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Technologies and synergies lead to strong growth
The Optima group (Schwaebisch Hall) concluded the financial year 2013 with a rise in consolidated sales to over 300 million Euros. The strategy of the manufacturer of packaging systems and process technology of combining groundbreaking and promising technologies with one another and then adapting them to the specific requirements of this sector continues to provide a positive outlook.
The sales last year of 240 million Euros have been markedly exceeded. “The trend in 2014 has also been at a very heartening level up to now”, says Hans Bühler, managing partner of OPTIMA packaging group GmbH. More than 85 % of the sales were achieved through exports.
The German packing machine industry continues to be an exception in the machinery construction sector, reports the VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V., a professional association for machinery makers). The number of orders within all German packing machine manufacturers rose by 5 % in 2013 in real terms, according to the VDMA. In a quarter on quarter comparison for October to December the statistics showed an increase in orders of 10% compared to 2012. The cyclical trend thus continues to look positive for the sector as a whole and also for Optima in particular.
The company that was founded in 1922 and is now in the third generation as a family-run business, employed more than 1,800 people at three German and 13 international locations as of the end of 2013. In Germany the Optima group employs around 1,500 people, of whom 1,300 are at the headquarters in Schwaebisch Hall. The company places a very high value on training. At the end of 2013 133 trainees and DH students alternating between classroom and hands-on training courses completed their degrees at Optima. (DH = Duale Hochschule, German University of Cooperative Education)
Technologies within and across sectors
The four corporate sectors Pharma, Consumer, Nonwovens and Life Science develop and implement sector-specific packing and packaging lines and process technology. These are used to process food, cosmetics, pharmaceutical ready-to-use syringes, wound dressings, paper sanitary products and a great deal more. Here the trend is clearly in the direction of automation. The “classical” packing functions of filling and closing are combined with robotics, assembly, hygiene and sterile technologies, freeze-drying, converting and numerous other processes.
Technological synergies were specifically promoted within the Optima group in recent years. In particular, the spatial consolidation of capacities led to positive effects and numerous new developments. In addition, there is a transfer of technology between the corporate sectors. For example, if the pharmaceutical industry asks about a solution when filling especially large volumes, then close cooperation arrangements are set up with the Consumer sector, which can contribute suitable know-how and filling technologies. This leadership in technology in many areas – such as the high-performance systems for paper sanitary products or also for coffee portion packages, drink concentrates and powdered milk – and a great many new developments are viewed as further pillars of its success.
Customer events and commitment outside the area of business
The Pharma Forum that has in the meantime become famous worldwide in technical circles was held in Schwaebisch Hall in September 2013. The many international guests had a chance during the two days at Optima Pharma to exchange experiences and opinions on new developments in the field of pharmaceutical, closing and process technologies. Optima was also involved in the Packaging Valley Days, an information event hosted by the cluster of leading packing and packaging companies in the region. This event likewise saw visitors from all over the world for two days.
Numerous social projects were promoted in 2013 as well, such as the extracurricular Robotics work groups at schools in the Schwaebisch Hall area. In addition to sponsoring the materials, Optima also provides support at a personal level for groups of schoolchildren and in the preparations for the World Robot Olympiad. The aim is to foster an interest in technology. Furthermore, many sports groups, events and above all, aid facilities, are supported at a local and international level. Optima supports and promotes the internationally active organisation “Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders” with a high annual contribution.
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