What Kiefel Packaging does

Kiefel GmbH (operating as Kiefel Packaging / Kiefel Technologies) is a German industrial machinery manufacturer and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Brückner Group, headquartered in Freilassing, Germany, with subsidiaries in Micheldorf (Austria) and Sprang-Capelle (Netherlands), a manufacturing site in Suzhou (China), a Customer Innovation Center in Rayong (Thailand), and a new engineering office in Heilbronn (Germany). The company designs and builds thermoforming and welding machines — SPEEDFORMER KMD (polymer trays, cups, blister packs), SPEEDFORMER KTR (cups and coffee capsules), NATUREFORMER KFT/KFL/KFD (fiber-based packaging from cellulose, straw, and paper), SHARPFORMER KID (refrigerator inner liners), and SOLUTIONPERFORMER (medical and bioprocess bags) — together with proprietary tooling, modular automation (KSA), downstream grinding (KSG), and process technologies such as thermo-contact welding and high-frequency welding.

Revenue is generated primarily through quote-priced enterprise sales of high-ticket capital equipment, complemented by an aftermarket stream of service packages, upgrades, retrofits, training, the Kiefel NOW rapid-availability program, Kiefel Care+ (US), and digital services via the Kiefel Portal. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with a service network spanning more than 60 countries, supported by Customer Innovation Centers in Germany, the US, and Asia-Pacific for on-site feasibility testing and Proof-of-Concept work. Customer segments are enterprise packaging converters (food, dairy, ready-meal, cheese), chemical/materials suppliers (Perstorp), appliance OEMs (refrigerator liners), medical/pharmaceutical bag producers, and academic research institutions, with anchor relationships including Faerch A/S (50+ KMD 78 Power machines since 2014), SKY-LIGHT A/S, D&W Fine Pack, Perstorp, and EK Group.

The business is operated across roughly 18 sites with approximately 2,900 employees and reported no revenue figure in the available data. Recent activity under CEO Matt Sieverding includes a structural reorientation and site consolidation announced in late 2024, multiple new product launches at K 2025, deepening of the Siemens automation partnership, expansion of the fiber-thermoforming portfolio with the NATUREFORMER KFD, and new engineering and customer-innovation facilities in Heilbronn and Rayong. Kiefel has received EcoVadis Silver Medal recognition in 2022 and 2025, the German Packaging Award Gold, the WorldStar Award, and the SPE President's Cup.

Name

Kiefel Packaging

Legal name

KIEFEL GmbH

Website

https://kiefel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kiefel GmbH is a German industrial machinery manufacturer and Brückner Group subsidiary that designs and sells thermoforming and welding machines for polymer and natural-fiber packaging, medical bags, and refrigerator components, serving enterprise packaging converters, appliance OEMs, and pharma producers across more than 60 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Machinery (Thermoforming and Welding Systems)

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermoforming Machinery & Automation (IMANAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Thermoforming Tooling, Mold & Die Manufacturing (IMANAHAJ), Blow Molding & Thermoforming Packaging Equipment (Bottle/Tray Making) (IMALAOAK), Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF)

Keywords

• Thermoforming machines
• Fiber packaging machinery
• Polymer packaging systems
• Medical bag production
• Industrial welding technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Sprang-capelle

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Sales: Kiefel generates revenue through the sale of thermoforming and welding machines and systems. The company offers complete turnkey systems including machines, tools, automation solutions, and services. Revenue comes from both new machine sales and aftermarket services including upgrades, retrofits, training, and spare parts.
2. Service and Aftermarket: Services include service packages, upgrades & retrofits, training, Kiefel Care+ (US only), and digital services via Kiefel Portal. Kiefel NOW offers fast-available machines for rapid production capacity expansion.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kiefel manufactures and supplies industrial thermoforming and welding machines, automation systems, and proprietary tools for the production of sustainable polymer and natural-fiber packaging, medical and pharmaceutical bags, and refrigerator inner liners. The company delivers complete turnkey systems — from product development and tooling through to series production — combined with services such as upgrades, retrofits, training, and digital machine management via the Kiefel Portal.

