Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau

What Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau does

Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau GmbH is a German manufacturer of specialized packaging machinery headquartered in Erkrath, Germany, founded in 1985. The company designs and produces rotary window patching machines (WP SMART, WP PRO, WP MASTER) and tray forming machines (CE SMART, CE PRO, CE MASTER, and the 2026-launched CE Compact), with throughput ranging from 12,000 to 80,000 blanks/trays per hour. All development, engineering, and production is conducted in Germany, with patented technologies covering the Mono-Suction Belt, H+S Splicer System, Teach-In function, and glueless tray forming developed in partnership with Stora Enso. The portfolio includes add-on modules such as pre-feeders, automatic stackers, length folding stations, and transfer components.

The business model is built on capital equipment sales (one-time machine purchases ranging from under €100K for the CE Compact to higher-priced multi-lane systems), recurring spare parts revenue through a dedicated warehouse operation, and lifecycle service contracts including remote maintenance and on-site assembly. Customers are primarily folding carton converters and corrugated converters serving food and fresh produce, cosmetics, and household goods end markets. With approximately 80 employees, ~100 machines produced annually, 1,500+ active installations across 70+ countries, and 95% of revenue from exports, the company operates a global enterprise field sales model supplemented by approximately 40 regional sales and service partners, plus wholly-owned subsidiaries in the US (Forest Park, GA) and UK (Newport Pagnell). Since April 2022, H+S has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of publicly listed German industrial group INDUS Holding AG, with reported FY2021 revenue of approximately EUR 28 million.

Name

Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau

Legal name

Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau GmbH

Website

https://heiber-schroeder.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau is a German manufacturer of rotary window patching and tray forming machinery for the packaging industry, serving folding carton and corrugated converters in 70+ countries, with all production based in Erkrath, Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging Machinery

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

akta.pro primary industry

Cartoning, Case Packing & Tray Loading Machines (IMALAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Form-Fill-Seal (VFFS/HFFS) Machines (IMAHAOAA), Cartoning & Case Packing Systems (IMAHAOAB)

Keywords

• Tray forming machinery
• Window patching machines
• Packaging machinery manufacturing
• Carton erecting equipment
• Folding carton machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Erkrath

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 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. Machine Sales: Sale of tray forming and window patching machinery including CE Compact, CE SMART, CE PRO, CE MASTER, WP SMART, WP PRO, WP MASTER models. One-time capital equipment purchase with pricing for CE Compact under €100,000.
2. Spare Parts: Dedicated spare parts service with warehouse operations at US facility, supporting customers globally with replacement components.
3. Service and Maintenance: 360-degree service including technical support, remote maintenance, worldwide on-site assembly, and comprehensive maintenance programs throughout machine lifecycle.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau designs, manufactures, and services rotary window patching and tray forming machines used by packaging converters to produce cartons, trays, and windowed packaging. The portfolio spans entry-level to high-performance multi-lane systems (up to 72,000 trays/hour), complemented by add-on modules, spare parts, and a 360° service offering covering consultation, training, on-site assembly, remote maintenance, and lifecycle support.

Product overview

Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau is a German manufacturer of specialized packaging machinery with two core product lines: tray forming machines (CE series) and window patching machines (WP series). The product portfolio includes four tray formers (CE SMART, CE PRO, CE MASTER, CE Compact) and three window patchers (WP SMART, WP PRO, WP MASTER), ranging from entry-level single-lane machines to high-performance multi-lane systems capable of up to 72,000 units per hour. The machines work with cartonboard, microflute, and corrugated materials for food packaging, retail packaging, and industrial applications. Add-on modules include pre-feeders, automatic stackers, length folding stations, and transfer components. All products are 100% Made in Germany with development, design, and production based in Erkrath, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CE Compact: Single lane carton erector for creation of trays for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector; glueless tray forming solution launched in January 2026, priced under €100,000.
• CE SMART (Speedformer)
• CE PRO (CE1000)
• CE MASTER (CE1560)
• WP SMART (Speedliner)
• WP PRO (Proliner)
• WP MASTER (Master)

Products and services

• CE SMART (Speedformer)

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 12,000 glueless trays per hour with CE Compact using Stora Enso CKB board
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Stora EnsoflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2026Joint development partnership producing glueless tray solution using Stora Enso's CKB kraft back board. Companies coordinated machine design, tray geometry, and material performance as a system, achieving speeds up to 12,000 units per hour on the CE Compact machine.
• Giffin GraphicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 December 2025New agent representing H+S in UAE, selling portfolio of tray erectors and window patchers to folding carton and corrugated converters in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi with eight branches across GCC region.
• Bobst GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution and service partner covering multiple territories: Bobst Central Europe (Czechia, Bulgaria, Croatia), Bobst Group Benelux, Bobst Scandinavia, Bobst Italia, Bobst CIS (Russia), Bobst India (service and sales support), Bobst Africa & Middle East (Tunisia).
• Best GraphicscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved Sales Agent for North America for H+S range of equipment, complementing direct H+S USA operations.
• Print & Pack AustraliaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional sales and service partner for Australia covering Melbourne area with office in Carrum Downs, VIC.
• Beswick MachineryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales and service partner for South Africa covering Johannesburg area.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Bobst Group: Swiss-based global leader in packaging and printing machinery, manufacturing folder-gluers, die-cutters, and folding carton converting equipment. Closely comparable to H+S as both a channel partner covering multiple H+S territories and a broad incumbent whose folder-gluer and cutting equipment compete for the same folding carton converters.
• BHS Corrugated Maschinen- und Anlagenbau: Global market leader in corrugated machinery, headquartered in Germany. Comparable to H+S as a larger packaging machinery incumbent serving converters that increasingly overlap with H+S's microflute/corrugated tray forming applications.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: German-based global leader in printing presses and post-press packaging equipment. Comparable to H+S as a larger packaging machinery player serving folding carton converters, with potential to add cartoning/tray forming capability over time.
• Koenig & Bauer: German manufacturer of printing and folding carton machinery with global reach. Comparable to H+S as a broad incumbent in the packaging machinery space, with overlapping customers in folding carton and corrugated converter markets.
• Fosber: Italian-based manufacturer of corrugated machinery (part of Pro-Gest Group), producing complete lines for corrugated board production. Comparable to H+S as a larger packaging machinery player, particularly relevant for H+S's growing microflute tray forming customer base.

Direct peers

• EMBA Machinery: Spanish manufacturer specializing in window patching machines and folding carton converting equipment. Direct head-to-head competitor in rotary window patching, the same product category as H+S's WP SMART, WP PRO, and WP MASTER lines.
• Kohmann GmbH: German manufacturer of window patching machinery for the packaging industry. Direct niche competitor to H+S's window patching product family, serving the same folding carton converters across Europe.
• Vega Srl: Italian producer of folding carton and packaging machinery including window patching and cartoning equipment. Comparable to H+S in scale and product category, targeting overlapping European folding carton converter customers.
• Zemat Technology Group: Polish-based manufacturer of window patching machines and specialty packaging machinery. Direct niche competitor to H+S's window patching line, particularly active in European and Eastern European folding carton markets.

Emerging players

• Sun Automation Group: US-based supplier of corrugated converting equipment including specialty feeders and stackers. Comparable to H+S as a packaging machinery specialist targeting paperboard and corrugated converters, with overlap in add-on modules like pre-feeders and stackers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Heiber + Schröder Maschinenbau