What Gernep GmbH does

Gernep GmbH, operating as KOSME Germany GmbH since March 1, 2026, is a German labelling machine manufacturer headquartered in Barbing, Bavaria, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Krones AG since 2015. The company designs and produces industrial labelling machines for beverage, food, consumer healthcare, and non-food manufacturers in the low to medium output range. Its core product families include Flectra (newly launched co-developed generation), Labetta (wet glue labelling machines), Soluta (servo-driven self-adhesive labellers), pre-modular combined machines integrating multiple gluing technologies on a single platform, and conventional rotary labelling machines. Technical differentiators include mechanical clip-lock orientation systems for swing-top bottles (offering longer lifespan than camera-based systems), deionisation units for transparent film labelling, and UL certification for North American markets.

The company generates revenue through a hardware sales model selling labelling machines globally, complemented by a comprehensive lifecycle services portfolio including spare parts distribution, commissioning, maintenance, remote support, repair services, upgrades, training, annual inspection contracts, in-house overhauls, and second-hand refurbished machines. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Gernep operates a direct enterprise field sales model with dedicated sales representatives targeting mid-market and enterprise manufacturers, distributed through Krones' worldwide service network and KOSME Compact Class subsidiaries in Italy, Austria, and Belgium/France. Named customers include Jägermeister, Weleda, Remia, Sonett, Birkenhof-Brennerei, Runamok, and Kössel Bräu, spanning spirits, natural cosmetics, food, craft beer, and condiments segments.

As part of Krones' Compact Class reorganisation, Gernep is being merged with KOSME Italy, KOSME Austria, and KOSME FBA under a unified KOSME organisation, with a new brand identity planned for 2026. The company maintains a 25-year partnership with Robatech AG for hot melt adhesive systems and shows at major industry trade events like drinktec to generate leads. The company has approximately 40 years of operational history at its Barbing location.

Name

Gernep GmbH

Legal name

KOSME Germany GmbH

Website

https://gernep.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Gernep GmbH (KOSME Germany GmbH) is a German labelling machine manufacturer and Krones AG subsidiary that designs industrial labelling equipment for beverage, food, consumer healthcare, and non-food manufacturers in the low to medium output range, supported by a global lifecycle service network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Labelling Machinery

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Labeling, Coding & Marking Equipment (Labelers, Inkjet, Laser) (IMALAOAD)

Keywords

• Industrial labelling machines
• Wet glue labelling
• Self-adhesive labelling
• Hotmelt labelling
• Packaging machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Barbing

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Labelling Machine Sales: Sale of industrial labelling machines including rotary labelling machines, servo labellers, and pre-modular combined machines for self-adhesive, wet-glue, and hotmelt labelling applications.
2. Spare Parts: Global distribution of high-quality spare parts including in-house customized spare parts, with short delivery times due to large inventory.
3. Service and Maintenance: Lifecycle services including initial operation/commissioning, maintenance at customer locations, remote maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and training.
4. Inspection Contracts: Annual inspection contracts with firmly defined maintenance intervals, regulated spare parts supply, and dedicated service technician contacts.
5. In-house Overhaul: Complete machine overhauls including inspection, reconstruction, re-installation, and modernization of labelling machines.
6. Second-hand Machines: Sale of refurbished second-hand labelling machines with manufacturer warranty.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gernep/KOSME Germany GmbH manufactures industrial labelling machines for the beverage, food, consumer healthcare, and non-food industries. The portfolio includes self-adhesive, wet-glue, and hotmelt labelling machines (Flectra, Labetta, Soluta, pre-modular combined machines, and rotary labelling machines), complemented by a comprehensive lifecycle service offering — spare parts, commissioning, maintenance, remote support, repairs, upgrades, training, inspection contracts, machine overhauls, and second-hand machines.

