Germany is one of the world market leaders in the field of packaging technology. For a long time, however, it only played a role in packaging competitions to the extent that it only made numerous award-winning packaging possible through its interaction with the packaging material.
Machine concepts were recognised as a separate category in the German Packaging Competition (DVP). for the first time in 1996 was awarded. At that time, Robert Bosch GmbH Waiblingen, Hassia GmbH Ranstadt and Rovema GmbH Fernwald, for example, submitted a total of 23 entries. In subsequent years, the major players in the industry continued to receive awards for significant innovations.
[infotext]According to the VDMA present Packaging machines with a value of approx. six billion euros, which are supplied to over 100 countries worldwide, accounting for 87 per cent of export sales. The sector has been growing in importance since the late 19th century, when industrial mass production made machine packaging a necessity[/infotext].Machine and packaging material in harmony
Rovema GmbH, which celebrated its 60th anniversary at interpack this year, was also able to attend the award ceremony for the DVP 2017 with an innovation and thus even beat the Gold Award was won. The prize was awarded to a new type of screw dosing system, the Rovema vacuum powder filler. In vertical flow-wrapping machines, low-dust, compact dosing is a major challenge, which was solved by evacuating the filling material in the dosing unit. In addition to improved dosing accuracy and accelerated output, the bag size could also be reduced and up to 15 per cent of packaging material saved.
With the further developed SBS block packaging machine and the SDH auger dosing system, a new system for the dust-tight packaging of sensitive powdery goods in both paper bags with partial seal coating and film bags with paper haptics was created. The scope of innovation was impressively emphasised by the eight patents submitted.
Another winner of the DVP 2017 was the Wipak Walsrode GmbH with the award-winning solution of a ProDirekt inkjet printing machine which was developed for packaging printing and, for the first time, fulfils industrial requirements in terms of format, system conformity, packaging ink and output. Digital printing as a technology for the smallest batch sizes was thus made accessible to a wide range of customers, who can now order and manage their orders online in a fully digital workflow via a single platform.
In conjunction with ProDirekt, Wipak also scored points based on its many years of experience in the manufacture of composite films with new customisable packaging solutions on an industrial scale, which offer high-quality optics, on request Mineral oil barrier layers for food packaging or haptic effects.
The Krones AG has developed a system technology for the production and bottling of beverages in Disposable plastic drinks kegs (PET) was developed. This complete solution was honoured with the DVP in 2015. The „BEVkegs“ can be supplied in two versions, firstly as preforms, which are blown into kegs before filling, and secondly as a compressed container, which is rolled up after the blowing process to optimise transport and then unrolled and filled again at the filler. 
BEVkeg. Sender: Krones AG. Designer/developer: Krones AG + Micro Matic.
Manufacturer: Krones AG (line technology) + KIC Krones (containers) + Micro Matic (dispensing system). Users: Breweries + catering trade.
Both versions are equipped with a carrying handle, closure and disposable drinks pipe. The overall system therefore has many advantages.
Machine awards for creativity, innovation and design
In 2016, Rockwell Automation awarded its first new global Award for outstanding machine technologies in the packaging industry in the categories „Modular machines“, „Intelligent machines“, „User-friendliness“, „Sustainability“, „Traceability“ and „Product safety“. The award offers machine manufacturers an excellent opportunity to present their technology to the most influential companies in the industry and to discuss their innovations with them. In 2017, the awards were presented at interpack. The modular CareSelect feeding system from Gebo Cermex, a leading global supplier of innovative packaging systems, was one of the winners. It impressed with its remarkable product handling, in which movers only have contact with the bottles for 0.3 seconds.
For more than 60 years, Germany's oldest independent design institution, iF International Forum Design GmbH in Hanover, has also organised the annual iF Design Awards award. Weber Maschinenbau GmbH, based in Breidenbach, received the award in 2014 for its development of the innovative Weber Power Control operating interface and in 2017 for the compact yet dynamic design of the newly developed Weber Slicer S6 (see picture above), which fulfils all ergonomic and hygiene requirements.
