Edition 01/2012

To all agents of the Business Units Dairy and Pharma,

After restructuring our agent network we started a more active communication with you in 2011. A first step has been the product training held at different production sites here in Germany and just a few days ago in Asia. In July we had an agent conference with some of you in Berlin and it has been decided to have these agent conferences twice a year from now on. Additionally we will send out this OYSTAR Agent Ticker on a regular base to keep you informed about new products, important projects and general information about the OYSTAR Group. Restructuring our agent network does not mean that we are now working with new agents only. It means that we focus on agents who represent now different OYSTAR brands. We rely on agents the OYSTAR Group is already working with for long years. Here we would like to accentuate some of you like Ivarson Inc. representing OYSTAR Benhil for more than 26 years now in the US market, XJL (UK) representing OYSTAR Gasti since 1987, or C. Melchers also working for OYSTAR Benhil in Asia for more than 18 years. But there are a lot of others among you like IPE (Israel), Assitec (Algeria) Flarus (Eastern Europe) Heddaeus (South America), Metalpower (Italy), Sutton Group (Oceania), Selpak (Australia), Smits (Benelux), InterJagib (Spain), Socolac (Tunesia), Etto (Egypt) working for OYSTAR IWK, Winckler & Co. (Japan) representing one or more OYSTAR brands for more than 10 years now. Within the management of the OYSTAR Group there has been a change end of March. Markus Ehl and Barry Shoul-ders have been co-CEOs This dual leadership will not only involve a redoubling of our efforts. It is also intended to make the business units even stronger and more effective. Thus, in addition to the role as Group CEOs, they also manage their own business units: Barry Shoulders will be responsible for the Consumer and Food business units while Markus Ehl will be in charge of Dairy and Pharma. At the Group management level, they will be supported by Dr. Josef Spieler as CFO and Dieter Steinbach as CMO. This change at the top of the company will not, however, alter our successful strategy of recent years in any way: we will continue to focus entirely on the packaging business – and on pursuing sustained growth. Our 2015 sales target continues to be 500 million euros, a figure we aim to achieve by single-mindedly pursuing our product strategy. This means that we want to and must remain ambitious. The current order figures show how important this is. Follow-ing a very good first quarter, the second quarter is slightly below target. It is clear that none of us can afford to rest on our laurels, instead we must continue to work hard and further increase our success rate in acquiring new customers. The sales figures for the first half year 2012 indicate that we are on budget. The repartition of sales is as following: Business Unit Dairy 40%, Business Unit Food 23%, Business Unit Consumer 19%, and Business Unit Pharma 18%. While the number of projects was down slightly in the first six months, the quality of the orders has been improving. In the past few months, we have been able to secure several key contracts in important markets and with major cus-tomers. For example, the Dairy business unit has achieved significant successes, among other things with contracts in Egypt and China, which incidentally include the largest single order for OYSTAR in China to date. The Pharma business unit has also staged a major coup by winning a large order for several tube filling lines, including a TFS 80-8, from a global player. The market for packaging machinery has a volume of about 24 billion € and is very fragmented. Actually the ‘brick countries’ (Brasil, Russia, India, China) show a growth of 5% p.a. while the European market is stagnant. With our international agent network we have to work together to be present on all markets. We will therefore continue to do what have always been our hallmark and the hallmark of every company in the OYSTAR Group: being innovative, working to better ourselves and constantly continuing to improve our performance. The 100

th anniversary at OYSTAR Benhil showed what a company can achieve with these virtues.

Edition 01/2012

Flexibly Adjustable Filling Platform - Modern Technology for a wide Area of Application The FP 18-1 filling platform has been presented at interpack 2011. With the FP 18-1, OYSTAR IWK offers the market

a well-priced tube filler that features a comprehensive option concept leaving plenty of room for the adaption of all

sorts of demands and tasks.

With up to 120 tubes per minute, the FP 18-1 is

the currently fastest available, single head tube

filler on the market. With that, it already achieves

the performance capability of many double head

tube fillers with similar spatial requirements, but

offers more leeway and freedom that they do

when it comes to integrating additional stations.

Instead of two, the user only needs to integrate

one station, which allows the scarce space

around the tube transport system more leeway

for additional options. Both, plastic as well as

metal and laminate tubes can be processed. The

FP 18-1 is the first model of a completely newly

developed machine generation, in which many

constructive elements can be recognized from the field of high-speed machines. With this type, OYSTAR IWK wants

to win over the market with a high performance machine, which is adaptable to high level demands thanks to a num-

ber of additional options, yet remains affordable as a basic machine. ”An efficient and ergonomic tube filler at an

attractive price“.

