New plant for labelling machines at Herma

Packaging Solutions

At its headquarters in Filderstadt near Stuttgart, Herma has put into operation what may well be the world’s most modern production facility for label applicators and labelling machines. After 13 months of construction and investments amounting to approximately €20 million, the Labelling Machines Division has now completed the move out of its former premises in Deizisau, which is 20 km away.

After Herma’s rapid expansion in recent years, capacities were almost exhausted, especially as the old building had originally been designed for the requirements of label printing. ‘By contrast, we were able to design and implement the new facility with a view to the special requirements of machine construction right from the start. As a technology leader, we are thereby able to continue exploiting the vast growth potentials that present themselves to us,’ explained Martin Kühl, head of Herma’s Labelling Machines Division.

‘Everything is optimised with regard to ideal communication, minimal throughput times, and maximum manufacturing excellence.’

For the first time at Herma, all production lines of this division – both for label applicators and complete labelling systems – are arranged on one single level which also houses the parts warehouse. This renders high bay warehouses and rack feeders unnecessary, which makes parts provision considerably faster. Moreover, the production level’s square area enables optimal access from all sides. Concurrently, all technical functions such as mechanical construction, development, and programming are physically grouped together on the level above – unlike at the former location where most of them were located separately. Herma is well prepared for further growth in this division: if required, all assembly stations can be double staffed at short notice.

Considerably larger areas for incoming and out going goods facilitate handling. In the out going goods area, for example, the ramps are designed to allow labelling systems with a maximum length of six metres to be loaded onto trucks sideways in one piece. ‘That is safer and faster than loading via the rear hinged doors,’ added Martin. ‘And, another fact that will please our customers: we now have space for an area wholly dedicated to acceptance tests that is physically separate from the production area. There, customers will find ideal conditions to put their systems through their paces.’

Herma’s technology centre, where special customer requirements are tested and new industry solutions are developed, is located in a separate space. And in a new 230 m2 showroom, the company presents a permanent exhibition of innovative and efficient labelling solutions. ‘The new plant creates ideal working conditions – not only for Herma teams, but also for the many international customer teams who visit us every year,’ said Martin.

With the Labelling Machine Division’s move to Filderstadt, Herma is now concentrating its entire self-adhesive technology know how in one location: self-adhesive materials, labels, and labelling machines. Right next to the new labelling machines facility, a new coating plant for self-adhesive materials is currently under construction and is expected to b e finished in the autumn of 2019. In total, Herma is presently investing approximately €100 million euros.