What AkeBoose does

AkeBoose GmbH is a German industrial equipment manufacturer, headquartered in Celle, Lower Saxony, that designs and builds components and machinery for flexographic, rotogravure, and functional printing processes. Its core product family consists of chamber doctor blade systems (NOVA TK, NOVA XLS, NOVA RS, NOVA Compact, and CLASSIC) that meter and deliver ink to anilox rolls, complemented by ink handling solutions — EPQ membrane pumps, EPP peristaltic pumps (EPP 100, EPP 200-LQ1), and EPZ centrifugal pumps — plus end-seal spray systems, magnetic ink filters, blade holders, doctor blades, and cleaning equipment. The company is differentiated by patented, tool-free blade and seal clamping mechanisms, asymmetric chamber profiles that prevent back-doctoring and ink spitting, and stainless-steel construction that delivers up to 25% lower lifecycle costs versus composite chambers.

The company's primary customers are B2B printing converters producing flexible packaging, labels, corrugated board, tissue and nonwovens, decor paper, and sheetfed offset inline coating, with named installations at August Faller, TCY, LMC, Allstein, Comexi, and a US food-grade paper tray converter. Revenue is generated through project-based, custom-configured equipment sales and an aftermarket stream covering service, maintenance, overhauls, and spare parts for both AkeBoose and the acquired EKS inline flexo printing units. Go-to-market is consultative direct sales supported by international trade shows (ICE Europe, drupa, Labelexpo, Envase), a multilingual website (DE/EN/FR/PL/ES), and the Agergaard Group network, with remote retrofit installation demonstrated on multi-meter corrugated presses. Following the February 2024 acquisition of Einbecker Kennzeichnungssysteme (EKS), AkeBoose operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Agergaard Group, with the EKS brand retained for inline flexo printing units and the Celle facility expanded to host both manufacturing and the Agergaard Graphic Supplies consumables operation.

Name

AkeBoose

Legal name

AkeBoose GmbH

Website

https://akeboose.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AkeBoose GmbH is a German manufacturer of chamber doctor blade systems, ink supply pumps, and flexographic printing components, serving printing converters worldwide in flexible packaging, labels, corrugated, and related applications as part of the Agergaard Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Printing Equipment

NAICS

Printing and Related Support Activities (3231)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Flexible Packaging Printing & Decoration (Flexo, Gravure, Digital, Cold Foil) (IMALABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dispensing & Pump Systems (Pumps, Sprayers, Misters, Droppers) (IMALAJAB)

Keywords

• Flexographic printing equipment
• Chamber doctor blade systems
• Ink supply systems
• Rotogravure blade holders
• Industrial printing components

Headquarters

HQ city

Celle

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment and System Sales (B2B): AkeBoose generates revenue through the sale of industrial printing equipment and consumable systems including chamber doctor blade systems (NOVA TK, NOVA XLS, NOVA RS, CLASSIC, NOVA Compact), ink supply systems (EPQ, EPP series), blade holders, doctor blades, end-seal spray systems, ink filters, functional printing equipment, cleaning equipment, flexo marking units, and EKS inline printing units. Sales are project-based, custom-configured per printing press requirements.
2. After-Sales Service, Maintenance and Spare Parts: Following the acquisition of EKS, AkeBoose continues EKS service, maintenance, repairs, and overhaul of flexo printing systems, and supplies spare and wear parts for EKS machines.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AkeBoose develops and manufactures chamber doctor blade systems, ink supply systems (membrane, peristaltic, and centrifugal pumps), rotogravure blade holders, and inline flexo printing units (EKS) for the flexographic, rotogravure, and functional printing industries. Products are custom-configured per customer press type, print width, and ink system (water-based, solvent, UV, adhesives, coatings) and are sold primarily to printing converters worldwide for flexible packaging, labels, corrugated, tissue, decor, and sheetfed offset applications. The company also provides after-sales service, maintenance, repairs, and spare parts (inherited from the EKS acquisition).

