Three renowned companies under one roof: the portfolio company The Packaging Group (TPG) unites the packaging specialists Fawema, HDG and Wolf, whose efficiency-oriented solutions are available from a single source. A joint pool of sales and service staff makes this possible.

By Dr. Bernhard Reichenbach

The Packaging Group (TPG), headquartered in Lindlar/Germany, is an internationally leading developer and manufacturer of high-quality packaging machines, especially for packaging foodstuffs in a variety of bags made of flexible packaging materials such as paper or plastic. By merging the companies Fawema, HDG and Wolf, TPG combines traditional brands of packaging machines with extensive know-how and a very broad technology base. “In their respective markets, Fawema, HDG and Wolf have leading competitive positions,” emphasizes TPG CEO Frank Stehling.

Founded in 1920, Fawema developed from the original “Factory for Tools and Machines” into a market specialist for diverse solutions for filling and packaging dry products such as flour, sugar and cereals, but also confectionery, pet food and much more in bags and pouches. High quality standards and proven technologies, combined with innovative solutions, have made the 120-employee company based in Engelskirchen/Germany, a globally renowned brand for packaging systems. More than 2,500 Fawema machines are in use in over 120 countries.

Since the time when the company only packed flour in Germany, it has developed into a global player that today offers a wide range of solutions for many industries from the food and non-food sectors. “Fawema creates overall concepts from product feeding to palletizing,” notes Frank Stehling. And they are always open to new developments, new applications, new industries and new packaging technologies.

The second company in the group, HDG, based in Lindlar, was founded in 1984 by graduate engineer Hans Detlef Glidemann and, after a few successful years, handed over in the year 2011 to Peter Stindl, the then owner of Fawema GmbH. The “specialist for sealed-rim pouches and more” employs around 85 people and is considered one of the leading manufacturers of horizontal form, fill and seal systems for sealed-rim pouches of various shapes and sizes. HDG packaging machines meet the demands of the food, pet food, cosmetics, chemical and pharmaceutical industries and package different products such as powders, granulates, pasty or chunky products as well as liquids reliably, safely and in a visually appealing manner.

The food market is characterized by the constant development of new products, packaging formats and variants. Particular attention is being paid to the sustainability of products and their packaging, which at the same time places new demands on packaging machines. For these demands, HDG offers flexible solutions – whether for snacks and confectionery or nuts, herbs and spices. In order to be able to package even highly sensitive foods with optimized protection and maximized safety, advanced sealing variants such as ultrasonic sealing, MAP (modified atmosphere packaging) and product gassing systems are used.

With its RB-200 horizontal form, fill and seal machine, HDG is to launch a world first in collaboration with a Norwegian company, which will premiere at FachPack 2021 trade fair in Nuremberg: Push&Dose. This invention opens up a new possibility for various industries to convert glass and plastic containers to pouch packaging. The Push&Dose unit consists of an elastic and perforated membrane between springy plates. Integrated into the pouch, it ensures that spices and herbs or other powders and granulates can be dosed with pinpoint accuracy by applying individual pressure to the pouch. Compared to plastic and glass containers, a flexible pouch with Push&Dose unit is significantly more economical, as material, production and transport costs are reduced. “In addition, empty Push&Dose packaging leads to less waste and reduces the burden on the environment,” Frank Stehling knows. “This means that the invention is also a real step forward from the point of view of sustainability”.

The third link in the chain, Wolf company, founded in 1988, is one of the leading manufacturers of vertical and horizontal form, fill and seal machines as well as turnkey complete solutions. The main factory in Lich-Birklar is not only a production and assembly centre, but also the competence centre for the company’s subsidiaries in East Asia and the USA, as well as for its European and worldwide sales partners.

With a broad product portfolio of machines for almost every industry, especially for the food industry, the 200-employee company provides the right solution for a wide range of applications. This applies to the snack, powder and pet food packaging sectors and numerous others.

In addition to a large number of form, fill and seal machines, the product range also includes various accessories. All machines can be equipped with the company’s own screw feeders of the SD25/50/80 or VD6 series for dosing free-flowing products. In addition, the machines can be equipped with any multihead weigher available on the market for weighing the products or a pump for dosing liquid or pasty products. In addition, Wolf produces automatic film reel changers, zip applicators, spoon feeders or even step transfers for cartoning machines.

From flat pouches to doy-style packs, whether classic flat or gusseted pouches, three- or four-side sealed rim pouches as well as stable-pack pouches: Wolf machines are very well suited for the basic pouch shapes and much more.

“The merger of the three companies has created a close-knit sales and service network that raises customer proximity to a high level worldwide,” Frank Stehling makes clear. “Thanks to the joint pool of sales and service staff, all packaging solutions can be offered from a single source”.