Gainsborough Engineering Company
Gainsborough Engineering Company is a UK-based manufacturer of vertical form fill seal (VFFS) packaging machinery, including bagging and pouch machines, serving food, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers across 2,000+ global installations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersGainsborough, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gainsborough Engineering Company does
Gainsborough Engineering Company is a privately held UK manufacturer of vertical form fill seal (VFFS) packaging machinery, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The company designs, manufactures, assembles, wires, and tests all equipment at its single UK factory, employing 11-50 staff. Its core product range spans the GV series (GV2K1, GV2K2, GV2K3, GV2K4, GV4, GV5, GV2K6) plus dedicated standup pouch and quad pack seal machines, supported by ancillary equipment including volumetric fillers, multihead and linear weighers, conveyors, metal detectors, gas flushing systems, checkweighers, labellers, and overprinters. Technology is built on PLC-based control systems (Allen Bradley touch screens) with stainless steel construction, five-axis servo drives on high-speed models, and remote diagnostics. Output speeds range from 25 packs per minute (GV5 large-format) up to 140 packs per minute (GV2K6 high-speed continuous motion), with pack sizes spanning small sachets to 25kg bags.
The company serves end markets including food and beverage, confectionery, coffee, powders, medical and pharmaceutical, hardware, and industrial components, with 2,000+ cumulative installations worldwide. Its revenue model is multi-stream: hardware sales (new VFFS machines, bespoke packaging lines, second-hand equipment), recurring revenue (spare parts, packaging films including biodegradable options, consumables), and professional services (on-site maintenance, repairs, reconditioning, service contracts). Distribution is direct from the UK factory plus an international agent network spanning Holland, Germany, Denmark, Ireland (Northern and Southern), South Africa, and Canada, supplemented by annual PPMA Total trade show participation. Pricing is custom quotation-based, reflecting project-specific machine configuration, throughput requirements, and ancillary integration. The business is privately owned with no external investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity disclosed.
Gainsborough Engineering Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gainsborough Engineering Company
- Legal name
- Gainsborough Engineering Company
- Website
- https://gains-eng.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gainsborough Engineering Company is a UK-based manufacturer of vertical form fill seal (VFFS) packaging machinery, including bagging and pouch machines, serving food, pharmaceutical, and industrial customers across 2,000+ global installations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gainsborough Engineering Company industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Packaging Machinery
- NAICS
- Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Form-Fill-Seal (Vertical & Horizontal) Machines (IMALAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bagging, Pouching & Sachet Packaging Machines (IMALAOAJ), Form-Fill-Seal (VFFS/HFFS) Machines (IMAHAOAA)
Keywords
Where Gainsborough Engineering Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gainsborough
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gainsborough Engineering Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Packaging Machinery Sales: Sale of new VFFS machines, bagging machines, and pouch machines. Full design, manufacture, assembly, and testing conducted in-house at UK factory.
- Spare Parts and Consumables: Machine spares, packaging films (including biodegradable options), machine consumables, forming shoulders. Next day delivery available.
- Service and Maintenance: UK-based service team offering on-site maintenance, technical support, repairs, and service contracts with discounted parts. Also offers machine reconditioning including electrical rewiring, pneumatic and mechanical overhauls.
- Bespoke Packaging Systems: Custom packaging line design, integration, and supply of ancillary equipment including weighers, auger fillers, conveyors, elevators, metal detectors, labellers, and overprinters.
- Second-hand Equipment: Resale of refurbished second-hand packaging machinery offering quality and cost-effectiveness blend.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Gainsborough Engineering Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gainsborough Engineering Company designs, manufactures, assembles, and tests Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) packaging machinery, bagging machines, and pouch machines at its UK factory in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The portfolio includes the GV-series VFFS machines (GV2K1 through GV2K6, GV4, GV5), a Standup Pouch Bagger, a Quad Pack Seal (four corner seal) machine, and ancillary equipment (weighers, conveyors, metal detectors, labellers, overprinters). The company also supplies bespoke complete packaging lines, spare parts and consumables (including biodegradable films), and an in-house UK service team offering maintenance, repairs, and machine reconditioning.
