What Hunkeler Systems does

Hunkeler Systeme AG is a privately held Swiss engineering company headquartered in Wikon, Switzerland, specializing in tailor-made waste evacuation and disposal logistics systems for industrial and institutional customers. Founded as a legal stand-alone entity in 1990 and operating independently since a 2005 management buy-out from former parent Hunkeler AG, the company employs approximately 80 people and reports more than 1,000 customers globally. Its core technology covers the full mechanical disposal chain: document shredders, baling presses (with proprietary Cutting Blade and Pre-Press technologies), hydraulic briquetting presses for metals, aluminium, wood, and banknotes, vacuum-based HKU compact extraction units, multi-shaft shredder series (RS, LRK, XR, ZR, HL), conveyor systems, sorting plants, styrofoam presses, and integrated weighing technology, all governed by in-house control software. The portfolio includes quantified performance claims of up to 40% energy reduction with Pre-Press technology, up to 75% energy cost savings with XR shredders, and compaction ratios up to 1:12 for banknote briquetting.

The company organizes its offering around five vertical segments: Security Print (central banks, security printers requiring ISO-compliant destruction of banknotes and confidential documents), Packaging (corrugated cardboard, flexible packaging, metal and aluminium processors), Digital/Graphic (printing and finishing operations), Recycling (material recovery facilities), and Logistics and E-commerce (distribution centres and large retailers). Revenue is generated through direct, engineering-led sales of custom-built systems, complemented by recurring streams from spare parts (5,000+ SKUs stocked in Switzerland), preventive maintenance and repair services, consumables (wire, stripes, plastic bags sold via web-shop), and engineering services including 3D visualization and virtual process animation. Notable customers include Banco de la República, Banque de France, Croatian National Bank, State Bank of Pakistan, DeLaRue, Landqart AG, Reisswolf AG, Coop, Migros, Model-Gruppe, and FELCO. The business maintains technology integration partnerships with major OEMs including Bobst (15+ years, 300+ joint customers), Heidelberg, HP, Canon, Ricoh, and Koenig-Bauer, which serve as distribution channels into end customers.

The commercial model is engineering-led direct sales with consultation-based pricing; no public pricing is disclosed. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 (quality and environmental management, valid January 2024 through January 2027) and has added ISO 27001, 27017, 27018, 22301, and 20000-1 certifications through an IT partnership with Aveniq AG, positioning it to compete for security-sensitive central bank and government contracts. Geographic reach spans Switzerland, Europe, and EMEA with installed systems on multiple continents. Marketing occurs through major industry events (drupa, Hunkeler Innovationdays, Intergraf Currency + Identity), case-study content, and direct consultation. The company is led by CEO Erich Hodel (appointed 1 January 2023) and remains 100% management-owned following the 2005 MBO.

Name

Hunkeler Systems

Legal name

Hunkeler Systeme AG

Website

https://hunkelersysteme.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hunkeler Systeme AG is a privately held, 80-person Swiss engineering company that designs and builds custom waste evacuation and disposal logistics systems, including shredders, balers, briquetting presses, and extraction units, serving central banks, security printers, packaging producers, recyclers, and logistics operators across more than 1,000 global customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Waste Management Equipment

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Waste Handling & Compaction Equipment (Balers, Compactors) (IMAHALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Confidential Document Destruction & Secure Recycling (Shredding) (IMAIAFAO), Reprocessed Resin & Recycled Polymer Compounding (PCR/PIR Compounds) (IMANAMAG)

Keywords

• Industrial shredders
• Waste compaction systems
• Briquetting press equipment
• Recycling machinery
• Security document destruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Wikon

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment and Systems Sales: Sale of waste evacuation systems including shredders, balers, briquetting presses, extraction units, conveyor systems, and complete custom-built solutions. Products range from compact standalone units to factory-integrated large-scale systems.
2. Spare Parts: More than 5000 original spare parts available from stock in Switzerland with quick exchange service
3. Maintenance and Service: Preventive maintenance, repair services, installation on site, hotline support (Mo-Fr 06.00-22.00, Sa 06.00-16.00), safety checks, and retrofit services to extend machine life cycles
4. Consumables: Wide range of consumables including wire, stripes, plastic bags available from stock and online web-shop
5. Engineering Services: Concept planning, 3D visualizations, virtual process animation, engineering design, and custom system development services

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hunkeler Systeme AG designs, engineers, manufactures, and installs tailor-made industrial waste evacuation and disposal logistics systems. The product portfolio spans document shredders for secure banknote destruction, baling and briquetting presses, multi-shaft industrial shredders, compact extraction units, conveyor systems, sorting plants, presscontainers/compactors, styrofoam presses, and weighing technology, scaled from compact standalone units at collection points to factory-integrated large-scale systems for industries including security printing, packaging, digital/graphic printing, recycling, and logistics.