Product overview

Kiefel Technologies is a holistic technology partner offering thermoforming and welding machines, systems, and services for the packaging, medical & pharmaceutical, and refrigerator industries. The product portfolio centers on several machine series: SPEEDFORMER KMD (polymer packaging thermoforming, with Speed/Smart/Power/Premium variants), SPEEDFORMER KTR (cup and container forming), NATUREFORMER KFT/KFL/KFD (natural fiber packaging via wet fiber, dry fiber, and integrated fiber thermoforming), SHARPFORMER KID (refrigerator component forming), and SOLUTIONPERFORMER (medical bag production). These machines are complemented by automation modules (SPEEDAUTOMATION KSA), downstream equipment (SPEEDGRINDER KSG), proprietary tools, and a suite of services including the Kiefel Portal digital platform, Customer Innovation Centers for on-site testing, Proof of Concept feasibility studies, rapid machine availability (Kiefel NOW), service packages, upgrades, retrofits, and training. The company provides complete turnkey systems from product development through series production, supported by in-house toolmaking and global sales/service presence across 18 sites in over 60 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPEEDFORMER KMD: Thermoforming machine series for producing high-quality packaging trays, cups, and containers
• SPEEDFORMER KTR
• NATUREFORMER KFT
• SHARPFORMER KID
• SOLUTIONPERFORMER
• Kiefel Speed Automation (KSA)
• Kiefel Portal
• Kiefel NOW
• Kiefel Care+

Products and services

• SPEEDFORMER KMD Leading thermoforming machine series for producing high-quality polymer packaging such as trays, cups, bowls, lids, and containers, available in Speed, Smart, Power, and Premium variants for food, non-food, and medical packaging applications.
• SPEEDFORMER KTR Cup and container thermoforming machine for producing sustainable plastic cups and coffee capsules, processing PP, PET, PS, PLA and recyclable materials.
• NATUREFORMER KFT Fiber thermoforming machine series for producing sustainable packaging from natural fibers such as cellulose, straw, and annual plants; produces fiber-based cups, bowls, lids, coffee capsules, fruit trays, and industrial packaging using dry or wet fiber processes.
• NATUREFORMER KFL Fully integrated fiber thermoforming system for series production of lids and portion cups from natural fibers.
• NATUREFORMER KFD Dry Fiber technology system for cost-efficient fiber packaging solutions using paper and dry fiber material from rollstock.
• SHARPFORMER KID Inline thermoforming machine for precise and efficient production of refrigerator inner liners and door liners (HIPS or ABS materials) using vacuum-pressure forming technology; available in Smart variant built in China.
• SOLUTIONPERFORMER Flexible form-fill-seal system for producing medical bags including infusion, multi-chamber, and CAPD bags, combining bag making, filling, and sealing in one modular system with capacity up to 6,000 infusion bags per hour.
• Kiefel NOW Rapid availability service offering fast delivery of standard machines to meet urgent production capacity needs.
• Kiefel Portal Digital service platform providing remote support, monitoring, training, and digital services for Kiefel machines.
• Service Packages Comprehensive service offerings including maintenance, support, and optimization packages for machine efficiency and availability.
• Kiefel Care+ (US only) Service program available exclusively in the United States for after-sales support and maintenance.
• Upgrades & Retrofits Services for upgrading and modernizing existing Kiefel machines to extend functionality and performance.
• Training Training programs for machine operators and technicians to ensure optimal machine operation and maintenance.
• Customer Innovation Center On-site technology testing and feasibility study facilities where customers can develop and test polymer and fiber packaging solutions with real machine and process trials in Freilassing (Germany), USA, and Asia-Pacific (Rayong, Thailand).
• Proof of Concept Feasibility analysis service to verify packaging solution functionality and sustainability before production start.
• Kiefel Tools Proprietary tooling and molds for Kiefel thermoforming machines, including quick-change tool systems, suction tools for fiber forming, and specialized tools for specific packaging shapes.
• Kiefel Speed Automation (KSA) / SPEEDAUTOMATION Modular automation system for KMD thermoforming machines providing pick-and-place, A/B stacking, tilting, and integrated packaging solutions for fully automated production.
• SPEEDGRINDER (KSG) Downstream solution that grinds remaining web scrap efficiently and immediately reuses it in the extrusion process, creating a closed-loop circular economy.
• Thermo-contact Welding Proprietary welding technology for joining polymer materials used in packaging and other applications.
• High Frequency Welding High frequency welding technology for joining plastic materials in packaging and industrial applications.
• SPEEDFORMER KMD 90.1 Premium Premium thermoforming machine configuration for high-productivity polymer packaging applications.
• SPEEDFORMER KTR 6.2 Speed High-output thermoforming machine configuration for sustainable cups and coffee capsules.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% higher output with same footprint and quality (KTR 6.2 Speed)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Siemens AGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2022Strategic automation partnership where Siemens provides automation platform and components for Kiefel thermoforming machines. Siemens is the preferred automation partner, with Schaltschränke (control cabinets) built by Siemens for NATUREFORMER machines. Motion-Control platform enables machine networking and data-based solutions.
• PrintCYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch initiative for recycling of printed films along the packaging value chain. Consortium includes Brückner Maschinenbau, Kiefel, PackSys Global, Profol, hubergroup Print Solutions, and Erema. Coordinated by Dr. Annett Kaeding-Koppers.
• University of MaineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership providing NATUREFORMER KFT Lab machine to the university's Process Development Center for research on molded pulp products, sustainable materials, and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) technology.
• FiberdomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership combining Duranova fiber material with Kiefel Dry Fiber technology for fiber packaging solutions.
• PerstorpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint testing partnership demonstrating circular PET works for hotfill applications. New copolyester Akestra achieved heat resistance up to 95°C when tested on Kiefel thermoforming technology.
• Pagès GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for recyclable or compostable label solutions suitable for fiber packaging, presented at Interpack 2023.
• MCC VerstraeteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for marking and coding solutions for sustainable packaging presented at Interpack 2023.
• Hennecke GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew leading company within Brückner Group from 2026; expands Group's portfolio with key technologies for processing polyurethane (PUR).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Packaging Technology (Syntegon): Syntegon (formerly Bosch Packaging Technology) is a large packaging machinery incumbent with thermoforming and form-fill-seal systems. It is a broad incumbent in the same machinery category as Kiefel, particularly in pharmaceutical and food packaging.
• GEA Group: GEA Group is a large industrial machinery supplier with food processing and packaging equipment. It competes with Kiefel indirectly in food packaging machinery and shares key customers in food and dairy industries.
• ProMach: ProMach is a major diversified packaging machinery group with thermoforming capabilities among broader packaging solutions. It overlaps with Kiefel in packaging machinery but competes across a wider portfolio including filling, labeling, and integrated lines.
• Krones AG: Krones is a leading packaging and bottling machinery manufacturer serving beverage and food customers globally. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping customer base in packaging machinery, particularly for beverage cups and containers where Kiefel's KTR competes.
• Brückner Maschinenbau: Brückner Maschinenbau is a sister company within the Brückner Group, focused on film stretching and packaging lines. While Kiefel operates as a separate entity, the shared group creates customer and technology synergies in the broader packaging machinery value chain.

