Popp Maschinenbau Gmbh

What Popp Maschinenbau Gmbh does

Popp Maschinenbau GmbH is a privately held German machinery company founded in 1993 and based in Crailsheim, with 27 employees. It develops and manufactures standard and customer-specific equipment for postpress paper processing, packaging, and special-purpose engineering, serving printers, bookbinders, media producers, and production and service companies. Its in-house scope spans conventional and CNC manufacturing, mechanical and electrical assembly, controls programming, design, service, and maintenance, allowing delivery of individual machines and broader packaging systems.

Revenue comes primarily from one-time sales of custom and standard capital machinery, supplemented by service, maintenance, spare parts, and consulting. Pricing is determined through direct consultation around customer specifications, and Popp uses direct, inquiry-led selling from its headquarters rather than intermediary distribution. The company is privately held and has no disclosed parent company in the supplied record.

Name

Popp Maschinenbau Gmbh

Legal name

Popp Maschinenbau GmbH

Website

https://popp-maschinenbau.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Popp Maschinenbau GmbH develops and manufactures standard and custom postpress, paper-handling, and packaging machinery for printers, bookbinders, media producers, and industrial customers, using in-house engineering, fabrication, assembly, and controls.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Machinery

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Bagging, Pouching & Sachet Packaging Equipment (IMAHAOAH)

Keywords

• Custom packaging machinery
• Postpress paper processing
• Carton erecting machines
• Special-purpose engineering
• End-of-line packaging systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Crailsheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Machine Manufacturing: Design, development, and manufacture of custom and series machines for paper processing and packaging technology. Revenue generated from capital equipment sales of specialized machinery built to customer specifications.
2. Aftermarket Services: Service, maintenance, and spare parts for installed machinery. The company provides ongoing support and consulting for their machines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Popp Maschinenbau GmbH develops and manufactures custom and standard machinery for postpress paper processing, packaging automation, and special-purpose engineering. Its portfolio spans carton erectors, labelers, end-of-line packaging systems, document inserters, palletizers, product singulation systems, and inline pressing machines — built with in-house CNC machining, assembly, electrical, programming, and construction capabilities.

Product overview

Popp Maschinenbau GmbH is a machine manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of packaging and postpress machines and custom-built equipment. The core product categories include: (1) Packaging machines for erecting cartons (Kartonaufrichter Löwe 600, Großkartonaufrichter, Bodentrayfalter, Case Former), labeling (Etikettiermaschine 160, Tabmaster 40, Planklebegerät), end packaging lines (Endverpackungsanlagen), and product singulating/feeding systems (Schnapp & Pack, Max Distribution); (2) Postpress machines for paper processing including transport (Segmentriemen/Vakuumband, Mailtable, Smartmailer, Überleittisch), folding (various folder feeders), gathering and banding, pressing (Bandpresse Veronica), turning, gluing, labeling, tabbing, slitting/cutting, addressing, spreading, and outfeeding systems; (3) Complete systems such as the Smartmailer, Post- und Grußkarten System Digicard 52, Verpackungsroboter, and Endverpackungsanlagen that integrate multiple modules; (4) Custom machine building (Sondermaschinenbau) including Central boxing point and distribution systems. Products range from compact desktop machines to large-scale automated production lines. The company also provides document processing systems like the Rechnungsbeileger. All machines are available as standard solutions or customized for specific customer requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAX: Product brand/trademark for paper handling equipment.
• OTTO

