What Hinterkopf does

Hinterkopf GmbH is a privately held German industrial machinery manufacturer, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Eislingen, that designs and builds equipment for metal and plastic packaging production. The company operates an OEM model, selling individual machines and fully integrated production lines directly to enterprise customers through a field sales force, trade fair presence (METPACK, K, Paris Packaging Week), and personal contacts. Its customer base spans five disclosed verticals: pharma, cosmetics, food, technical products, and tobacco. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time equipment sales, supplemented by factory-reconditioned pre-owned machines, remote support, and dedicated service teams. No revenue, ownership, or investor information is publicly disclosed.

The core product platform is the D-series of digital printing machines (D240, D240.2, D360.4, DX) for cylindrical hollow bodies — cans, tubes, bottles, and containers — featuring 7-color separation, PANTONE color matching, and seamless 360-degree metallic-effect decoration. Surrounding this core, Hinterkopf offers a modular suite of complementary production equipment: impact extrusion presses (newly in-house as of 2024), accumulator and transfer systems (S241, TD64, TD40) reaching 7.5 metres in height, washing machines (DWA, PWA) for food-industry hygiene, air-circulation and radiation drying ovens with UV curing, Nifloor coating units, necking, trimming and brushing machines, and capping machines. A cumulative milestone of 300 million digitally printed containers was reached in 2024, demonstrating industrial-scale deployment. The product architecture is deliberately modular: customers can procure single units or end-to-end production lines for aerosol cans, tubes, rigid containers, cartridges, cigar tubes, aluminium bottles, lipstick sleeves, beverage cans, and food cans.

Hinterkopf's value proposition centers on reliability, durability, and economic efficiency of customer production, with sustainability positioning around resource-efficient digital printing that reduces waste versus conventional decoration. Recent strategic activity — DX platform premiere at K 2025, D240.2 PANTONE launch in October 2025, entry into impact extrusion, plastic-tube digital printing, remote commissioning of full lines, and active trade fair presence through 2026 — indicates an ongoing product and capability expansion phase within a mature, family-owned operating structure.

Name

Hinterkopf

Legal name

Hinterkopf GmbH

Website

https://hinterkopf.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hinterkopf GmbH is a German family-owned OEM (founded 1962, Eislingen) that designs and manufactures digital printing machines, impact extrusion presses, and complete production lines for cylindrical metal and plastic packaging, serving pharma, cosmetics, food, technical, and tobacco customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Machinery

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Capping, Sealing & Closing Machines (IMAHAOAG)

Keywords

• Industrial packaging machinery
• Digital printing machines
• Metal packaging equipment
• Impact extrusion presses
• Production line systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Eislingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Sales: Sale of new industrial printing, coating, washing, drying, accumulation, transfer, necking, trimming, capping, and impact extrusion machines for metal and plastic packaging production.
2. Production Lines: Complete production line solutions for aerosol cans, tubes, bottles, rigid containers, cartridges, cigar tubes, aluminum bottles, lipstick sleeves, beverage cans, and food cans.
3. Pre-owned Equipment: Reconditioned pre-owned machines inspected, disassembled, re-conditioned and equipped with new electrics/electronics in the factory in Eislingen. Damaged components replaced with original parts, documentation amended, upgrades integrated.
4. Service and Support: Service offerings including remote support, service team, and specialized service for digital printing machines and impact extrusion presses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hinterkopf GmbH designs, manufactures, and sells industrial machines and complete production lines for the metal and plastic packaging industry. Its portfolio centers on digital printing machines (D240, D360.4) for cylindrical hollow bodies, impact extrusion presses for formed industrial parts, and a modular suite of equipment — including accumulators, transfer systems, washing machines, drying ovens, coating units, necking, trimming, brushing, and capping machines — sold individually or integrated into turnkey production lines for aerosol cans, tubes, bottles, cartridges, and food cans.

