Solema

What Solema does

Solema S.r.l. is an Italian industrial automation company founded in 1982 in Pedrengo (Bergamo) by Ennio Mazzola, designing and manufacturing end-of-line machinery for the graphic arts (bookbinding, printing) and paperboard packaging sectors. The company operates two divisions: Graphicart, which produces automatic palletizers (Pluton, MiniPluton, SuperPluton), depalletizers (Venus, featuring a patented layer-by-layer depalletization system), book block feeders (Fastbook & Autoload, Alpha681), cartoning machines (Magic Box, Smart Box), and digital-printing stackers (Digi Sol); and Paperboard (Solema Roda), which produces partition assemblers (Andax, Andax Wide, Andax Jumbo, Moser, Casiermatic), cutting machines (Idealgandria, Super-Combi, Multiroll-Cut, UNI.CO), and feeders, stackers, and buffer systems. The Paperboard portfolio originated from the 2013 acquisition of the RODA Converting "Pads and Partitions" business unit from BHS Corrugated.

Solema generates revenue primarily through capital equipment sales via direct enterprise sales from its Pedrengo headquarters, supplemented by an exclusive global network of regional agents (SMG Systems in France, Papertek in Germany/Switzerland/Austria, Keményfém in Hungary/Romania, Emergraf in Poland, MT Invest in Russia, Global Trading Services in Latin America, and Solema USA in North America). Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contract cadences; secondary revenue streams include spare parts and after-sales service through the Customer Care division and custom engineering projects ("Progetti su Misura"). The company is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified and integrates its equipment with major OEM lines (Müller Martini, Kolbus) under Industry 4.0 / MIS connectivity messaging.

Name

Solema

Legal name

SOLEMA S.R.L.

Website

https://solema.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Solema is an Italian industrial automation manufacturer, founded 1982, that designs end-of-line machinery such as palletizers, depalletizers, partition assemblers, and cutting systems for the graphic arts (bookbinding and printing) and paperboard packaging industries, sold globally through direct sales and exclusive regional agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Machinery for Graphic Arts and Paperboard Packaging

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Line Automation, Robotics & Integration (Controls, Turnkey Lines) (IMALAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN), Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK), Finishing, Converting & Die-Cutting Services (IMALAKAN)

Keywords

• Industrial automation machinery
• Bookbinding automation systems
• Paperboard converting equipment
• End-of-line palletizing systems
• Automatic partition assembly

Headquarters

HQ city

Bergamo

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Sales: Sale of automated machinery and equipment for graphic arts and paperboard packaging industries. Includes depalletizers, palletizers, partition assemblers, cutting machines, boxing/cartoning machines, stackers, feeders, and conveyor systems.
2. Spare Parts and After-Sales Service: Spare Parts Store offering next-day delivery, preventive maintenance programs, service packs, and technical support through Customer Care division.
3. Custom Engineering Projects: Custom automation solutions (Progetti su Misura) tailored to specific customer requirements for unique production challenges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Solema designs, manufactures, and services industrial automation machinery for end-of-line operations in the graphic arts/bookbinding and paperboard/packaging industries. Its portfolio includes automatic depalletizers, palletizers, book block feeders, cartoning machines, partition assemblers, cutting and die-cutting machines, and complementary feeders, stackers, and conveyor systems, complemented by a spare parts store and Customer Care service offering.

Product overview

Solema is an Italian company specializing in automation for the Graphic Arts and Paperboard/Packaging industries. The company operates two main divisions: Graphicart (automation for printing and bookbinding) and Paperboard (machines for converting paperboard into pads, partitions, and packaging). The product portfolio includes automatic palletizers (Pluton, MiniPluton, SuperPluton), depalletizers (Venus), book block feeders (Fastbook, Alpha681), cartoning machines (Magic Box, Smart Box), partition assemblers (Andax, Andax Wide, Andax Jumbo, Moser, Casiermatic), cutting machines (Idealgandria, Super-Combi, Multiroll-Cut, UNI.CO), and peripheral equipment (stackers, feeders, buffer systems). Following the 2013 acquisition of RODA Converting's Pads and Partitions business, many Roda products were rebranded as 'Solema incorporating Roda technology' and form the core of the Paperboard division. Products are designed for end-of-line automation in bookbinding, printing, and corrugated/solid board converting operations, emphasizing space optimization and time efficiency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solema Roda: Product line for pads and partitions manufacturing, acquired from RODA Converting in 2013, including Idealgandria, Andax, Moser, Casiermatic, Super-Combi, and Multiroll-Cut machines.
• Graphicart
• Paperboard