Product overview

Gernep/KOSME Germany GmbH is a labelling technology specialist and subsidiary of Krones AG (acquired 2015) that manufactures labelling machines for the beverage, food, consumer healthcare, and non-food industries. The product portfolio includes three main labelling machine families: Flectra (newest generation combining Kosme and Gernep expertise), Labetta (wet glue labelling machines), and Soluta (servo-driven self-adhesive labelling machines). The company also produces pre-modular combined machines that integrate multiple gluing systems (self-adhesive, wet-glue, hotmelt) on a single platform, as well as conventional rotary labelling machines. All products are supported by a comprehensive Lifecycle Services offering covering spare parts, commissioning, maintenance, remote support, repairs, upgrades, training, and second-hand machines. The company serves the Compact Class segment alongside KOSME Italy, KOSME Austria, and KOSME FBA under a unified KOSME organisation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flectra A next-generation labelling machine combining the expertise of Kosme and Gernep, designed to be compact, flexible, and intuitive. Part of the Compact Class portfolio for filling and packaging in the low to medium output range, covering beverages, wine, spirits, food, dairy, home and personal care, and pharmaceuticals applications.
• Labetta Wet glue labelling machine available in various configurations (e.g., Labetta 4/3/8 480 1A) with modern wet glue labelling units, mechanical orientation systems for swing-top bottles, and electronic expandability for future additions.
• Soluta Servo-driven labelling machine available in various configurations. The Soluta 6-720 2SK SD features two self-adhesive dispensers for up to 6,000 bottles per hour with two labels per container, includes an integrated deionisation unit for transparent film labels, and can be prepared for camera inspection systems and coding integration.
• Pre-Modular Combined Machines Labelling machines that uniquely integrate multiple gluing systems (self-adhesive, wet-glue, and hotmelt) on a single machine platform. Feature flexible labelling station suspension systems, improved HMI with swivel-mounted operator panel, and modular expandability for special equipment such as seal labellers and control technologies.
• Rotary Labelling Machines Conventional rotary labelling machines equipped with single glue types that can be individually adjusted to customer requirements. Made with high-quality materials for durability.
• Lifecycle Services Comprehensive after-sales service portfolio including spare parts management, initial operation/commissioning, handling parts and conversions, maintenance at customer locations, remote maintenance, repair services, upgrades, operator training, inspection contracts, in-house overhauls, line relocation support, and second-hand/refurbished machines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 6,000 bottles per hour labelling capacity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Robatech AGcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 August 202425-year partnership supplying adhesive application systems for hot melt labelling. Robatech has been providing labelling machine manufacturer Gernep with adhesive application systems for hot melt labeling, forming a strong relationship of trust and cooperation. This long-standing partnership demonstrates mutual commitment to quality labelling solutions.
• Krones AGflagshipOthers · 1 January 2015Gernep became a subsidiary of Krones AG in 2015 as part of Krones' Compact Class business segment. The Compact Class bundles solutions for filling and packaging in low to medium output range. In 2026, Krones is consolidating all Compact Class subsidiaries (KOSME Italy, KOSME Austria, KOSME FBA, and Gernep) under one KOSME organisation. Gernep's labelling expertise combines with KOSME for new product development like Flectra.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Krones AG: Parent group and overall beverage line integrator; competes with Gernep indirectly where customers procure full-line solutions rather than standalone labellers, while remaining the structural acquirer/owner of the company.

Direct peers

• Herma: German self-adhesive labelling machine and label-material specialist with deep roots in food, beverage and pharmaceutical labelling. Closest direct competitor on self-adhesive technology platforms and on mid-sized German/European beverage and food customers.
• Weber Marking Systems: German-headquartered manufacturer of industrial labelling and marking systems (print-and-apply, label dispensing, inkjet coding). Comparable on the coding-and-marking side of the labelling workflow and on European mid-market customer profile.
• Sacmi Labelling: Italian packaging machinery group with a dedicated labelling unit covering self-adhesive, cold glue and roll-fed sleeves for beverage, food and personal care lines — direct overlap on modular labelling platforms and on European mid-market customers.
• Etipack: Italian specialist manufacturer of labellers (self-adhesive, hot-melt and wet-glue) for cosmetics, pharma and food packaging. Comparable niche positioning and product overlap on self-adhesive/wet-glue stations; one of the European labels-only specialists competing head-to-head with Gernep.

Broad incumbents

• Sidel: Global PET/beverage packaging line integrator owned by Tetra Laval, with its own labelling portfolio. Competes for end-to-line contracts and on modular labellers for beverage customers in EMEA and the Americas.
• ProMach: U.S. packaging machinery platform with multiple labelling and coding brands across beverage, food and pharma. Comparable product breadth and mid-market channel model, especially relevant for the North American UL-certified installs.
• Coesia: Italian packaging machinery group (including GDM, ACMA, Volpak) with labelling capabilities across personal care, food and pharma. Competes for integrated line opportunities and on European customer accounts adjacent to Gernep.
• KHS GmbH: Large German filling and packaging line builder for beverages and liquid food, offering its own labelling modules as part of integrated lines. Overlaps indirectly on the labelling step of beverage lines where Krones and KHS compete on full-line contracts.

Emerging players

• Sleever International: French specialist in shrink-sleeve and full-body labelling equipment and materials for beverage, cosmetics and food. Adjacent competitor where customers are choosing shrink-sleeve vs. self-adhesive or wet-glue decoration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gernep-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Gernep GmbH