What Schoeller Holding does

Schoeller Holding is a seventh-generation family-owned industrial holding company headquartered in Pullach, Germany, with additional holding entities in Munich and Zurich. Originally founded as Gebrüder Schoeller in Düren in 1799, the modern group is held by Martin and Christoph Schoeller and their families and operates through four ringfenced family-owned holding companies. Its core industrial business is Schoeller Allibert, the world market leader in plastic returnable transport packaging (RTP), with a portfolio of more than 1,000 products across foldable large containers, rigid pallet containers, beverage crates, stackable boxes, foldable IBCs, pallets and dollies, generating over EUR 500 million in revenue across 14 production plants in Europe and the US. Adjacent operating subsidiaries include Schoeller Plast (Scandinavian RTP leader), trans-o-flex (German pharmaceutical and high-sensitivity logistics with ~EUR 500m revenue and 40 sites), and ProTec Polymer Processing (LFT pultrusion lines and materials handling systems with Industry 4.0-capable SOMOS controllers).

The group earns revenue through hardware sales of RTP products (Schoeller Allibert, Schoeller Plast), professional logistics services (trans-o-flex), capital equipment sales (ProTec), subscription-style container pooling (Smart Container Loop for non-food logistics, legacy IFCO pooling network), and a family office that manages liquid assets, a real estate portfolio (>2,500 apartments and the Erlanger Höfe development exceeding EUR 150m), and select private equity and venture capital investments. Go-to-market is a hybrid of direct enterprise field sales, a global premier distributor network, an e-commerce webstore (launched 2015), and dedicated pooling platforms. Customer base spans more than 10,000 enterprise buyers across automotive (Gestamp Umformtechnik, TRCZ), fresh produce and agriculture (Walmart via IFCO legacy, Glan Arís, Andigestion), beverage, food processing, pharmaceutical logistics, cosmetics, electronics, and industrial manufacturing. Schoeller Allibert was brought under a joint holding with Brookfield Business Partners in 2018 after JP Morgan's controlling interest was acquired, marking the group's most significant recent capital partnership.

Name

Schoeller Holding

Legal name

Schoeller Group GmbH

Website

https://schoeller.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1799

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Schoeller Holding is a seventh-generation German family-owned industrial group operating Schoeller Allibert (world leader in plastic returnable transport packaging), trans-o-flex (German pharmaceutical logistics), ProTec Polymer Processing (LFT pultrusion systems), a real estate portfolio, and select private equity investments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging & Logistics

NAICS

Plastics Materials and Basic Forms and Shapes Merchant Wholesalers (424610)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Thermoformed Packaging (Dunnage, Trays, Clamshells) (IMANAHAC)

Keywords

• Returnable transport packaging
• Plastic reusable containers
• Pharmaceutical logistics services
• Polymer processing equipment
• Sustainable packaging solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Pullach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Returnable Packaging Solutions: Schoeller Allibert (world market leader in plastic returnable transport packaging) generates revenue through the manufacture and sale/servicing of returnable plastic containers, crates, pallets, and bulk containers. Revenue exceeds EUR 500 million. Also operates pooling services for reusable packaging.
2. Supply Chain Services: trans-o-flex provides logistics services for pharmaceutical industry and high-end sensitive goods (electronics, cosmetics). Revenue approximately EUR 500 million. Services include express delivery with temperature control (Ambient, 15-25°C).
3. Processing Equipment: ProTec Polymer Processing provides complete systems for producing long-fibre reinforced thermoplastics (LFT pultrusion lines), material handling systems (conveying, drying, dosing, mixing), and recycling lines.
4. Real Estate: The group's family office manages real estate including existing portfolios (acquired 2,500 apartments in 2019) and own developments such as Erlanger Höfe (>30,000 sqm, >EUR 150m development).
5. Sustainable Packaging / Coffee Capsules: GoCircular supplies sustainable coffee capsules (biodegradable, compostable, oxygen-tight, aluminum-free). Terracaps also produces biodegradable coffee capsules.
6. Container Pooling / Smart Container Loop: Smart Container Loop provides pooling solutions and container management for non-food logistics targeting pharmacy, cosmetics, electronics, and office supply sectors.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Schoeller Holding is a family-owned industrial holding company that develops, manufactures and services plastic returnable transport packaging (foldable large containers, rigid pallet containers, beverage crates, trays, pallets and dollies), temperature-controlled logistics for pharmaceuticals and high-sensitivity goods, complete systems for producing long-fiber reinforced thermoplastics (LFT pultrusion lines), and sustainable packaging such as biodegradable coffee capsules. Its portfolio is delivered through independently managed subsidiaries (Schoeller Allibert, trans-o-flex, ProTec, GoCircular/Terracaps, Smart Container Loop) and complemented by real estate holdings and select private-equity/venture-capital investments.

