Gerhard Schubert celebrates his 80th birthday in July 2018. As the founder of the packaging machine manufacturer of the same name, he has been shaping the packaging industry since 1966 with his idea of handling complex packaging tasks with flexible machines in a modular system and was an early adopter of digital technology.
The beginnings
Gerhard Schubert was born on 16 July 1938 in Crailsheim in Baden-Württemberg. He began his professional career at the age of 15 as a mechanic at packaging machine manufacturer Strunck in Crailsheim. After his apprenticeship, he first worked as a design engineer at Strunck and then at the Kugler company in Schwäbisch Hall. In addition to his employment, he began to work freelance in the evenings. Finally, in 1964, he founded his own design office and in the year 1966 the Gerhard Schubert GmbH Packaging machines.
In the same year, he developed the first box levelling and gluing machine (SKA) in his father's sculptor's studio, which packaged the world-famous gingerbread at the long-established Weiss company in Nuremberg. Gerhard Schubert thought further ahead: in 1972, he achieved a breakthrough with his modular system for top-loading packaging machines. Still viewed with scepticism at the time, this invention shaped the entire packaging industry. In doing so, he laid the foundation for today's high-tech machines.
With perseverance to innovation
Gerhard Schubert is characterised by a certain perseverance that makes his company so successful. In 1981, Schubert presented the first packaging robot in the world at interpack and revolutionised the packaging industry.
„I wanted to develop a machine that would work according to the human principles simple mechanics, a high level of intelligence and the use of tools. So we designed our machines accordingly.“
Gerhard Schubert saw the long-term success of packaging robots primarily in this, More control through less mechanics to compensate for this. As there was no software on the market in the 1990s that could fulfil the requirements of packaging machine construction, he developed his own control system. In 1996, the company launched the first machine with its self-developed control system on the market.
Sustained success
Gerhard Schubert's innovations, such as the modular and intelligent top-loading packaging machines, have been adopted by packaging machine manufacturers around the world. Flexible and modularThe TLM secret of success is the Simple mechanical design of the packaging machines and the associated Clarity and accessibility to all its functions. This principle continues to guide the decisions of the company, which is now managed by the second generation, his son Ralf Schubert. The third generation, Johannes Schubert, is also already active in the company. Gerhard Schubert still visits the company every day in his role as Managing Partner and is involved in new developments and the planned company expansion at the Crailsheim site.
[infotext]Outstanding commitment
In recognition of his achievements, Gerhard Schubert was honoured in 2016 on the company's 50th anniversary with the Federal Cross of Merit for his life's work and social commitment in the region. In addition, the Business Medal of the High-Tech State of Baden-Württemberg, the Media Prize of the local newspapers and the Medal of Merit of the district of Schwäbisch Hall honour Gerhard Schubert's extraordinary achievements. charitable, social and voluntary work. Gerhard Schubert is deeply rooted in his home country and is fully committed to Germany as an industrial centre. He provides jobs for around 900 employees of the group of companies in Crailsheim. [/infotext] [infotext icon]
Gerhard Schubert GmbH
Founded around 50 years ago, the group of companies, now managed by the second generation, employs 1,250 people. In addition to international branches, the Schubert Group includes subsidiaries in the fields of IT, engineering, precision parts and packaging services[/infotext].