Product overview
Gainsborough Engineering Company is a UK-based manufacturer specializing in vertical form fill seal (VFFS) packaging machinery. Their core product line includes the GV series of VFFS machines (GV2K1, GV2K2, GV2K3, GV2K4, GV4, GV5, GV2K6) ranging from compact units handling 60 packs per minute to high-speed continuous motion machines achieving 140 packs per minute. The portfolio extends to dedicated standup pouch baggers, quad pack seal machines, and award-winning GV4 Splitpack. Supporting the VFFS machines is a comprehensive ecosystem of ancillary equipment including volumetric fillers (both in-house manufactured cup fillers and auger systems), multihead and linear weighers, conveyors, elevators, metal detectors, gas flushing systems, checkweighers, labellers, overprinters, static eliminators, and rotary tables. All machinery is designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested in their Gainsborough, Lincolnshire factory with over 57 years of experience and more than 2000 installations worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- GV2K1 VFFS Vertical form fill seal packaging machine with comprehensive PLC control, designed for small format packaging at up to 60 packs per minute, with bag length control, print registration, and safety monitoring.
- GV2K2 Filling and Packing Machine Vertical form fill seal machine with up to 90 packs per minute capability, handling bag sizes from 50mm x 60mm to 200mm x 225mm with adjustable sealing temperatures and a reliable film feed system.
- GV2K3 Automatic Packaging Machine Automatic packaging machine with stainless steel construction, achieving up to 60 packs per minute, capable of producing larger packs up to 320mm wide and 350mm long.
- GV2K4 Bagging Machine Semi-automatic bagging machine with up to 60 packs per minute speed, handling bag sizes from 80mm x 80mm to 320mm x 500mm with comprehensive PLC monitoring.
- GV4 VFFS Large bagging machine with up to 50 packs per minute capacity, producing bags from 150mm x 150mm to 400mm x 600mm and supporting pack weights up to 10 kg.
- GV5 VFFS Largest VFFS machine in the range, capable of up to 25 packs per minute with bag sizes from 250mm x 200mm to 600mm x 800mm and pack weights up to 25 kg.
- GV2K6 High Speed Packaging Machine High speed continuous motion packaging machine with five-axis servo control achieving up to 140 packs per minute, handling bag sizes from 100mm x 100mm to 320mm x 350mm.
- Standup Pouch Bagger Dedicated standup pouch packaging machine with two-axis servo control, producing packs from 100mm x 200mm to 250mm x 420mm at up to 40 packs per minute.
- Quad Pack Seal Machine (Four Corner Seal) Four corner seal packaging machine with stainless steel construction, achieving up to 45 packs per minute, available in multiple models with film widths up to 820mm.
- GV4 Splitpack Machine Award-winning splitpack bagging machine design for specialized packaging applications.
- Bespoke Packaging Systems and Line Integration Custom packaging line design, integration, and supply of ancillary equipment (weighers, auger fillers, conveyors, elevators, metal detectors, labellers, overprinters) tailored to specific customer production requirements.
- Service and Maintenance Contracts UK-based dedicated service team offering on-site maintenance, technical support, repairs, and service contracts with discounted parts; also provides machine reconditioning including electrical rewiring, pneumatic and mechanical overhauls.
- Spare Parts and Packaging Film Consumables Machine spares, forming shoulders, packaging films (including biodegradable options made from renewable resources), and other machine consumables with next-day delivery available.
- Second-Hand Refurbished Packaging Machinery Resale of refurbished second-hand packaging machinery offering a blend of quality and cost-effectiveness for customers with cost-sensitive requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2000+ successful installations worldwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Gainsborough Engineering Company
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gainsborough Engineering Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Gainsborough Engineering Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Altrimex Packaging Equipment BVcoreAgent for Gainsborough Engineering covering Holland (Helmond). Contact: 0031 4925 27475. Actively seeking business in Vertical Form Fill and Seal or complementary industries.
- JMC PackagingcoreAgent for Northern Ireland region. Contact: 028 3885 1413. Represents Gainsborough in the VFFS packaging machinery market.
- Qualitechs (Pty) LtdcoreAgent for South Africa covering Johannesburg region. Contact: 002 7116 13 7771. Part of international agent network.
- BBVerpackungsmaschinencoreAgent based in Schönbuchstr. 19, D-72631 Aichtal, Germany. Contact: +49 (0) 7127 57997. German market representation.
- Norbert Packaging & Automation LtdcoreAgent for Canada covering Quebec region. Contact: 00 151 8514 6952694. North American market representation.
- F.F. EngineeringcoreAgent for Denmark covering Birkerod. Contact: 00 4545 940270. Scandinavian market representation.
- LYNXcoreAgent for Southern Ireland. Contact: 00353 862 499426. Irish market representation.
