What Eterna does

ETERNA (Shanghai Eternal Machinery Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese manufacturer of post-press packaging converting equipment, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Shanghai with 500+ employees across a 75,000 square meter production footprint. The company designs and builds automatic flatbed die-cutters (ECUT series), folder gluers (EFOLD), hot foil stampers (EFOIL), and rotogravure/flexographic printing presses (EPRINT 400), serving corrugated board manufacturers, folding carton producers, and flexible packaging printers. Its core technology platform centers on the e-LINE system automation solution, which integrates pre-feeders, breakers, palletizers, and packers into end-to-end smart factory lines; the ECUT 1650 E ELITE launched in 2025 features Safety PLC control with IoT-ready architecture. ETERNA holds 150+ patents and is a member of Swiss-based BOBST Group since January 2011, following BOBST's acquisition of Hong Kong-based Gordon Ltd.

The company operates a B2B industrial capital equipment model with one-time hardware sales supplemented by professional services (consultation, installation, after-sales support). Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales through a network of 42 global agencies and dealers covering more than 90% of geographic area across five continents, with exports exceeding 50% of total sales. Demand generation relies heavily on event-driven channels: annual Open House events at the Shanghai factory, participation in major industry exhibitions (WEPACK, DRUPA, Sino Corrugated, Print China, EXPOGRAFICA), and customer-site demonstration events such as the Thailand Smart Factory Open House. Customer segments are vertically organized across three primary end-markets: corrugated board manufacturers (ECUT 1450/1620/1650/2100 series and e-LINE automation), folding carton producers (ECUT 1050/1060, EFOIL 1050, EFOLD modules), and flexible packaging printers (EPRINT 400). Notable customers include major Chinese enterprises such as Haier and Shuanghui, alongside a broad base of international packaging converters. Strategic positioning combines Chinese manufacturing cost efficiency with BOBST's Swiss engineering pedigree and a two-brand go-to-market strategy, including an ODM partnership with Japan's Komori Corporation for offset press integration.

Name

Eterna

Legal name

Shanghai Eternal Machinery Co., Ltd.

Website

https://eterna-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ETERNA (Shanghai Eternal Machinery Co., Ltd.) manufactures post-press packaging converting equipment — die-cutters, folder gluers, hot foil stampers, and smart factory automation systems — for global corrugated board and folding carton producers. The BOBST Group subsidiary operates from Shanghai with 500+ employees and a 42-dealer international network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Machinery

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Paper & Paperboard Packaging Converting & Finishing (Die-Cutting, Gluing, Windowing, Coating) (IMALACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Finishing, Converting & Die-Cutting Services (IMALAKAN), Folding Cartons & Paperboard Packaging Converting (IMAMAHAB)

Keywords

• Packaging machinery
• Die-cutting machines
• Folder gluers
• Hot foil stamping
• Industrial automation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Equipment Manufacturing: Manufacture and sale of post-press packaging equipment including die-cutters, folder gluers, hot foil stampers, and peripheral equipment. One-time capital equipment sales with long sales cycles targeting enterprise customers in packaging industry.
2. Professional Services: Consultation, installation, and after-sales service. Includes pre-sale technical consulting, machine selection assistance, on-site installation, and ongoing service support.
3. e-LINE Automation Solutions: System automation solutions integrating multiple machines for smart factory implementations, including planning, solutions design, quotation, and installation services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eterna manufactures and sells post-press packaging converting equipment for industrial packaging manufacturers. Its portfolio includes automatic flatbed die-cutters (ECUT series) for corrugated board and folding carton, automatic folder gluers (EFOLD series), automatic hot foil stampers (EFOIL series), rotogravure/flexographic printing presses (EPRINT), and integrated e-LINE automation solutions (pre-feeders, breakers, palletizers, packing peripherals) that connect multiple machines into end-to-end smart factory production lines.

