Schubert focusses on compact, flexible concepts
Compact system layouts are evidence of an industrial rethink in the face of high costs and a wide variety of products. Schubert offers flexible solutions here.
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He wanted to build the world's first packaging machine and pioneered the packaging industry. With the first box erecting and gluing machine and packaging robots, he brought his company to international success. The industry is now mourning the loss of entrepreneur Gerhard Schubert, who died on 4 July 2023.
Born on 16 July 1938 in Crailsheim, Baden-Württemberg, Gerhard Schubert began his professional career at the age of 15 as a Mechanic at packaging manufacturer Strunck. After completing his apprenticeship, he initially worked there as a design engineer before moving to Kugler in Schwäbisch Hall. And he wanted more, as his son Ralf Schubert says:
„I think he just wanted a company. He wanted to make something successful.“
And so he began to work freelance alongside his job and eventually founded 1964 his own design office. This was followed in 1966 by Gerhard Schubert GmbH, with which he became successful in the packaging industry.
The group is still a family business today and Gerhard Schubert developed the First shaft levelling and gluing machine (SKA) in his father's sculptor's studio. The first machine was used to package the world-famous gingerbread at the long-established Weiss company in Nuremberg.
„It all started with this box erecting and gluing machine and it became very well known afterwards. We built thousands of these machines and also erected boxes with hotmelt for the first time - he had a patent for this. That's how the company started. And Lebkuchen Weiss got one of the first SKAs, which is now in the packaging museum in Heidelberg.“
Ralf Schubert, Managing Partner
Then in 1972 came the Modular system for top-loading packaging machines was added - a complete success. Initially, the development was viewed with scepticism, but Gerhard Schubert had a lasting impact on the packaging industry. He thus laid the Foundation stone for the company's current high-tech machines. At interpack 1981, the group then presented the world's first packaging robot - a revolution for the packaging industry.
„I wanted to develop a machine that was built according to human principles: simple mechanics, high intelligence and the use of tools. So we built our machines accordingly.“
Gerhard Schubert
More control through less mechanics - Gerhard Schubert saw this as the Long-term success of packaging robots. His vision was to fully automate the packaging process. But in the 1990s, there was no software on the market that could fulfil the requirements of packaging machine construction. So Schubert decided to go for it, develop a control system yourself. His son Ralf Schubert also joined the company.
„My father then called me and said: „We now have to build a control system for our machines. You can be the project manager.“ And then I joined the company and have never regretted it. Today, I no longer see myself as a software developer, but rather as a mechanical engineer.“
Ralf Schubert
In 1996, the company then launched the first machine with the control system developed in-house onto the market. The machine solutions made Gerhard Schubert GmbH internationally recognised. Innovations such as the modular and intelligent top-loading packaging machines are adopted by machine manufacturers from all over the world.
Intelligent software and reduced mechanics - This combination has won over the industry worldwide. The simple mechanical design of the packaging machines and the clarity and accessibility of the functions are the secret of TLM's success - flexible and modular.
Family business and commitment to the region
According to this principle, the Company passed on today, now in its second generation by Ralf Schubert. The founder's second son also manages one of the Group's subsidiaries, Schubert Business Development GmbH, and is a shareholder in Schubert GmbH. With Johannes Schubert, the third generation is already in the starting blocks. Today, the group consists of nine companies in five countries.
For his achievements and to mark the company's 50th anniversary, Gerhard Schubert received the 2016 the Federal Cross of Merit. So his Lifetime achievement and his social commitment in the region recognised. The state of Baden-Württemberg also honoured Gerhard Schubert's charitable, social and voluntary work with the Business Medal, as well as the Media Prize of the local newspapers and the Medal of Merit of the district of Schwäbisch Hall.
The company that Gerhard Schubert founded 57 years ago with The company, which started out with three employees, is now a global corporation with around 1,600 employees. has become. The Group's subsidiaries cover the areas of IT, precision parts and packaging services.
