Germany hosts one of Europe’s most advanced packaging industries, combining materials manufacturers with engineering companies that design the machinery used to package food, beverages and pharmaceuticals. The top 10 packaging companies in Germany operate across sectors including glass containers, flexible films, plastic packaging, paper packaging and automated packaging systems used by global manufacturers. Ranked primarily by the most recent publicly available revenue, the leading companies include Krones, Schütz, Klockner Pentaplast, Gerresheimer, Multivac, Syntegon Technology, Südpack, Schott Pharma, Wipak and Koehler Group.

As of 2026, the leading packaging companies in Germany by revenue and market influence include Krones (€5.3B), Schütz (~€2.7B), Gerresheimer (€2.04B), Multivac (~€1.6B), Syntegon (~€1.5B) and Südpack (~€1.1B). Together these companies supply packaging systems and materials used across Europe’s food, pharmaceutical and consumer goods supply chains.

Ranking Overview

1. Krones

Founded: 1951
Headquarters: Neutraubling, Germany
FY Revenue: €5.3 billion (FY2024)
Employees: approx. 20,000

Core Segments

• Beverage bottling systems

• Packaging line automation

• Labelling and filling technology

• Recycling technology for PET bottles

Operational Relevance

Krones produces the equipment used by beverage and food companies to bottle, fill and package products. Its automated production lines combine bottle manufacturing, filling, labelling and palletising into integrated packaging systems used worldwide.

Market Position

The company is one of the largest suppliers of beverage packaging technology globally. Its equipment is widely used by breweries, soft drink manufacturers and bottled water companies.

Strategic Direction

Krones continues investing in automation, digital production monitoring and recycling technology designed to support circular packaging systems.

2. Schütz

Founded: 1958
Headquarters: Selters, Germany
FY Revenue: approx. €2.7 billion (FY2024)
Employees: approx. 6,000

Core Segments

• Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs)

• Industrial packaging containers

• Steel drums

• Packaging logistics systems

Operational Relevance

Schütz produces large industrial containers used to transport chemicals, food ingredients and industrial liquids. Its IBC containers are widely used across manufacturing supply chains.

Market Position

The company is one of the world’s leading suppliers of industrial packaging systems used in chemical and manufacturing industries.

Strategic Direction

Schütz continues to expand reusable container programs and recycling initiatives designed to reduce industrial packaging waste.

3. Klockner Pentaplast

Founded: 1965
Headquarters: Montabaur, Germany
Revenue: approx. €2.0 billion (latest available)

Core Segments

• Rigid plastic films

• Pharmaceutical blister packaging

• Food packaging trays

• Barrier packaging materials

Operational Relevance

Klockner Pentaplast produces plastic films used in pharmaceutical blister packs and food packaging trays. These materials protect products from moisture, oxygen and contamination during storage and distribution.

Market Position

The company is a global supplier of rigid plastic films used by pharmaceutical companies and food manufacturers across Europe and North America.

Strategic Direction

Following a financial restructuring completed in early 2026, Klockner Pentaplast has focused on high-barrier protective packaging and recycled-content film technologies.

4. Gerresheimer

Founded: 1864
Headquarters: Düsseldorf, Germany
FY Revenue: €2.04 billion (FY2024)
Employees: approx. 11,000

Core Segments

• Pharmaceutical glass packaging

• Plastic medical containers

• Drug delivery systems

• Healthcare packaging solutions

Operational Relevance

Gerresheimer produces glass vials, ampoules and pharmaceutical containers used by global drug manufacturers. These packaging components are critical for storing injectable medicines and vaccines.

Market Position

The company holds a strong position in pharmaceutical packaging, particularly in glass containers used for injectable drugs.

Strategic Direction

Gerresheimer continues expanding pharmaceutical packaging capacity to meet growing demand for injectable medicines and biologics.

5. Multivac

Founded: 1961
Headquarters: Wolfertschwenden, Germany
FY Revenue: approx. €1.6 billion (FY2024)
Employees: approx. 7,000

Core Segments

• Vacuum packaging machines

• Food packaging automation

• Thermoforming packaging systems

• Medical packaging solutions

Operational Relevance

Multivac produces packaging equipment widely used in food processing facilities. Its machines vacuum seal meat, dairy products and ready meals sold in supermarkets.

Market Position

The company is a major supplier of food packaging machinery across Europe and global markets.

Strategic Direction

Multivac continues developing automated packaging systems designed to reduce waste and improve production efficiency.

