Packaging that is efficient, automated, digitalised and sustainable

08.05.2026

“Despite a challenging economic environment with geopolitical uncertainty, the MULTIVAC Group continued to develop successfully last year. Our turnover rose by 5.3 percent to 1.59 billion euros, while our worldwide workforce grew to around 7,800 staff members,” said Christian Traumann. “Against the background of rising energy prices, shortages of personnel and fragile supply chains, we see automation and digital solutions as the crucial drivers of growth for our customers – and for us.“

Investment in a second factory at MULTIVAC and a new company headquarters at FRITSCH

The MULTIVAC Group is continuing to invest in its future with various building projects: In 2025 a new production plant for highly automated manufacturing and spare parts logistics was completed at the company's main site in Wolfertschwenden, and this has already been gradually put into operation. “We have invested around 100 million euros for the new factory in Wolfertschwenden. This is the largest investment for our future in the company's history, and it is very consciously intended to strengthen our main site, the security of our staff and the long-term capabilities of the MULTIVAC Group,” explained Christian Traumann. “The Smart Factory is a crucial step in developing and continuing to automate our manufacturing capacity and spare parts logistics sustainably. State-of-the-art technology creates secure and transparent processes, and this enables us to offer our customers worldwide a high degree of reliability, machine availability and service quality.“

The MULTIVAC Group is also backing long-term development at its subsidiary company, FRITSCH, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Around 70.5 million euros are currently being invested in building a new company headquarters at Iphofen in Franconia. Completion is planned for the end of 2028. This will enable the MULTIVAC Group to create the infrastructural foundation for further growth in the bakery sector.

Smart Production for reliable, cost-effective and sustainable production

When it comes to Smart Production, the focus at interpack is on digitally networked and integrated processing and packaging solutions. The aim is to make production data usable in real time, as well as to control processes intelligently and reduce the consumption of energy and materials sustainably. In this way MULTIVAC is supporting its customers in making their production processes more efficient, transparent and future-proof.

“Today automation and digitalisation are the main levers for competitiveness in the packaging industry. Our customers are under growing pressure to make their processes more efficient, more flexible, and at the same time more reliable. Thanks to intelligently networked solutions, we are supporting them in reducing manual intervention, stabilising their processes, and creating data-based transparency throughout their entire production – and this does not only apply to large customers and complete line solutions. Smaller customers as well, such as those in the hand-crafting sector, also benefit from our digitalisation solutions,” said Dr Tobias Richter.

Among the highlights on the main stand is the slicing line NextGen, a compact slicing and packaging line, which is characterised by its minimal space requirement, systematic yield monitoring and maximum hygiene. This means that it can be used very flexibly, particularly for example by full-range producers.

In addition to this, MULTIVAC is also showing with its AI-supported traysealer line the degree of flexibility that is already possible today using artificial intelligence. “Thanks to our AI-supported packaging solution, different products can be processed in parallel from several infeed streams, so that existing capacity can be used to its optimum. An intelligent product identification system, combined with smart print & apply labelling, ensures that continuous process reliability is achieved. This enables the line to provide not only the highest level of flexibility, but also measurable benefits in terms of productivity and efficiency,” said Dr Tobias Richter.

With its RX Ultimate model, MULTIVAC is presenting an intelligent, sustainable and future-proof thermoforming packaging machine, which sets a new benchmark in thermoforming packaging. Its progressive multi-sensor control and seamless online connectivity ensure that consistently high pack quality and output are achieved. Technology such as pixelHEAT and pixelSEAL increases the process reliability and enables ultra-thin or sustainable films to be run.

Smart Packaging as the holistic life cycle approach

Another focus of the company's presence at the trade fair is Smart Packaging. MULTIVAC pursues a holistic life cycle approach, which ranges from packaging consultancy, as well as advice on implementing forward-looking concepts for recycling and material reduction, right up to the use of digital solutions. “Regulatory requirements such as the PPWR are fundamentally changing the packaging sector. It is for this reason that we see Smart Packaging as an all-encompassing approach – from packaging consultancy through to material selection and right up to machine capability and processes. Our interdisciplinary team supports customers in combining the regulatory requirements sensibly with cost-effectiveness and sustainability,” said Dr Tobias Richter in summary. “At the trade fair we are presenting our approach using various types of packaging technology, where the focus in Hall 5 is on applications for the food industry, whereas in Hall 16 we concentrate on the specific requirements of the healthcare sector.“

MULTIVAC Health Packaging brings to life in Hall 16. how future-proof packaging solutions can be created in physical form: The R 245 thermoforming packaging machine, complete with UDI-compliant direct web printing and integrated inspection of seal seams and print image, using recyclable flexible film for packaging heart catheters, fully complies with today's PPWR requirements. An interactive pharmaceutical line with pixelSEAL contour sealing system demonstrates the highest level of process reliability for sensitive pharmaceutical products – even with the most complex materials thanks to ±1 °C temperature control precision. The concept is rounded off with the H 300 Cobot for end-of-line and palletising applications, which is seamlessly integrated into the MULTIVAC Line Control – batch handling throughout the line, linking with MES, as well as CRA compliance, and all from a single source.