U. Günther GmbH

What U. Günther GmbH does

U. Günther GmbH is a German, family-owned provider of prepress services for the packaging industry, founded in 1968 by Ulrich Günther and converted to a GmbH in 1974. The company operates from its Hamburg headquarters and a ~4,000 m² production facility in Greven (MV), which it describes as Germany's largest flexographic plate factory. With approximately 120-125 employees across two locations, Günther serves brand owners, retailers, printing companies, and agencies, with 25% of revenue generated internationally in markets including Greece, Israel, North Africa, and Turkey.

The firm's core offering is end-to-end packaging prepress: design, artwork creation, reproduction, color management, mock-up production, flexographic plate manufacturing, and print production support. It operates as KODAK's only European partner and was the first European customer to operate two KODAK FLEXCEL NX Wide 5080 Systems. Its proprietary technology stack centers on IMPULSE SCREEN (an award-winning screening technology delivering up to 3x finer resolution and enabling CMYK printing that previously required 7-8 colors), the SmartColor color management system (machine-specific fingerprints beyond ICC profiles), SmartMOUNT precision mounting workflow, and mediaPort (a browser-based workflow management and order processing software). Production is dominated by flexo plates (85% of total), split across paperboard/corrugated postprint (50%), flexible packaging (35%), and labels (15%).

Günther monetizes through project-based prepress services, hardware sales of flexographic printing plates, and software (mediaPort) with multi-year contracts. Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise field sales with print consultants providing on-site support, supplemented by the Flexo Breakfast expert forum event series (twice yearly since 2019), the Global Premedia Network (10 members, 33+ sites, 6 continents), and a consortium with Cl. Jaehde GmbH (Berlin). The company has remained privately held since founding, is managed by Peter Tarnowski (since 1996), and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and UN Global Compact active status.

Name

U. Günther GmbH

Legal name

U. Günther GmbH

Website

https://guenther-prepress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

U. Günther GmbH is a German, family-owned prepress services provider for the packaging industry, serving brand owners, retailers, and printers with proprietary flexographic plate manufacturing, IMPULSE SCREEN screening technology, and the mediaPort workflow software across two locations in Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging Prepress Services

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (323)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services (IMALAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Folding Carton & Paperboard Packaging Printing (IMALAKAH), Flexible Packaging Printing & Decoration (Flexo, Gravure, Digital, Cold Foil) (IMALABAM)

Keywords

• Flexographic printing plates
• Packaging prepress services
• Color management
• Print plates manufacturing
• Artwork reproduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Flexographic Plate Manufacturing: Production of high-quality flexographic printing plates using latest technologies including digital and conventional methods. 85% of plates produced are flexo, with 50% for paperboard/corrugated postprint, 35% flexible packaging, and 15% labels.
2. Prepress Services: Comprehensive prepress services including design, artwork creation, reproduction, color management, print quality consulting, and print production support. Services are project-based and tailored to customer requirements.
3. Proprietary Software (mediaPort): Browser-based order processing and control software provided to customers and partners for project management and communication throughout the printing process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

U. Günther GmbH is a full-service prepress provider for the packaging industry, manufacturing flexographic printing plates at Germany's largest flexographic plate factory in Greven (MV) and offering complementary prepress services including design, artwork, reproduction, color management, and print production support. The company holds the exclusive KODAK partnership in Europe and has developed proprietary technologies such as IMPULSE SCREEN (high-resolution screening) and SmartColor (machine-specific color profiles), with revenue primarily from plate manufacturing (85% of plates flexo) and project-based prepress services.