Product overview

Hunkeler Systeme AG is a globally recognized, 80-person engineering company specializing in tailor-made disposal logistics systems. The product portfolio is organized as a comprehensive suite of waste evacuation solutions that scale from compact single units at collection points to factory-integrated large-scale systems. The core product categories include: Document Shredders (for secure destruction of banknotes and confidential documents), Presses/Balers (including cutting blade balers, horizontal presses, vertical balers, and specialized bale stackers), Briquetting Presses (for metal, wood, and banknote processing), Dedusting and Webcleaning systems, Compact Extraction Units (HKU series, HKS systems), Conveyor Systems (chain belt and belt conveyors), Sorting Plants, Presscontainers/Compactors (stationary, self-pressing, wet waste, screw, and bulky waste variants), Shredders (RS, LRK, XR, ZR, HL series for various materials), Styrofoam Presses (LION, CROCODILE, TIGER systems), and Weighing Technology. Solutions are targeted at five market segments: Security Print, Packaging, Digital/Graphic, Recycling, and Logistics. The company also provides associated services including maintenance, spare parts, training, and consumables. All systems are engineered in-house with proprietary control software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Document Shredders Custom-made shredding solutions for the secure destruction, extraction and briquetting of bank notes, bonds, passports, credit cards and other confidential documents; used by national banks, central banks, security printing facilities, and document destruction service providers.
• Presses and Balers Baling presses for compacting paper, cardboard, and recyclable waste materials, featuring cutting blade technology and pre-press technology; includes cutting blade balers, horizontal baling presses, vertical balers, bale stackers, container presses, PET recycling modules, barrel presses, roll compactors, and person safety modules. Targeted at packaging manufacturers, retailers, and recycling operations.
• Briquetting Presses Hydraulic briquetting presses for processing metal, aluminium, wood, biomass, and residual materials into high-quality briquettes, achieving compaction ratios up to 1:12 for banknotes; used by metal manufacturers, tool makers, and security printing operations.
• Compact Extraction Units (HKU and HKS series) Vacuum-based extraction systems for dust and production waste in printing and packaging industries, with energy-efficient configurations and customizable settings; HKU series units handle air volumes from 1,250m³/h to 10,000m³/h, HKS-4500 model enables multi-line extraction with container change during operation.
• Conveyor Systems Chain belt conveyors, sliding belt conveyors, and conveying solutions for industrial applications; heavy-duty models transport bulky materials in recycling and waste management, while gentle conveyors handle lighter materials such as cardboard, film, and packaging.
• Sorting Plants with Balers Automated sorting systems for paper, cardboard and plastic in multi-stage processes, producing pure waste paper fractions for recycling; integrated with baling presses to deliver turnkey recycling solutions.
• Presscontainers and Compactors Press containers combining compactor and container functions for quick disposal of residual waste; includes stationary compactors for non-stop operation, self-pressing containers, wet waste compactors, screw compactors, bulky waste presses, and industrial cardboard presses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in energy consumption with pre-press technology compared to cutting blade technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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 core.

• BobstcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing partnership of more than 15 years. Globally, over 300 customers operate Bobst equipment integrated with Hunkeler systems.
• HeidelbergcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for integration with Heidelberg printing and finishing equipment.
• HAG (Hunkeler AG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company relationship - Hunkeler AG is the parent of Hunkeler Systeme AG, which became independent through management buy-out in 2005.
• Aveniq AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationIT infrastructure partnership ensuring compliance with ISO 20000-1, ISO 22301, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and ISO 27018 standards for business continuity and information security.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Erdwich GmbH: German maker of single-shaft and two-shaft industrial shredders with strong presence in secure document destruction — competes with Hunkeler in the banknote and confidential document destruction market.
• SSI Shredding Systems: US-based manufacturer of industrial shredders and size-reduction equipment for paper, plastics, metals, and secure destruction — directly comparable to Hunkeler's shredder and document destruction lines.
• Marathon Equipment: US manufacturer of stationary and self-contained compactors, balers, and waste handling systems — directly comparable to Hunkeler's presscontainer/compactor product family for industrial and commercial waste.
• UNTHA Shredding Technology: Austrian manufacturer of single-shaft, four-shaft, and two-shaft industrial shredders for wood, paper, metal, and waste — overlapping directly with Hunkeler's RS, XR, ZR, and LRK shredder lines and listed as a Hunkeler technology partner.
• Vecoplan AG: German manufacturer of shredders, conveyors, and processing systems for waste, wood, plastics, and recycling — directly overlaps with Hunkeler's shredder and conveyor product families serving recycling and packaging customers.
• HSM GmbH + Co. KG: German manufacturer of industrial shredders, balers, and compactors for paper, cardboard, and document destruction — Hunkeler's closest head-to-head competitor across shredders and baling presses, and also a listed technology partner.
• RUF Maschinenbau: German specialist in hydraulic briquetting presses for metal, aluminium, wood, and biomass — directly competes with Hunkeler's briquetting press product line and is also a listed partner.

Broad incumbents

• Bollegraaf Apparatenbouw: Dutch leader in balers, sorting systems, and full recycling plant integration — competes with Hunkeler's baling presses and sorting plants across the recycling and packaging verticals, but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• TOMRA Sorting Solutions: Norwegian global leader in sensor-based sorting and recycling technology — overlaps with Hunkeler's sorting plant offering and recycling vertical, but operates at much greater scale and breadth as a public company.
• BHS Sonthofen: German provider of recycling, filtration, and mixing technology with a broad product portfolio — adjacent competitor to Hunkeler in industrial waste handling, though focused on larger-scale processing plants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClQBrKydEW6kAROMhlz_fGQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hunkeler-systeme-ag

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Hunkeler Systems