Gerhard Schubert said about himself:
„Yes, I am a visionary. A designer must have vision.“
Source: Gerhard Schubert GmbH
The industry mourns the loss of Gerhard Schubert
Gerhard Schubert stands for innovation and entrepreneurship like no other in the packaging world. With his visions, his courage and his creative power, he has not only significantly influenced an entire industry, but also significantly developed and shaped it.
In memory of a great personality.Hans-Dieter Worch, CEO of CTA GmbH (via LinkedIn)
„Gerhard Schubert was a pioneer and visionary. He realised his groundbreaking ideas and created new standards. The industry is losing an extraordinary personality in him.“
Richard Clemens, Managing Director VDMA
„In Gerhard Schubert, the packaging industry has lost one of its great pioneers. Unfortunately, I was only able to meet him a few times myself and always admired his modest demeanour. He has achieved a life's work that demands the utmost respect from all of us. From a design engineer who set up his own business in 1966, he became a world market leader in packaging machine construction. As a Hohenlohe native, Fachpack in Nuremberg was always close to his heart. Although his machines provide the best service all over the world, he has always remained loyal to his Württemberg-Franconian homeland and the people there. We pay tribute to Gerhard Schubert's life's work and our thoughts are with his family these days.“
Heike Slotta, Executive Director Fachpack, NürnbergMesse
„The encounters and personal conversations with Gerhard Schubert over 30 years were always great moments in my ‚packaging life‘. I already missed him at interpack ... This huge gap will remain. I take my hat off to his life's work!“
Brigitte Bähr, long-standing expert and author at packaging journal
„Gerhard Schubert was an enthusiastic mechanical engineer. A sheet of paper and a pencil were standard on his desk. But once he had explained his latest idea in quick strokes, every other topic was just as exciting. The enthusiastically pursued and utilised aviation right up to the Lear Jet. The fine construction of precision telescopes or the tuning of pianos in case a boring beach holiday had to be bridged. Gerhard Schubert was also a savvy marketing professional and, not to forget, a clever packaging developer.“
Norbert Sauermann, former editor-in-chief of Verpackungs-Rundschau
„My deepest sympathy and condolences to the family and close friends of Mr Schubert. At the same time, my thoughts are with the speeches and personal meetings that were so inspiring for me during his visits and lectures at my former Chair of Packaging Technology at TU Dresden. He is and remains a role model for me with his great entrepreneurial history. With the first use of robot technology in packaging machines, Mr Schubert also proved that even in such conservative industrial sectors (such as the packaging industry), technological change can happen faster and more far-reaching than many people with experience estimated, then as now.“
Markus Stein, watttron Commercial Managing Director (via LinkedIn)
„In Gerhard Schubert, the entire packaging industry has lost an outstanding pioneer of packaging machine construction, who we will always remember as an inspiring trailblazer and role model. The dvi Chairman is very grateful for the many years of co-operation, during which we were not only able to admire his ground-breaking ideas, with which he was always far ahead of his time. Gerhard Schubert's death is also a human loss. His humour, his open and interested nature and his respectful and empathetic approach to his fellow human beings never ceased to impress us.“
Wolf-Dieter Baumann, Chairman of the dvi
Further news from the company
Heidelberg takes over service for Schubert in Brazil
Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG has been commissioned by the Schubert Group to provide operational service for its customer installations in Brazil.
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Schubert shows space-saving high-performance machines
At Fachpack, Schubert will be demonstrating just how compact high-performance machines can be - for example with a cartoner from the „Lightline“ series.
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Women in Packaging: The art of listening
For Christiane Buchstab, Sales Account Manager for south-west France and western Switzerland at Gerhard Schubert GmbH, her international sales role is also a multifaceted stroke of luck.
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Schubert and Berndt+Partner combine their expertise
With the Packaging Competence Centre (PCC), Gerhard Schubert GmbH and the Berlin-based packaging consultancy Berndt+Partner Group are pooling their expertise.
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Schubert expands its vision portfolio
Gerhard Schubert GmbH is expanding its portfolio in the field of image processing with a compact scanner solution that combines 2D and 3D technologies.
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