Product overview

U. Günther GmbH operates as a prepress service provider for the packaging industry, offering a portfolio of flexographic printing plates (produced using KODAK NX, FLEXCEL NX, and proprietary technologies) and the proprietary IMPULSE SCREEN screening technology that delivers up to 3x finer resolution. The company's core products include Flexo Plates manufactured at their ~4000m² facility in Greven (Germany's largest), supported by the SmartMOUNT mounting workflow. The software platform mediaPort provides browser-based workflow management, while services encompass SmartColor color management, 3D visualization, packaging design, artwork services, mock-up production (ImpulseProof), print quality consulting, and training via the Günther Academy. The IMPULSE SCREEN technology and FLEXCEL NX plates are key technology drivers, with the company operating as KODAK's only European partner.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IMPULSE SCREEN Proprietary screening technology for flexographic printing that delivers up to 3x finer resolution than conventional HD flexo applications, eliminating moiré effects and providing exceptional edge sharpness and color brilliance. For brand owners and printing companies seeking print quality without new anilox roller investment.
• Flexo Plates Flexographic printing plates manufactured using the latest technologies including KODAK NX, HD-FLEXO, MICROCELL, DIGICORR, DIGIFLOW, and INLINE UV2, with mounting services on backing films and sleeves. 85% of plates produced are flexo (50% paperboard/corrugated postprint, 35% flexible packaging, 15% labels).
• mediaPort Browser-based proprietary workflow management and order control software enabling digital order portfolios, centralized data management, file transfer, version comparison, and multilingual support with German server hosting. For printing companies and brand owners managing prepress projects.
• KODAK NX Ultra Plates Solvent-free, environmentally friendly printing plates in sizes up to 900x1200mm, compatible with aqueous, solvent-based, UV-cured, and EB-cured inks.
• FLEXCEL NX Plates High-resolution flexographic plates including FLEXCEL NXH for flexible packaging and labels, and FLEXCEL NXC for corrugated printing, available in thicknesses from 0.76 to 3.94mm. 25% of all photopolymer flexographic plates produced are FLEXCEL NX.
• SmartColor System Proprietary color management system providing detailed machine-specific profiles (fingerprints) ensuring consistent color reproduction across different print methods and substrates. Goes beyond conventional ICC standard profiles.
• Mock-ups (ImpulseProof) Realistic mock-up production using unique ImpulseProof system illustrating refinements such as hot-foil embossing, spot coating, metallic color, matte embossing on various substrates. For brand owners and packaging decision-makers evaluating finishing variants.
• 3D Visualization Photo-realistic 3D packshot creation ranging from 3D PDFs to photorealistic views for digital display at point of sale, including augmented reality capabilities. For brand owners and agencies needing digital packaging visuals.
• Packaging Design Packaging design services from initial concept workshops through creative phase to print, covering various substrates including film and corrugated cardboard. For brand owners and agencies.
• Artwork Services Artwork creation and adaptation for different packaging types, including preflight data inspection, master artwork preparation, and product range adaptation. For brand owners and printing companies.
• Final Artwork & Reproduction Technical final artwork preparation using latest professional software, including print-specific requirements tailored to respective print conditions and standardized proof creation with GMG and ISOcoated standards.
• Print Quality Consulting Interface services between print buyer and printer including project coordination, print analyses, print optimizations, and on-site print approval supervision worldwide. For brand owners and printing companies.
• Günther Academy Training Technical training sessions covering packaging pre-press, printing plate production, color fidelity, plate cylinder/roller/plate interaction, and exposure technologies. For printing companies and packaging professionals.
• SmartMOUNT Workflow Proprietary plate mounting workflow with HD camera system and CAD cutter for high-precision registration accuracy and optimal cost efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 3x finer resolution than conventional HD flexo applications
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Global Premedia Network (GPN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember since 2020 of an international network of leading premedia experts. With 10 members across 33+ locations on 6 continents, the network enables exchange of ideas and expansion of know-how in packaging prepress. New technologies, combined production capacities, and comprehensive pre-media services are key collaboration topics.
• Klischee-Anstalt Cl. Jaehde GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic consortium partner since 2009, covering a wide geographic area with complementary expertise, technology, capacity, and cost structures. Cl. Jaehde GmbH is based in Berlin and together with U. Günther GmbH forms a dynamic consortium.
• KODAKcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial and only KODAK partner in Europe, offering KODAK NX, KODAK NX Ultra, FLEXCEL NX, and other plate technologies. First company in Europe to use two KODAK FLEXCEL NX Wide 5080 Systems.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bobst Group: Swiss-based packaging printing and converting equipment manufacturer. Comparable in serving the same flexo and packaging converter customers, with overlapping plate/color management discussion points.
• Flint Group: Global supplier of printing inks, coatings, and flexo plate technology (nyloflex). Provides the APP plate-making technology U. Günther uses; competes directly in plate supply and is a major flexo-industry incumbent across presses, inks, and plates.
• Koenig & Bauer: German printing press manufacturer with packaging printing systems. Adjacent peer — serves the same end-customer base (packaging printers) with capital equipment, indirectly competing for the customer's prepress/plate spend.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG: German global press manufacturer and prepress/workflow supplier. While primarily in offset and digital press, Heidelberg's prepress software and consumables compete in the broader value chain U. Günther serves.
• DuPont (Cyrel Solutions): Major flexo plate manufacturer (Cyrel brand) and broad industrial chemicals/materials conglomerate. Directly competes in the flexo plate manufacturing category U. Günther serves, with substantially larger R&D and global distribution.
• MacDermid Graphics Solutions (Element Solutions): Flexo plate-making solutions provider (now part of Element Solutions Inc.). Directly competes with U. Günther in flexo plates and works alongside ESKO workflows, similar to U. Günther's positioning with KODAK and ESKO.

Emerging players

• Hybrid Software: Software provider for label and packaging prepress (workflow, color management, RIP). Overlaps with U. Günther's mediaPort software offering and competes for software-anchored prepress workflow business.
• ESKO (Danaher): Prepress software and hardware (CDI imaging) provider for packaging. U. Günther uses ESKO CDI equipment; Esko is both a supplier and a partial competitor in the broader prepress workflow space.

Direct peers

• XSYS (Windmöller & Hölscher affiliate): Specialty flexo plate and sleeve manufacturer serving packaging converters. Comparable in direct plate-making competition to U. Günther, with similar technology-provider relationships and end-market focus.
• Klischee-Anstalt Cl. Jaehde GmbH: Berlin-based prepress and flexo plate manufacturer that has been U. Günther's strategic consortium partner since 2009. Most direct comparable — both German family-owned prepress specialists serving the same core markets with overlapping technology partnerships (KODAK, Flint).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFcdvCxPDWXAeJ1ceV_id9A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/u-guenther-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/u.guenther.gmbh/?hl=de

Compliance1 record

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 U. Günther GmbH