Product overview

AkeBoose is a German industrial printing equipment manufacturer specializing in chamber doctor blade systems, ink handling solutions, and flexo/gravure printing components. The product portfolio is organized around two core product families: Kammerrakelsysteme (chamber doctor blade systems) including NOVA TK, NOVA XLS, NOVA RS, NOVA Compact, and CLASSIC systems for flexographic printing; and Farbversorgungssysteme (ink handling solutions) including EPQ membrane pump systems, EPP peristaltic pump systems (EPP 100, EPP 200-LQ1), and EPZ centrifugal pump units. The company also offers complementary products including ESS end-seal spray systems, ink filters, LINA flexo marking units, and blade holder systems for rotogravure. Following the 2024 acquisition of EKS, AkeBoose expanded to include EKS flexo printing units as complete printing press solutions. The product ecosystem serves printing applications across flexible packaging, label printing, corrugated printing, tissue printing, decor printing, and sheetfed offset inline coating, with sister company Agergaard Graphic Supplies providing consumables like doctor blades and chamber seals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EKS (Einbecker Kennzeichnungssysteme): Flexo printing press brand acquired by AkeBoose in February 2024. Retained as a separate brand for flexo printing press products.

Products and services

• NOVA XLS Kammerrakelsystem Stainless steel chamber doctor blade system with asymmetrical profile for low-pressure doctoring, preventing back-doctoring and ink spitting while extending blade life. Operates with anilox roll diameters of 104-312mm.
• NOVA TK All-in-One Kammerrakelsystem Modular asymmetric chamber system with integrated blade clamping and sealing, designed for retrofit and new integration. Features tool-free blade and seal replacement, service position for on-press maintenance, and anti-bouncing suspension for corrugated applications.
• CLASSIC Kammerrakelsystem Dual-chamber (inner and outer) stainless steel system for simple flexo or coating applications. The outer chamber serves as drip tray, enabling bidirectional printing and leak-free operation. Covers working widths up to 3000mm and anilox diameters 80-450mm.
• NOVA Compact Kammerrakelsystem Compact chamber system for narrow to medium print widths up to 1000mm in anodized aluminum profile. Self-supporting up to 1000mm print width; for larger widths supported by a stabilizing beam.
• NOVA RS Kammerrakelsystem Pump-free chamber system with integrated ink reservoir for label printing, designed for UV inks and narrow web applications up to 600mm print width and speeds up to 200 m/min.
• EPQ 200 Membranpumpensystem Compact membrane pump system with two regulated membrane pumps for consistent ink flow, featuring integrated color reversal for quick cleaning during ink changes. Includes self-cleaning pulsation dampener for pulse-free ink supply.
• EPP 200-LQ1 Schlauchpumpensystem Electric peristaltic pump system for medium-sized flexo printing units with dual synchronized pumps, up to 5 l/min flow rate, suitable for water-based and UV inks and lacquers.
• EPP 100 Schlauchpumpensystem Compact peristaltic pump for narrow web printing up to 600mm width with flow rate up to 2.3 l/min, featuring tool-free tubing change and reversible pumping direction.
• EPZ Zentrifugal-Farbpumpeneinheit Centrifugal pump unit with pulsation-free ink delivery and infinitely adjustable flow control from 1 to 25 liters per minute via integrated bypass.
• ESS Enddichtungs-Sprühsystem End-seal spray system for clean operation with fast-drying water-based inks in flexographic printing, preventing ink buildup at chamber ends.
• Magnetische Farbfilter (CIP20) Magnetic ink filters for removing wear particles and impurities from ink before it returns to the ink container, maintaining constant ink properties during printing.
• Rakelhalter-Systeme (Strip-Blade und NewEdge) Blade holder system for rotogravure printing using 10mm wide strip blades with backing blade. Enables 30-60% cost savings on doctor blade consumption. The NewEdge holder allows straight tool-free blade insertion.
• Rakelmesser (Doctor Blades) Doctor blades including steel blades (carbon steel, stainless steel, tool steel) and plastic blades for various printing applications, available from sister company Agergaard Graphic Supplies.
• LINA Flexo-Kennzeichnungsgerät Ready-to-install inline flexo marking unit for single-color flexographic printing up to 800mm width.
• Inline-Druckwerke (EKS) Inline flexo printing units for seamless integration into production lines for roll and sheet materials, manufactured under the EKS brand acquired by AkeBoose in February 2024.
• Funktionsdruck-Anlagen Custom-designed machines for functional printing applications including EKS flexo printing units for integrated printing in production lines.
• Reinigungsanlagen Custom cleaning solutions for chamber doctor blades, anilox rollers, and machine parts.
• Anicolor speedCLEANER 75 Cleaning machine specifically developed for cleaning Heidelberg Speedmaster XL75 Anicolor ink chambers, capable of cleaning up to 4 chambers per 15-minute wash cycle using rotation and jet nozzles.
• Ausrüstung für Inline-Lackierung im Bogenoffset Efficient chamber doctor blade and coating pump systems for high-quality, leak-proof inline coating in sheetfed offset printing at all print speeds.