Product overview

Eterna, a Bobst company, offers a comprehensive portfolio of die-cutting, foil stamping, and folding machines for the corrugated board and folding carton industries. The product portfolio consists of two main segments: (1) Corrugated Board Division featuring ECUT die-cutters (1450, 1620, 1650, and 2100 series) available in standard, PRO, EOS, and ELITE configurations, paired with EFOLD folding machines and e-LINE automated pre-feeder systems (e-LOAD, d-LOAD, Breaker); and (2) Folding Carton Division featuring ECUT die-cutters (1050 and 1060 series) and EFOIL foil stamping machines (1050 series) with corresponding EFOLD modules. Eterna also offers the EPRINT 400 flexographic printing press for corrugated board. The portfolio follows a modular architecture where machines can be paired with compatible folding modules, and multiple tiers (standard, PRO, EOS, ELITE) offer varying levels of automation and performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• e-LINE: ETERNA System Automation Solution including pre-feeder, breaker, palletizer, packer and peripheral equipment for smart factory integration
• ECUT
• EFOLD
• EFOIL
• EPRINT

Quantifiable outcome

• e-LINE automation saves 2-6 operators per production line
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and flagship.

• Strategic Partnership Companies (7 key group companies)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020At ETERNA Open House 2020, Strategic Partnership Agreements were signed with seven key group companies, establishing long-term cooperative relationships. These partnerships support continued growth and market expansion.
• Yancheng HONGJING Machinery Technology Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Shanghai Eternal Machinery acquired 70% of Yancheng HONGJING Machinery Technology Co., Ltd. in January 2020. HONGJING becomes the competence center for folder gluers of ETERNA. ETERNA's folder gluer production transferred to Dongtai facility, significantly increasing machine production volume.
• Komori CorporationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2016ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) agreement allowing Shanghai Eternal to manufacture customized die-cutting machines with Komori's creative input and technical requirements for incorporation into Komori production lines. Enables Komori to offer optimized price-competitive products for post press process while maintaining Komori quality standards.
• BOBST GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011In January 2011, ETERNA became a member of the BOBST Group. ETERNA cooperates with BOBST Group to continuously improve equipment and provide integrated solutions to the packaging industry. BOBST holds significant ownership stake. Two-brand strategy maintained where both companies continue developing technologically advanced products while maintaining separate brand identities, management teams, sales and service organizations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Yilma Group: Yilma is a leading Turkish folder-gluer and folder-gluing-converting manufacturer serving converters primarily across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, representing the same product category as ETERNA's EFOLD lines.

Direct peers

• Masterwork Machinery (MK): Masterwork is the leading Chinese competitor to ETERNA in flatbed die-cutters, folder gluers and hot foil stampers and is the most direct head-to-head rival across ECUT, EFOLD and EFOIL categories for both corrugated and folding-carton converters.
• Komori Corporation: Komori is an existing ODM partner of ETERNA (signing agreement in 2016) and a direct competitor in offset-press finishing and die-cutting workflows supplied to commercial and packaging converters.
• WUPU Group: WUPU is a Chinese manufacturer of corrugated die-cutters, folder gluers and inline converting lines, competing for price-sensitive orders in markets where ETERNA's mid-tier ECUT and EFOLD ranges are most active.
• Bobst Mex (formerly Brausse): Brausse (now Bobst Mex) produces flatbed die-cutters and folder gluers for folding carton converters within the BOBST Group, representing ETERNA's sister-brand competitor in the same die-cutting product category.
• SBL Machinery: SBL Machinery is a Chinese maker of corrugated flatbed die-cutters and inline converting equipment, competing head-to-head with ETERNA's ECUT 1450/1620/1650 families on price and increasingly on speed.

Broad incumbents

• BOBST Group: BOBST is the majority parent of ETERNA and a global leader in packaging substrate and converting equipment. It is highly comparable as the same parent entity runs competing brands (Brausse, Masterfold, etc.) in adjacent die-cutting and folding-gluing categories and shares distribution and R&D with ETERNA.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: Heidelberg's PostPress (die-cutting, folding-gluing) and packaging segments overlap directly with ETERNA's ECUT and EFOLD product lines, serving the same folding-carton and corrugated converters with commercially similar machine architectures.
• Koenig & Bauer (KBA): KBA's Digital & Packaging Solutions unit produces die-cutters, hot-foil stampers and folder-gluers for folding carton and corrugated markets, putting it in the same post-press converting equipment competitive set as ETERNA.

Emerging players

• Sanhe Laser Technology: Sanhe Laser produces laser die-cutting equipment for folding carton and label converters, representing an emerging alternative cutting technology that competes with ETERNA's mechanical flatbed die-cutting lines for specific applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@shanghaieternagroup6401

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Eterna