On 1 July 2026, Benjamin Schmitt will take over the management of the Centre for Food and Packaging Technology (ZLV). This change marks a significant step for the ZLV, which is focusing on continuity while also driving new impetus for the sector's future challenges. Schmitt succeeds Thomas Lux, who is retiring.
Benjamin Schmitt brings extensive experience in the packaging value chain. After studying business administration in Kempten, he began his career at Huhtamaki. Over the course of his career, Schmitt held various sales and management roles in the DACH packaging industry. Most recently, he was a member of the extended management team responsible for the Packaging business unit at Chromos Group in Switzerland.
Challenges in the industry
Peter Stober, CEO of the ZLV, stresses the importance of Schmitt's appointment: „With Benjamin Schmitt, we are gaining a personality who knows the industry from many perspectives and who will drive the development of the ZLV forward with new accents.“ Schmitt himself sees strengthening the ZLV as an independent network for the exchange between business, science and research as one of his main tasks. He emphasises that issues such as sustainability, the circular economy and regulation can only be solved in close cooperation between all parties involved.
Continuity and innovation
The change in management is intended to promote both continuity and further development. ZLV plans to further expand networking and innovation along the food and packaging value chain. Thomas Lux, the previous managing director, has established ZLV as a practice-oriented network for knowledge transfer, innovation, and cooperation. The board thanks him for his commitment and his professional and personal competence.
Based in Kempten, ZLV is a cross-industry network for companies, research institutions and organisations along the food and packaging value chain. It coordinates forward-looking research and development projects in close cooperation with its partner Klevertec.
Source: ZLV
