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Model Holding AG (Model Group) is a 100% family-owned Swiss packaging manufacturer, founded 1882, producing corrugated cardboard and paper-based packaging across 15 European countries with 4,200+ employees, serving 12 industry verticals including food, pharma, automotive, and cosmetics with custom B2B solutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Model Holding industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Corrugated and Paper Packaging Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191), Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing (322220)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670), Paper Mills (2621), Papers & Allied Products (2600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons) (CRADALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Packaging & Product Brand Design (BPAFAEAG)
Keywords
Where Model Holding is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Weinfelden
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices18 records
Markets served
Model Holding business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Packaging Manufacturing and Sales: Model Group designs, produces, and sells corrugated cardboard packaging, product packaging, transport packaging, promotion packaging, and e-commerce packaging. Revenue is generated through direct B2B sales of manufactured packaging products across Europe.
- Paper Production and Sales: The company operates paper mills producing lightweight papers and packaging materials, generating revenue from paper sales both internally and externally.
- Packaging Services: Services include consulting, design, co-packing, logistics, and recycling (Model Recover), offering a full range from design to delivery and pickup.
- Model Shop (E-commerce Retail): Online shop selling standard packaging assortment, cardboard boxes, cartons, and packaging materials directly to consumers and businesses (shop.modelgroup.com, packshop.cz, packshop.hr).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom packaging solutions — quote-based |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Model Holding product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Model Holding AG (Model Group) designs, produces, and sells corrugated cardboard and solid board packaging products — including product, transport, promotion, and e-commerce packaging — together with paper products from its own paper mills. The company offers an end-to-end service range covering consulting, design, printing (flexographic, offset, digital), logistics, and paper recycling (Model Recover), delivering tailored packaging solutions to enterprise customers across Europe.
Product overview
Model Group operates as a comprehensive packaging solutions provider offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offering includes Product Packaging, Transport Packaging, Promotion Packaging, E-Commerce Packaging, and the Model Shop Assortment for standard packaging materials, all supported by specialized services including Consulting, Design, Flexographic/Offset/Digital Print production, Logistics, and Recover (paper recycling). The product line is complemented by Lightweight Paper and the innovative Endless Corrugated Cardboard (M-fold). Model Group serves 12 industry verticals (Food, Household, Cosmetics & Hygiene, Consumer Goods, Automotive, Chemicals, Pharma, Electronics, Logistics & Transport, Beverages, Manufactured Goods, Furniture). The group also runs the Model Young Package, an international packaging design competition since 1996, as a brand initiative to engage the design community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Model Young Package: International packaging design competition organized by Model Group since 1996
- Paper-Pearls
- M-Fold
- Model Packaging Solutions
- Model Shop
- Pack Shop
- Model Industry Solutions
- Model Services
- Model Recover
Products and services
- Product Packaging High-quality corrugated and solid board packaging designed for point-of-sale presentation that reliably protects product contents during storage and transit. Targeted at enterprise customers in food, pharma, cosmetics, electronics, and consumer goods industries.
- Transport Packaging Durable packaging engineered for logistics requirements, providing safe transport of goods across supply chains. Used by enterprise customers in manufacturing, e-commerce, and distribution sectors.
- Promotion Packaging Cost-efficient, eye-catching promotional packaging printed with state-of-the-art processes for point-of-sale impact. Serves brand marketing and seasonal promotional needs of enterprise customers.
- E-Commerce Packaging Packaging solutions designed for online retail and direct-to-consumer shipping, supporting unboxing experience, damage reduction, and returnable packaging for digital commerce brands.
- Lightweight Paper and Packaging Lightweight paper materials and packaging produced at Model's own paper mills for various industrial and commercial applications, sold internally and externally to packaging converters and brand owners.
- Endless Corrugated Cardboard (M-fold) Continuous, seamless corrugated cardboard packaging technology enabling custom-sized boxes cut to length, offering efficiency and sustainability benefits over traditional slotted boxes.
- Model Shop Assortment Standard range of packaging products, cardboard boxes, cartons, and packaging materials available through the company's online shops (shop.modelgroup.com, packshop.cz, packshop.hr) for SMBs and individual buyers.
- Flexographic Print Service Flexographic printing services for packaging production, suitable for high-volume runs with consistent quality. Part of Model's three-technology printing capability.
- Offset Print Service Offset printing services delivering high-quality packaging graphics and branding for premium packaging applications including cosmetics, perfume, and luxury goods.
- Digital Print Service Digital printing services enabling flexible, short-run, and personalized packaging solutions with variable data and on-demand production capabilities.
- Model Consulting Packaging consulting services helping enterprise clients optimize their packaging strategies, including material selection, sustainability, and supply chain efficiency.
- Model Design Packaging design services for creating innovative and functional packaging solutions, including structural and graphic design tailored to customer requirements.
- Model Logistics Logistics services including delivery, storage, and pickup of packaging materials, supporting end-to-end packaging supply chain management for enterprise customers.
- Model Recover Paper recycling services that close the loop in the paper cycle by recovering and reusing packaging materials from enterprise customers, supporting circular economy initiatives.