Product overview

Schoeller Holding operates as a diversified industrial group with four main segments: Material Handling Packaging, Processing Equipment, Supply Chain Services, and Real Estate. The core product offering centers on Schoeller Allibert, the world market leader in plastic returnable transport packaging (RTP) with over 1,000 products including foldable containers, bulk containers, pallets, and beverage crates. Supporting brands include Schoeller Plast (Scandinavian RTP leader), trans-o-flex (pharmaceutical logistics), and ProTec Polymer Processing (LFT pultrusion systems and material handling). The portfolio also includes sustainable packaging solutions through GoCircular and Terracaps (biodegradable coffee capsules), Smart Container Loop (non-food container pooling), and the Desert Food Foundation (non-profit desert greening initiative). Key products include the Magnum Optimum (750kg certified foldable large container), Maximus1212 big box, EuroClick stacking system, and SOMOS-controlled LFT pultrusion lines for automotive-grade composite materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schoeller Allibert: World market leader in plastic returnable transport packaging, part of the Schoeller Group with operations in Europe and US
• Schoeller Plast
• GoCircular
• Smart Container Loop
• Terracaps
• ProTech

Products and services

• Schoeller Allibert Returnable Transport Packaging World market leader in plastic returnable transport packaging — foldable large/small containers, rigid pallet containers, beverage crates and trays, stackable and nesting handheld boxes, UN pails, foldable IBCs, pallets and dollies — sold to industrial, automotive, agricultural, beverage, retail and pooling customers across 50+ countries. Operates 12 manufacturing facilities across Europe and the US and reports revenues exceeding EUR 500 million.
• trans-o-flex Temperature-Controlled Express Logistics Express logistics services for the pharmaceutical industry and other high-end sensitive goods (electronics, cosmetics). Provides temperature-controlled delivery (Ambient, 15-25°C) across 40 sites in Germany, achieving >99% next-day delivery rates for ambient temperature shipments. Generates approximately EUR 500 million in revenues.
• ProTec LFT Pultrusion Lines and Material Handling Systems Complete turn-key systems for producing long-fiber reinforced thermoplastics (LFT pultrusion lines with fiber contents up to 65 wt.% at throughputs up to 1,000 kg/h) plus material handling systems (conveying, drying, dosing, mixing) and recycling lines for plastics processors. Industry 4.0-capable lines with the SOMOS Control/Excellence Controller. Approximately 140 employees, headquartered in Bensheim, Germany.
• Schoeller Plast Returnable Packaging (Denmark/Scandinavia) Market leader in plastic returnable transport packaging in Denmark and Scandinavia, headquartered in Regstrup, Denmark with approximately 60 employees.
• GoCircular Biodegradable Coffee Capsules Sustainable Packaging Group GmbH — leading supplier of sustainable coffee capsules that are biodegradable, compostable, oxygen-tight and aluminum-free, sold to coffee brands and capsule consumers.
• Smart Container Loop Pooling Service Pooling solutions and container management for non-food logistics, targeting pharmacy, cosmetics, electronics and office supply sectors in the DACH region and beyond.
• Terracaps Biodegradable Coffee Capsules Biodegradable coffee capsules that are oxygen-tight, free from aluminum and compostable, sold as a sustainable alternative to conventional coffee capsules.
• Schoeller Allibert Webstore (Direct Online Purchase of Reusable Packaging) Online e-commerce webstore selling reusable packaging solutions directly to customers, complementing the direct sales force and distributor channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• IFCO saves more than 1.5 billion single-use packaging units per year in retail, saving over 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Schoeller PlastminorOthersSchoeller Plast is a market leader in plastic returnable transport packaging in Denmark/Scandinavia, headquartered in Regstrup, Denmark. 60 employees. Part of the Schoeller group of companies.