Products and services

• Venus Depalletizer Automatic depalletizer with patented layer depalletization system for sewn blocks, gauzed products from bookbackgluing machines, perfect bound, and hard cover products in bookbinding operations.
• Pluton Palletizer Compact automatic palletizer for softcover and hardcover books, sewn and gauzed bookblocks, shrink-wrapped piles, boxes, and strapped/blocked signatures, with continuous jogging and a timing station for delicate product handling.
• MiniPluton Palletizer Compact automatic palletizer designed for limited spaces, used on bookbinding and saddle-stitched finishing lines.
• SuperPluton Palletizer Extended-capacity automatic palletizer variant for higher-volume bookbinding and packaging operations.
• Fastbook & Autoload Automatic book block feeder with electronic link to following machines via encoder and photocell, paired with Autoload pre-pile conveyor for continuous feeding up to 8,000 products per hour.
• Alpha681 Book Block Feeder Robotic book block feeder designed for gauzed, cardboard, and softcover book blocks feeding into downstream binding lines.
• Smart Box Cartoning Machine Semi-automatic cartoning machine for efficient boxing of piled cartonati, brossurati, and saddle-stitched books with air table for product preparation and integrated taping.
• Magic Box Cartoning Machine Fully automatic cartoning machine with very small footprint, automatic boxing of 1, 2 or 4 piles in a box, and make-ready time under three minutes for books of various sizes.
• Jumpi Padprint Machine Industrial padprint machine that prints on the frontal cut surface of softcover and hardcover books, adding a visible advertising area on book edges that remains visible when books are stacked.
• Andax Partition Assembler Automatic partition assembler for corrugated board (E-flute to double wall), with fast setup times and adaptability to different layouts for partition and pad production.
• Andax Wide Partition Assembler Automatic partition assembler for broader corrugated board layouts, including microwave and twin dual, up to 35 partitions per minute.
• Andax Jumbo Partition Assembler Automatic partition assembler for large-size corrugated board partitions, handling A-B-C-E-BC flutes with up to 24 sets per minute at 800mm pitch and 1400mm longitudinal elements.
• Moser Partition Assembler Automatic partition assembler for solid board and micro-flute partitions with PLC touch screen interface and production rates up to 50 partition sets per minute.
• Idealgandria Cutting Machine High-performance automatic cutting machine for accurate, high-volume production of solid board pads for books, fillers, and protective corrugated pads, with up to 154 cuts per minute and ±0.5mm cross-cutting precision.
• Super-Combi Cutting Machine Multi-purpose machine for high-volume production of corrugated partitions, pads, fitments, blanks, and packing reinforcements, performing feeding, creasing, scoring, slitting, crosscutting, slotting, and shingling in a single pass.
• Multiroll-Cut Die-Cutting Machine Automatic die-cutting machine for solid fiber partitions, pads, and strips directly from the reel, with Siemens PLC, touch screen, and continuous unwinding up to 300 cuts per minute.
• Casiermatic Partition Inserting Machine Machine for assembling, inserting, and glue-locking U-partitions inside preformed boxes, handling corrugated board (B-E-F flutes) and solid board with hot melt glue at up to 25 boxes per minute.
• UNI.CO Modular Cutting System Modular cutting system for paperboard producing pads, partitions, honeycomb elements, strips, and now boxes (UNI.CO X) with configurable setups.
• Sol-Box Box Forming Loader Automatic loader for box forming machines that feeds corrugated board into downstream box-making lines.
• CAST PalBox Forming Machine Forming machine for PalBox products used in packaging assembly lines.
• OMEGA693-12 Productivity-enhancing solution announced in 2025 that enables up to 30% productivity increase in graphic arts operations.
• Spare Parts and Customer Care Service After-sales offering including a Spare Parts Store with next-day delivery, preventive maintenance programs, service packs, and technical support through Solema's Customer Care division.
• Progetti su Misura (Custom Engineering Projects) Custom automation solutions tailored to specific customer requirements for unique production challenges in graphic arts and paperboard converting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% productivity increase for L.E.G.O. with automation solutions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kolbus UK LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic partnership for the UK Graphic Arts market. Kolbus is a major equipment manufacturer in the bookbinding industry.
• Rotolito Lombarda S.p.A.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Long-standing automation partner with multiple installations including palletizers, stackers, feeders, cooling towers, and conveyors. Visited as live demo site during Open House events.
• Solema USAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025North American business partner and subsidiary managing US and Canadian market. Organizes Open House events (Crawfordsville, Indiana) and handles local installations.
• ABBminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Solema supports ABB in the robotics project for Italian schools, contributing to educational automation initiatives.
• VeronapackminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Italian paperboard company hosting live demonstrations of Solema boards equipment during industry visits.
• Papertek UGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015German agent representing Solema in Germany (boards and graphics), Switzerland (both divisions), and Austria (graphics only). Supported successful sales at CCE 2015.
• SMG SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 201430+ year partnership for France, Départements d'outre-mer, Collectivités d'outre-mer, and francophone Belgium representation.
• EmergrafcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Polish agent since 2012, extended to boards division after RODA acquisition. Promoted Solema at Taropak exhibitions.
• MT InvestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Russian agent for years for bookbinding equipment, now includes Solema Roda products. Handles after-sales and spare parts in Russia.
• Global Trading Services / JC ConsejeroscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Distributorship for Latin America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Colombia, Caribbean). JC Consejeros serves as sales supporter and consultant for Spanish and Portuguese markets.
• Keményfém KFTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2013Hungarian agent since 2008. Exclusive representation for Hungary and Romania. Organized Hungarian industry visit to Solema facilities.
• BHS Corrugated / RODA ConvertingcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2013Acquired RODA Converting 'Pads and Partitions' business unit from BHS Corrugated in May 2013. Includes machines, brand, and technology for partition production.
• Müller MartinicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 201130+ year collaboration on integrated production lines. Worked together on the Watchtower Japan project combining Müller Martini's Hardcover Automated Bindery Line with Solema automation equipment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Müller Martini: Swiss-German global leader in bookbinding and print finishing systems. Direct competitor in bookbinding end-of-line automation, offering palletizers, binding lines, and integrated systems where Solema also competes; simultaneously a long-standing technology partner.
• Horizon (Horizon International): Japanese manufacturer of bookbinding and print finishing automation including perfect binders, trimmers, and stackers. Directly comparable to Solema in delivering compact, high-throughput end-of-line equipment for digital and offset print finishing environments.
• C.P. Bourg: Belgian-American maker of book finishing equipment including collating, stitching, and binding modules. Competes with Solema's Fastbook and book block feeding systems in short-run digital print finishing applications.
• Kolbus: German specialist in hardcover and softcover bookbinding machinery. Competes directly with Solema's Graphicart division in book block feeding, palletizing, and finishing lines; Solema announced a 2025 UK partnership with Kolbus UK Ltd, illustrating simultaneous competition and cooperation.
• Winkler+Dünnebier (W+D): German specialist in envelope, mailer, and packaging machinery. Overlaps with Solema's Paperboard division in paperboard converting and partition/box forming equipment for industrial packaging customers.
• Perfecta (Perfecta Cutting Systems): German manufacturer of industrial cutting systems for paper, paperboard, and printing industries. Directly comparable to Solema's Idealgandria and Super-Combi cutting machines in terms of customer profile and product category.

Broad incumbents

• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen (HEIDELBERG): World-leading manufacturer of printing presses and post-press equipment with a broad portfolio across commercial, packaging, and label printing. Operates upstream and adjacent to Solema's graphic arts finishing niche.
• BHS Corrugated: Global leader in corrugator machinery, headquartered in Switzerland. Sold its RODA Converting 'Pads and Partitions' business unit to Solema in 2013 and remains a broader incumbent in paper and packaging machinery with overlapping technology bases.
• Bobst: Swiss global leader in packaging and label converting machinery. Competes with Solema's Paperboard division in folding carton, corrugated, and partition converting at the higher-volume, larger-customer end of the market.

Regional players

• Vega (Vega International): Italian competitor in industrial automation and palletizing equipment. Comparable to Solema in geographic origin and product overlap (palletizers, handling equipment) but focused more on Italian and Southern European markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Solemasrl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SolemaAutomation
• Facebookfacebook.com/Solema-157401184356455
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solema

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Solema