6. Syntegon Technology

Founded: 1969 (Bosch Packaging heritage)
Headquarters: Waiblingen, Germany
Revenue: approx. €1.5 billion

Core Segments

• Pharmaceutical packaging systems

• Food processing equipment

• Filling and sealing technology

• Automated packaging solutions

Operational Relevance

Syntegon develops packaging equipment used in pharmaceutical production and food processing. Its machines support packaging of medicines, confectionery and packaged food products.

Market Position

The company forms part of Germany’s “Packaging Valley,” a cluster of engineering firms specialising in packaging automation.

Strategic Direction

Syntegon focuses on digital manufacturing systems and pharmaceutical packaging solutions designed for highly regulated industries.

7. Südpack

Founded: 1964
Headquarters: Ochsenhausen, Germany
FY Revenue: approx. €1.1 billion (FY2024)
Employees: approx. 1,800

Core Segments

• Flexible packaging films

• Food packaging materials

• Medical packaging films

• Recyclable packaging technologies

Operational Relevance

Südpack produces high-performance plastic films used widely in food packaging applications. These films help maintain product freshness during storage and transport.

Market Position

The company is known for multilayer film technology used by European food manufacturers.

Strategic Direction

Südpack continues investing in recyclable film materials and packaging solutions designed for circular packaging systems.

8. Schott Pharma

Founded: 1884 (SCHOTT Group heritage)
Headquarters: Mainz, Germany
FY Revenue: €957 million (FY2024)
Employees: approx. 4,700

Core Segments

• Pharmaceutical glass tubing

• Vials and ampoules

• Pre-fillable syringes

• Drug containment systems

Operational Relevance

Schott Pharma manufactures glass containers used in pharmaceutical packaging. These products are widely used in injectable medicines and vaccines.

Market Position

The company is one of the leading suppliers of pharmaceutical glass packaging worldwide.

Strategic Direction

Schott Pharma continues expanding production capacity for glass containers used in injectable drug delivery systems.

9. Wipak

Founded: 1951
Headquarters: Wittenburg, Germany (major European operations)
Revenue: approx. €600 million

Core Segments

• Flexible food packaging

• Medical packaging films

• Barrier packaging materials

• Sustainable packaging solutions

Operational Relevance

Wipak produces barrier packaging films used to protect food products such as meat, dairy and ready meals during distribution and retail storage.

Market Position

The company supplies flexible packaging materials used across the European food and healthcare sectors.

Strategic Direction

Wipak continues developing recyclable packaging films designed to reduce environmental impact while maintaining product protection.

10. Koehler Group

Founded: 1807
Headquarters: Oberkirch, Germany
Revenue: approx. €1.1 billion group revenue

Core Segments

• Specialty paper packaging

• Flexible paper packaging materials

• Thermal paper products

• Sustainable packaging materials

Operational Relevance

Koehler Group produces specialty paper materials used in packaging applications. Paper-based packaging has gained importance as companies reduce plastic packaging.

Market Position

The company is known for innovative paper packaging technologies used by consumer goods manufacturers.

Strategic Direction

Koehler continues developing recyclable paper packaging materials designed to replace plastic packaging.

Packaging Machinery vs Packaging Materials

Germany’s packaging sector includes two main types of companies. Some produce the machinery used to package products, while others manufacture the packaging materials themselves.

Machinery manufacturers such as Krones, Multivac and Syntegon design automated packaging systems used by beverage producers, food processors and pharmaceutical companies.

Material manufacturers such as Gerresheimer, Südpack and Klockner Pentaplast produce glass containers, flexible films and plastic packaging used to store and transport products.

This combination of engineering expertise and materials manufacturing helps explain why Germany remains one of Europe’s most important packaging technology centres.

Impact of the EU Packaging Regulation

Environmental regulation is increasingly shaping the packaging industry across Europe. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is expected to introduce stricter requirements for recyclable packaging materials and recycled content.

Germany already operates under the German Packaging Act (VerpackG), which requires producers to register packaging materials and support recycling systems.

Packaging companies are responding by developing recyclable materials and circular packaging technologies. Paper packaging producers such as Koehler are investing in materials designed to replace plastic packaging, while flexible packaging manufacturers are researching recyclable film structures.

These regulatory changes are influencing product development across the entire packaging supply chain.

Conclusion

Editor’s Note: Information in this article is based on publicly available company reports, financial disclosures and industry publications. Revenue figures reflect the most recent fiscal year available, primarily FY2024 unless otherwise stated. Currency values are presented in euros where disclosed.