Quantifiable outcome
- Consolidated group sales of CHF 936 million in financial year 2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Model Holding
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Model Holding technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Model Holding partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- LäderachcoreLäderach, premium Swiss chocolate brand, partners with Model Group as the Professional Challenge brief provider for Model Young Package 2024/2025 competition. Theme: 'Sweets in the Box'. Läderach's CMO Yvonne Breier was interviewed about packaging's role in quality, logistics, and brand identity.
- HUG FamiliecoreModel AG received the HUG Top Supplier 2025 award from the Hug family, recognizing a partnership built on trust, openness, and sustainable success. The relationship goes beyond day-to-day business.
- Clock Craft BrewerycoreClock Craft Brewery served as the Professional Challenge brief provider for Model Young Package 2023 competition with the theme 'Thirsty for Packaging', engaging designers directly with a customer's real briefing.
- ON (Zurich-based sports equipment manufacturer)coreModel Group and ON partner on sustainable packaging for running shoes. Short delivery distances and environmentally friendly materials are central to the partnership, demonstrating real sustainability benefits.
- V-ZUGminorPaper recycling partnership between Model Recover and V-ZUG (Swiss premium household appliances), demonstrating efficient and ecological recycling in a closed-loop system.
- DieciminorPizza box packaging partnership — a short supply chain enables massive CO2 savings. Sustainable packaging synergy between Model and Dieci for pizza delivery.
- QUNDISminorSmart energy measuring devices from QUNDIS paired with optimized corrugated packaging from Model — saves time, costs, and CO2 emissions through lightweight packaging design.
- Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj)corePetr Kundrata from Pilsner Urquell served as industry expert for Model Young Package evaluation, bringing beverage industry perspective to the competition.
- DeinDealminorEndless cardboard partnership for e-commerce — DeinDeal and Model demonstrate how bargains and sustainability combine through endless corrugated cardboard packaging.
- Mary and PlantsminorSustainable shipping packaging for plants with soil in pots — developed by Model for the startup Mary and Plants.
- CheezyminorInnovative insulated shipping packaging for Swiss cheeses delivered online — Cheezy relies on Model's thermal packaging for quality delivery.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Model Holding competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- International Paper: Global paper and packaging conglomerate with significant European corrugated operations post-DS Smith acquisition. Overlapping capability set, much broader portfolio than Model Group.
- Sappi Europe: Global paper and packaging supplier producing specialty papers and packaging boards for converters. Comparable at the paper-mill level as a feedstock supplier to corrugated converters.
Direct peers
- Mondi Group: Global paper and packaging group producing corrugated packaging and kraft paper across Europe. Comparable to Model as a vertically integrated paper-to-packaging supplier serving FMCG and industrial customers.
- Smurfit Westrock: World's largest containerboard and corrugated packaging producer, dominant in Europe. Directly comparable on product, customer base and B2B sales motion, but at much larger scale than Model Group.
- Stora Enso: European renewable packaging company producing containerboard, packaging boards and corrugated packaging. Closely comparable vertically integrated paper and packaging business with similar European footprint.
- DS Smith (now part of International Paper): UK-headquartered corrugated packaging leader with strong European presence; recently acquired by International Paper. Directly comparable product portfolio and customer mix in food, beverage and e-commerce packaging.
- Mayr-Melnhof Karton: Austrian folding boxboard and corrugated packaging manufacturer with similar mid-cap European footprint. Comparable in product mix and customer verticals (food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals).
- Saica Group: Spanish paper and packaging manufacturer producing recycled containerboard and corrugated packaging across Europe. Comparable integrated model serving similar FMCG and industrial customers.
Emerging players
- Klabin: Brazilian integrated pulp and paper producer expanding into corrugated packaging. Comparable vertically integrated business model, though geographically concentrated in South America.
Regional players
- Buchmann Karton: German folding carton specialist serving cosmetics and consumer goods markets with paper-based packaging. Directly comparable product (Hanau facility competes for the same premium cosmetics customers).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Model Holding social profiles
Digital presenceModel Holding financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Model Holding leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Model Holding subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Model Holding funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Model Holding M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Model Holding
What does Model Holding do?
Model Holding AG (Model Group) designs, produces, and sells corrugated cardboard and solid board packaging products — including product, transport, promotion, and e-commerce packaging — together with paper products from its own paper mills. The company offers an end-to-end service range covering consulting, design, printing (flexographic, offset, digital), logistics, and paper recycling (Model Recover), delivering tailored packaging solutions to enterprise customers across Europe.
Is Model Holding a public or private company?
Model Holding is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Model Holding founded?
Model Holding was founded in 1882. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Model Holding based?
Model Holding is headquartered in Weinfelden, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Model Holding make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Packaging Manufacturing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are paper Production and Sales, packaging Services and model Shop (E-commerce Retail).
Who are Model Holding's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are International Paper and Sappi Europe. Direct peers are Mondi Group, Smurfit Westrock, Stora Enso, DS Smith (now part of International Paper), Mayr-Melnhof Karton and Saica Group. Klabin is listed as an emerging player. Buchmann Karton is listed as a regional player.
Does Model Holding have an API?
No public API is recorded for Model Holding.
What industry is Model Holding in?
Model Holding's product category is Corrugated and Paper Packaging Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADALAL, Paper-Based Packaging & Single-Use Paper Products (Paper Bags, Wraps, Cartons), with a secondary code of BPAFAEAG, Packaging & Product Brand Design. Its NAICS code is 322219 and its SIC code is 2650.