Direct peers

• ILLIG Maschinenbau: ILLIG is a German specialist in thermoforming machines, tooling, and packaging systems, with a comparable product portfolio to Kiefel's SPEEDFORMER and NATUREFORMER series. It is a direct head-to-head competitor in polymer and increasingly fiber thermoforming.
• Multivac: Multivac is one of the world's leading manufacturers of packaging machinery, including thermoforming machines for food, medical, and industrial applications. It directly competes with Kiefel in thermoforming packaging systems across overlapping customer segments.
• GN Thermoforming Equipment: GN Thermoforming Equipment (Canada) manufactures roll-fed thermoforming machines for packaging applications. It is a direct peer to Kiefel in thermoforming packaging machinery, particularly in the North American market where Kiefel is expanding via Brückner Group USA.
• SencorpWhite: SencorpWhite designs and manufactures thermoforming machines for medical, packaging, and industrial applications. It competes with Kiefel directly in medical/pharmaceutical thermoforming (Kiefel's SOLUTIONPERFORMER) and rigid packaging.

Emerging players

• Formech: Formech specializes in smaller-format thermoforming equipment for prototyping and smaller production runs. It is an emerging/smaller-scale player in thermoforming with overlapping technology but a different target customer profile than Kiefel's industrial-scale customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KIEFELtechnologies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kiefel-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Kiefel Packaging