Products and services

• Kartonaufrichter Löwe 600 Compact carton erecting machine for automatic erection of cartons from flat cardboard blanks using stamp and fold mechanism with hot melt adhesive. Targeted at packaging operations requiring small-format carton setup.
• Großkartonaufrichter Automatic XL carton erecting machine for RSC cartons (Fefco 200, 201, 202) up to 2660x1750mm weighing up to 15kg, capable of processing up to 120 cartons/hour. Designed in modular sections for easy truck transport and rapid on-site installation.
• Bodentrayfalter Floor tray former that receives palletized carton packaging, stores them, and prepares for repackaging with scanning, folding, strapping, and labeling capabilities.
• Case Former Fully automatic case former with format memory storing up to 50 formats, vacuum-assisted carton separation from horizontal magazine, and tape sealing for single and double-wall corrugated cartons.
• Schnapp & Pack Deltarobot-based system for singulating and feeding bulk goods and product samples such as small gummy bags, stick packs, mini boxes, or other sample products into carriers, flyers, or cardlets.
• Etikettiermaschine 160 (Haftetiketten) Automatic labeler for unwinding and applying self-adhesive labels onto single sheets or continuous paper webs, processing both die-cut labels and sandwich labels.
• Rechnungsbeileger System for printing and assigning delivery documents with up to 16 memory slots and 5 pages in accordion fold, connected directly to print systems and linked with customer databases.
• Endverpackungsanlagen Complete packaging line integrating carton erecting, filling (via scales, multi-axis portals, robots, or manual stations), leaflet insertion, closing, labeling, collecting, and palletizing into a single automated system.
• Central Boxing Point Custom special machine for inserting barcoded cartons into KLT containers, with four carton erectors supplying different sizes to one insertion point via a multi-axis portal with suction gripper.
• Max Distribution mit Ladeband längs Mobile paper dispenser with height-adjustable stand and loading belt for higher pre-stack volume, feeding flat products 0.1-20mm thickness via suction belts and sluice gate.
• Bandpresse Veronica Inline band press with patented pressing process for folded paper products between two driven belts, ideal for very small products like leporello and pharmaceutical folds (package inserts). Reduces product volume and packaging effort while optimally forming product edges.
• Palettierer (CTB Robot Palletizer) Modular palletizing system with a unique band gripper system, can be integrated into finishing lines, works with A4 oversize to A5 format range, processes multiple formats with optional stacking buffer and turning station.
• Sammelpacker (Collector Packer) Collector packer introduced in 2022 for collecting and packing products into packaging.
• Sondermaschinenbau (Custom Machine Building Service) Custom machine building service including special systems (Central Boxing Point, rust undercoating test application) and singulating/distribution solutions for specialized manufacturing requirements not addressable by standard catalog machines.
• Trayfalter 'Der kleine Löwe' und 'Paletten-Paul' Tray former 'Der kleine Löwe' and 'Paletten-Paul' introduced in 2018 for packaging up to pallet level.

Quantifiable outcome

• XL Large Format Carton Erectors: Up to 120 cartons/hour depending on carton size
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PalamidescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Joint exhibition partnership at drupa 2024, sharing 180m² exhibition space to present innovative processing and packaging solutions focused on print media. Both companies showcased complementary solutions for the print and packaging industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hunkeler: Swiss maker of paper processing and finishing systems including cutting, perforating, and rewinding equipment. Highly comparable as a postpress specialist serving the same printing customers, and a recurring co-exhibitor with Popp at industry events like Hunkeler Innovationdays.
• Bograma: Swiss manufacturer of carton erecting and case forming machinery. Directly competes with Popp's Kartonaufrichter, Großkartonaufrichter, and Case Former product lines for packaging customers.
• Palamides: German manufacturer of postpress and packaging machinery for the printing industry, specializing in delivery systems and stackers. Directly comparable as a fellow German SMB in the print finishing machinery niche and an existing joint go-to-market partner at drupa 2024.
• Hugo Beck: German maker of automated packaging machinery including flow-wrappers, bagging, and end-of-line equipment. Comparable as another German specialty packaging machinery builder serving similar industrial and print customers.
• Kolbus: German specialist in bookbinding and print finishing machinery with a long heritage. Comparable as a German mid-sized custom machinery builder serving the same printing and bookbinding customer verticals as Popp's postpress line.

Broad incumbents

• Krones: Global large-scale packaging line integrator serving beverage, food, and consumer goods. Provides indirect competitive pressure on Popp's Endverpackungsanlagen offering through integrated line sales to large packaging customers.
• Baumer hhs: Established German manufacturer of labeling, gluing, and quality control systems for packaging lines. Overlaps with Popp's Etikettiermaschine 160 and Planklebegerät offerings within broader packaging machinery.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: Global incumbent in printing press and postpress equipment. Both a customer (Heidelberg TF Koppelbox since 2006) and a much larger competitor whose integrated finishing portfolio overlaps with Popp's packaging machinery for printing customers.
• Sidel: Global packaging machinery provider specializing in PET solutions and end-of-line equipment. Comparable as a much larger player in case packing and palletizing that competes for the same enterprise packaging customers.

Regional players

• Lantech: US-based manufacturer of stretch wrapping and palletizing systems. Comparable product category (palletizing) to Popp's CTB Robot Palletizing System, though operating primarily in North America rather than direct competition in DACH.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 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 Popp Maschinenbau Gmbh