- Smart Energy Greater LincolnshireminorReceived grant of £9,359.88 from Smart Energy programme (part-funded by European Regional Development Fund) for LED lighting and Solar PV installation to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. £8.5 million Smart Energy programme enables SMEs in Greater Lincolnshire to invest in energy saving technology.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Gainsborough Engineering Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ILAPAK: European manufacturer of VFFS, HFFS, and flow wrapping machinery serving food and similar industrial segments to Gainsborough. Direct overlap in VFFS product lines, customer verticals, and bespoke system integration.
- Viking Masek: Mid-sized VFFS and packaging machinery manufacturer focused on food, nutraceutical, and cannabis markets. Comparable product offering and customer segment focus to Gainsborough Engineering.
- Bossar Packaging: Specialist VFFS and pre-made pouch packaging machinery manufacturer serving food, beverage, and industrial markets across Europe. Closely comparable to Gainsborough's core VFFS product portfolio.
- Rovema: German-based manufacturer specializing in vertical form fill seal (VFFS) packaging machinery for food and non-food applications. Highly comparable to Gainsborough in product category, target end-markets, and European manufacturing heritage.
- Matrix Packaging (ProMach): North American VFFS machinery manufacturer within the ProMach group, offering vertical form fill seal solutions for food, beverage, and consumer goods—competing with Gainsborough for the same VFFS specification slots.
Broad incumbents
- IMA Group: Large Italian packaging machinery group with VFFS and integrated line offerings for food, tea, coffee, and pharmaceuticals. Overlaps with Gainsborough in VFFS but operates at much greater scale with global service network.
- Coesia Group: Italian industrial group encompassing multiple packaging machinery brands (including VFFS-focused entities). Competes with Gainsborough via portfolio brands in similar food and consumer goods segments, with greater scale and geographic reach.
- Bosch Packaging Technology: Global packaging machinery incumbent offering VFFS, horizontal flow wrap, and integrated lines across pharmaceutical, food, and confectionery. Overlaps with Gainsborough in VFFS but competes across a far broader portfolio and scale.
- GEA Group: Large diversified engineering group with packaging machinery and integrated processing lines for food, dairy, and beverage. Adjacent competitor offering larger, more automated systems in segments where Gainsborough also competes.
- Hayssen (Sandvik): Established North American VFFS packaging machinery manufacturer (Sandvik) serving food and consumer goods markets. Direct overlap with Gainsborough's VFFS core but with greater scale and North American installed base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gainsborough Engineering Company social profiles
Digital presenceGainsborough Engineering Company compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Gainsborough Engineering Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gainsborough Engineering Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Gainsborough Engineering Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gainsborough Engineering Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gainsborough Engineering Company
What does Gainsborough Engineering Company do?
Gainsborough Engineering Company designs, manufactures, assembles, and tests Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) packaging machinery, bagging machines, and pouch machines at its UK factory in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. The portfolio includes the GV-series VFFS machines (GV2K1 through GV2K6, GV4, GV5), a Standup Pouch Bagger, a Quad Pack Seal (four corner seal) machine, and ancillary equipment (weighers, conveyors, metal detectors, labellers, overprinters). The company also supplies bespoke complete packaging lines, spare parts and consumables (including biodegradable films), and an in-house UK service team offering maintenance, repairs, and machine reconditioning.
Is Gainsborough Engineering Company a public or private company?
Gainsborough Engineering Company is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gainsborough Engineering Company founded?
Gainsborough Engineering Company was founded in 1967. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gainsborough Engineering Company based?
Gainsborough Engineering Company is headquartered in Gainsborough, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Gainsborough Engineering Company make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Packaging Machinery Sales are the primary driver. The others are spare Parts and Consumables, service and Maintenance, bespoke Packaging Systems and second-hand Equipment.
Who are Gainsborough Engineering Company's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ILAPAK, Viking Masek, Bossar Packaging, Rovema and Matrix Packaging (ProMach). Broad incumbents are IMA Group, Coesia Group, Bosch Packaging Technology, GEA Group and Hayssen (Sandvik).
Does Gainsborough Engineering Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gainsborough Engineering Company.
What industry is Gainsborough Engineering Company in?
Gainsborough Engineering Company's product category is Packaging Machinery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAOAA, Form-Fill-Seal (Vertical & Horizontal) Machines, with a secondary code of IMALAOAJ, Bagging, Pouching & Sachet Packaging Machines. Its NAICS code is 333993 and its SIC code is 3550.