Gundlach Packaging maximizes efficiency and uptime with BOBST service and support

Thanks to its strategic partnership with BOBST, the company has successfully improved its production capacities, as well as the services it offers.
Starting as a hand-gilding factory in Bielefeld in 1847, Gundlach Packaging xpanded to become a comprehensive packaging provider. In a 35,000 m² plant in Oerlinghausen, the company specializes in fiber-based packaging for the food industry and other sectors in Europe, Asia and Africa.

"Changing customer requirements regularly present us with new but exciting challenges," explains Jens Krüler, Technical Manager at Gundlach. "For us, increasing price pressure means finding new ways to create even more added value with the same resources."

Sustainability has also become an important topic. "We’ve introduced a comprehensive energy management system that has significantly reduced energy consumption," says Krüler. "We’ve also completed the switch to fiber-based packaging and are consciously avoiding plastic packaging. This enables us to offer forward-looking solutions that support our customers as they adapt their packaging to changing requirements."

A technical partnership based on trust
Gundlach’s extensive BOBST equipment currently includes eight die-cutting machines, two hot foil stamping machines, one folder-gluer and four gravure printing presses. These machines represent a long-term investment and require expert maintenance to ensure consistent performance.

"Our collaboration with BOBST has been positive and in a spirit of partnership," declares Stefan Hörig, Head of Mechanical Maintenance. "BOBST isn’t just a supplier – it’s a reliable partner that understands our business and responds flexibly to our needs."

Hörig particularly values BOBST’s commitment to supporting both new and older machines: "Our oldest die-cutter is now 40 years old – and still fully operational thanks to the support from BOBST. This longstanding performance and reliability are a testament to the quality and commitment of BOBST."

Gundlach's production strategy focuses on four key performance indicators: speed, downtime, waste and set-up time. To optimize these parameters, the company relies intensively on BOBST's service offerings and digital platforms.

Excellent services and digital tools
"The services provided by BOBST are an essential part of our maintenance strategy," explains Hörig. With the Maintenance Plus program, which we carry out annually on all machines as well as the BOBST Connect and Helpline Remote Assistance services, we’re in an ideal position operationally."

The customer portal MyBOBST has transformed spare parts procurement at Gundlach. "MyBOBST has greatly simplified our spare parts procurement and offers significant time savings," states Hörig. "All important information, such as spare parts catalogues, availability and prices are available directly online. This means we no longer have to search for catalogues in archives."

Additional benefits include free shipping on orders over a certain value and the ability to view prices and availability at a glance, enabling faster decision-making and reducing downtime. The platform also provides a detailed spare parts history and allows direct ordering of parts identified in Maintenance Plus reports.

Besides MyBOBST, Gundlach has implemented BOBST Connect and TooLink to further improve workflows. "We wanted a central solution that would allow us to record all relevant machine data in real time," explains Krüler. "With BOBST Connect, we can also access the necessary data from older machines. TooLink provides a seamless overview of our tools across different machines – This way, we expect to identify potential for optimization across all our machines.”

Responsive support when needed
While Gundlach’s qualified internal maintenance team handles most problems, BOBST's expertise provides valuable support. "When we need support from BOBST, we can rely on their extensive expertise," says Hörig. This service partnership was demonstrated when a SPRINTERA 106-PER required urgent maintenance. "The BOBST team responded flexibly and quickly. A part with a planned delivery time of four months was procured and installed within two weeks. These unbureaucratic and pragmatic solutions are exactly what define excellent service and cooperation," declares Krüler.

For Gundlach Packaging, BOBST's comprehensive service offerings and digital tools form the foundation for maintaining operational excellence and meeting customer requirements in an increasingly competitive market. While there’s always room for continuous improvement, Hörig concludes: "Overall, we’re very satisfied with BOBST and appreciate the team's flexibility and commitment."

Bernd Andree, Performance Solutions Manager at BOBST, said: "Our relationship with Gundlach is a prime example of the value of a genuine partnership. While it's important to offer best-in-class technology, the real difference lies in providing ongoing service and support that empowers every team member to maximize equipment performance and minimize downtime. With tools like MyBOBST, BOBST Connect and Maintenance Plus – combined with our responsive technical support – we make sure our customers can focus on what they do best: producing exceptional packaging. All this while we take care of the technical details that keep everything running smoothly."

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