Product overview

Hinterkopf is a German industrial manufacturing company (GmbH) specializing in high-precision machines and production lines for metal and plastic packaging production. The company operates a modular system architecture where customers can select individual machines or complete integrated production lines. The core product portfolio centers on the D240 and D360.4 digital printing machines for cylindrical hollow bodies, complemented by a comprehensive suite of production equipment including impact extrusion presses, accumulators and transfer systems (S241, TD64, TD40), washing machines (DWA, PWA), drying ovens, coating units, necking machines, trimming and brushing machines, and capping machines. Production lines combine multiple machines for end-to-end manufacturing of aerosol cans, tubes, bottles, rigid containers, cartridges, cigar tubes, aluminum bottles, lipstick sleeves, beverage cans, and food cans. The company serves pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food, technical products, and tobacco industries. Service offerings include machine maintenance, remote support, and pre-owned equipment programs. Technologies include digital printing, offset printing, screen printing, flexoprint, coating, drying, necking, transfer, washing, impact extrusion, accumulating, and capping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• D240 Digital Printing Machine Digital printing machine for cylindrical hollow bodies enabling limited editions, personalized products, and local marketing with high-fidelity printing on preformed metal and plastic packaging.
• D360.4 Digital Printing Machine Digital printing system for cylindrical containers with advanced printing capabilities including extended color space and metallic effect decoration.
• Impact Extrusion Presses Industrial presses ideally suited for the manufacture of cans, tubes, and similar formed industrial parts through the impact extrusion manufacturing process.
• Accumulator & Transfer Systems (S241, TD64, TD40) Material buffer systems and transfer units that ensure smooth production processes by compensating different production speeds and reducing downtime between production units, with heights up to 7.5 metres and double drum technology with vacuum troughs.
• Washing Machines (DWA, PWA) Can washing machines (DWA) for cleaning aluminum or steel cans and bottles, and post washing machines (PWA) for food-industry hygiene requirements ensuring containers are clean and free from oil and swarf.
• Drying Ovens Air circulation or radiation drying ovens available with gas, electric, or water heating options for drying cans, tubes, and printed containers, including UV curing ovens for special inks and lacquers with polymerization curing.
• Basic Machines Fundamental production machines for manufacturing cans, bottles, and tubes in high quality.
• Coating Units Industrial coating units featuring Nifloor coating technology for high-quality surface finishing of packaging.
• Necking Machines Precision machines for necking operations on cylindrical containers.
• Capping Machines Machines for applying closures and caps of highest quality to various packaging types.
• Production Lines Complete individualized production line solutions combining multiple machines for end-to-end packaging manufacturing of aerosol cans, tubes, bottles, rigid containers, cartridges, cigar tubes, aluminum bottles, lipstick sleeves, beverage cans, and food cans.
• Pre-owned Equipment Factory-reconditioned pre-owned machines inspected, disassembled, and equipped with new electrics/electronics at Hinterkopf's Eislingen facility, with damaged components replaced by original parts and upgraded documentation.
• Remote Support Service Remote assistance and commissioning services for production lines, including remote troubleshooting and support demonstrated through first successful remote commissioning of a Hinterkopf production line.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 million digitally printed containers

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lanico Maschinenbau: German manufacturer of can making and seaming equipment, including necking, flanging, and seaming machines for cylindrical containers. Direct competitor to Hinterkopf, especially in capping and seaming machinery, with similar customer base in metal packaging.
• Stolle Machinery Company: US-based manufacturer of can making machinery including decorators, neckers, and complete can production systems. Direct competitor to Hinterkopf in metal can and tube production equipment.
• LEIFELD Metal Spinning: German manufacturer of impact extrusion and flow forming presses for tube and can production. Direct competitor to Hinterkopf's newly launched impact extrusion press line, serving the same aluminum tube and aerosol can manufacturers.
• Schuler AG: German press manufacturer with impact extrusion press capability for packaging applications. Direct competitor to Hinterkopf's impact extrusion product line, with significantly larger scale and broader industrial press portfolio.
• CMB Engineering: Italian manufacturer of can making machinery including complete can lines, decorators, and seaming equipment. Directly comparable to Hinterkopf as a mid-sized European specialist serving global metal packaging manufacturers.
• Ferrum Packaging AG: Swiss maker of can making and seaming machinery including complete can production lines. Directly competes with Hinterkopf across can making equipment, decorators, and complete line solutions for metal packaging manufacturers.
• Soudronic AG: Swiss manufacturer of resistance welding and seaming equipment for can body production. Directly comparable to Hinterkopf's metal can production line business, serving the same can manufacturers with welding/seaming machines and complete can lines.
• Durst Group: Italian digital printing specialist for industrial applications including packaging. Direct competitor to Hinterkopf's D240 and DX digital printing machines in the cylindrical and packaging decoration segment, with broader inkjet platform.
• Belvac (BW Packaging Systems): US-based manufacturer of can making equipment, part of BW Packaging Systems. Directly competes with Hinterkopf in machinery for aerosol can, food can, and specialty container production globally.
• PneumaticScaleAngelus (BW Packaging): US-based manufacturer of capping, sealing, and closing equipment, part of BW Packaging Systems. Direct competitor to Hinterkopf's capping machines, serving similar packaging customers in food, beverage, and personal care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Hinterkopf