• Service & Ersatzteilversorgung Maintenance, repairs, and overhauls of flexo printing systems, including remote support and installation guidance for retrofits. Service operation inherited from the EKS acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 25% lower lifecycle costs compared to composite chamber alternatives over the lifetime of a printing press
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature15 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Einbecker Kennzeichnungssysteme GmbH (EKS)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 15 February 2024AkeBoose GmbH acquired all activities of Einbecker Kennzeichnungssysteme GmbH (EKS) effective 15 February 2024. EKS was a manufacturer of inline flexo printing units for roll and sheet materials. AkeBoose continues the design, manufacturing, service, and spare parts supply for EKS machines under the EKS brand. The EKS production was integrated into the Agergaard Group facility in Celle, Germany.
• Agergaard Graphic Supplies GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within the Agergaard Group. Agergaard Graphic Supplies develops and manufactures chamber seals (coatSEAL), doctor blades (steelBLADE, polyBLADE, fiberBLADE), and plastic blades. The two companies operate synergistically: AkeBoose supplies chamber systems while Agergaard Graphic Supplies provides complementary consumables and sealing solutions. Service staff were shared following the EKS acquisition.
• Agergaard GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkeBoose GmbH is a company of the Agergaard Group. The group provides manufacturing, warehouse, and operational infrastructure at its Celle location. Agergaard Group has been operating for over 70 years in the printing industry and includes multiple sister companies serving the graphic arts sector.
• Olmer Giusti Soluciones IntegralesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew distribution partner representing AkeBoose products in Argentina. Presented AkeBoose products at the Envase Alimentek 2019 trade show in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kadant Inc. Kadant is a US-based global supplier of doctor blades, doctor blade holders, and roll cleaning equipment for the printing, paper, and packaging industries — directly comparable to AkeBoose's chamber doctor blade and blade holder product lines, serving the same flexo/rotogravure printing customers with similar component solutions.
• Maxcess International: Maxcess (parent of Tidland, Fife, Webex, and RotoMetrics) supplies doctor blades, blade holders, web handling systems, and roll products for the converting and printing industries — directly competing with AkeBoose in flexo/gravure printing consumables and components, with overlapping customer base and similar business model.
• BST Group: BST Group (formerly BST eltromat International) is a German specialist in web guidance, color measurement, 100% inspection, and surface inspection for printing and converting lines — comparable to AkeBoose as a German Mittelstand supplier of specialized, technology-led components to the same flexo/gravure printing press customers.
• Harper Corporation of America: Harper Corporation is a US manufacturer of anilox rolls, doctor blades, and chamber systems for flexographic printing — directly comparable to AkeBoose's NOVA chamber systems and blade holder offerings, serving the same flexographic packaging and label printer customer base.
• RotoMetrics: RotoMetrics manufactures precision doctor blades, anvils, and tooling for flexographic, rotogravure, and offset printing — directly competing with AkeBoose in blade and blade holder offerings, particularly relevant for AkeBoose's rotogravure strip-blade holder business.
• Daetwyler SwissTec: Daetwyler produces doctor blades, anilox rollers, and precision printing components for the printing industry — directly comparable to AkeBoose's consumables and component portfolio for flexo and rotogravure presses, serving overlapping European packaging and printing customers.

Broad incumbents

• Comexi Group: Comexi is a Spanish manufacturer of flexographic and rotogravure printing presses, laminators, and slitters for flexible packaging — a broader incumbent in the same flexo/gravure printing space where AkeBoose operates as a component supplier and retrofit specialist (Comexi is also a documented AkeBoose customer).
• BOBST: BOBST is a Swiss global leader in flexographic, gravure, and digital printing equipment, plus converting and packaging machinery — a broad incumbent in the same flexo/gravure printing industry that AkeBoose serves, though BOBST focuses on complete press lines rather than chamber/blade components.
• Windmöller & Hölscher: Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) is a German manufacturer of flexographic and gravure printing presses, extrusion/coating lines, and converting machinery for flexible packaging — a broad incumbent in the same German flexo printing equipment ecosystem, with overlapping customer base in European flexible packaging converters.
• Heidelberger Druckmaschinen: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen is a German global leader in sheetfed offset printing presses and post-press equipment — a broad incumbent where AkeBoose's Anicolor speedCLEANER 75 cleaning machine and offset inline coating chamber systems target the installed Heidelberg Speedmaster base as a retrofit/specialty equipment supplier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akeboose-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 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 AkeBoose