• GoCircular (Sustainable Packaging Group GmbH)minorOthersGoCircular is a leading supplier of sustainable coffee capsules (biodegradable, compostable). Part of the Schoeller group ecosystem.
• Smart Container LoopminorOthersPooling solutions and container management for non-food logistics (pharmacy, cosmetics, electronics, office supply). Target markets in DACH region and beyond.
• CG Chemikalien GmbH & Co. KGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchoeller Allibert partnered with CG Chemikalien in February 2021 to contribute reusable packaging solutions in the global battle against Covid-19.
• CHEP (Brambles subsidiary)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHEP and IFCO (both Brambles companies) participate in logistics for the European Federation of Food Banks (FEBA), working together for 10 years in the fight against hunger and food waste.
• Desert Food FoundationminorOthersNon-profit foundation founded by Martin Schoeller. Goal is to enable greening of deserts for agriculture to fight poverty, water scarcity, migration, and climate change. First farm at Lake Turkana, Kenya. Part of Martin Schoeller's broader Africa engagement.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brambles Limited: Global pooling giant operating CHEP pallets and IFCO reusable plastic containers; IFCO was originally a Schoeller entity sold to Brambles in 2011. Direct head-to-head competitor in RTP pooling across retail and industrial supply chains.
• Cabka Group: Manufacturer of plastic pallets, bulk containers and load carriers made largely from recycled plastics. Closest direct product-level peer to Schoeller Allibert in foldable large containers and rigid pallet containers across European and US industrial customers.
• Georg Utz Holding AG: Swiss-German maker of reusable plastic containers, pallets and bespoke returnable packaging, including KLT and stack-nest systems for the automotive industry. Overlaps directly with Schoeller Allibert's automotive and industrial segments.
• Tosca Ltd: US-headquartered provider of reusable plastic packaging and pooling services for food, retail and industrial supply chains. Direct competitor in pooling economics and reusable crate/container solutions, particularly in North America.
• Bekuplast Kunststoffindustrie GmbH: German family-owned manufacturer of reusable plastic containers, stackable boxes, beverage crates and pallet boxes. Closely comparable product portfolio to Schoeller Allibert in DACH market, particularly beverage crates and stackable containers.
• Polymer Logistics: Provider of retail-ready reusable plastic containers and pooling services for fresh produce and retail supply chains. Direct overlap with Schoeller Allibert's fresh-produce / retail-ready pool business and with the Smart Container Loop pooling model.
• ENKO Container Sales: Italian-based manufacturer and seller of reusable plastic containers, pallet boxes and bulk bins with European distribution. Regional peer to Schoeller Allibert in foldable and rigid large containers, particularly in Southern Europe.
• Craemer Group: German family-owned manufacturer of plastic pallets, containers, waste and wheelie bins via injection moulding and extrusion blow moulding. Comparable product technology base and customer mix in industrial and agricultural RTP markets.

Broad incumbents

• SSI Schaefer: Large German material handling and intralogistics group offering plastic containers, bins, pallets and automated warehousing solutions. Broad incumbent whose plastic-container lines overlap with Schoeller Allibert, but its core is systems integration, not RTP pooling.
• DHL Supply Chain / Deutsche Post DHL: Deutsche Post DHL previously owned trans-o-flex (1997-2016) and remains the dominant pan-European pharma and ambient logistics operator. Broad incumbent competing directly with trans-o-flex in temperature-controlled express logistics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schoeller Holding