At first glance, one immediately notices the above-average accessibility. On three different sides, the user can use

wide open doors to access the tidy work area that meets GMP standards as well as the collection containers for snip-

pets that result from the cutting of the sealing seams. The sealing station functions with a preheating procedure (cool-

ing air recirculation), which contributes to an energy-efficient operation and thus helps sink the expenditure of energy.

The basis for this concept of a price-worthy basic machine and comprehensive offer of options is the highly flexible

construction of the machine as well as its modern, motion control-based automation system. All of the machine’s core

functions are servo or electrically driven, upon which both the flexibility and the high process reliability of the machine

are based. During the filling process, the tubes are most carefully lifted by a movement profile driven by a servo-

motor in order to achieve an even, bubble-free filling procedure.

Edition 01/2012

Innovation at OYSTAR IWK - technology: rotary lobe pump

OYSTAR IWK is offering its customers a radically new dosing system for tube filling machines: the “rotary lobe

pump”. With this technology OYSTAR IWK is setting new standards for item cleaning times in tube filling ma-

chines.

For years customers have been predominantly calling for:

• Increased output by minimizing cleaning times

• Increased sales whilst lowering operating costs

and these demands are fully met with the implementation of this technology.

Thanks to the intelligent modifications to rotary lobe pump technology, which has al-

ready been established in other areas, and its integration into a tube filling machine, our customers benefit from some

remarkable advantages compared with the previous standard solution (linear piston + rotary valve):

• Massive 75% reduction of dosing system rinse time

• Extreme water and cleaning agent savings thanks to shorter cleaning

cycle

• Significant reduction in wear through the elimination of sealant

• Minimization of surfaces in contact with the product without under

cuts/dead spots

As well as engineering new machines, a highly flexible system concept has been de-

veloped in the service department:

• An entirely self-sufficient mobile pump makes it possible to connect the dosing sys-

tem with all our customers’ filling machines via plug & play. This means a retrofitting

solution can also offer all the benefits of our new technology.

Edition 01/2012

M-F 14 – a compact FFS machine for a multitude of applications The FFS machine for cups, developed by Michel Kervazo and his team at OYSTAR Erca Ibérica, was presented at

last year’s interpack. This standardized machine with limited options was specially designed for emerging countries.

The M-F 14 has been very well received by the market, with 6 machines having already been sold. The first machines

have already been installed for customers in Algeria and the Lebanon.

The machine meets the European

machine standard. By the end of

October 2012, the machine will be

adapted for markets with the 3A

Standard, such as the USA, and

displayed at Pack Expo 2012 in

Chicago.

Some facts about this machine:

• Space-saving design (up to

70% less space required

compared to similar ma-

chines), designed for transportation in sea containers

• Modular construction that allows an additional filling unit to be installed in the central section

• User-friendly working height (1050 mm) and easy accessibility to facilitate maintenance

• Simple human/machine interface with start and stop buttons and standard programmable controller; PLC

control possible in order to meet the requirements of our customers in different regions

• Quick commissioning (within three days)

The M-F 14 has an output of 14,400 standard cups per hour. The output can vary depending on the cup design and

optional labeling.

The following products can be filled with this machine:

• All types of yoghurt and desserts

• Pudding

• Still water and juices

Edition 01/2012

Wins 2nd Design Award After our new HMI successfully won the reddot design award,

the HMI team was recognized as being amongst the best of

the best at the BMW World in Munich, Germany with the

awarding of the iF Design Award GOLD on February 10th

,

2012. Of the 4,322 entries, 100 contributions were awarded

by the jury with the iF GOLD Award for outstanding quality.

The iF Award is one of the most internationally renowned

design awards.

OYSTAR Hassia Wins the German Packaging Award

The “German Packaging Institute” (dvi) has

now conferred the German Packaging

Award to OYSTAR Hassia in the category

of “mechanical engineering.” The award

was presented for a newly developed swirl-

ing dosing device for aseptic forming, filling

and sealing packaging machinery for

cups. With the aid of the new dosing device, pasty products are

filled in vertical motion with simultaneous rotation of the filling de-

vice. Thus numerous product variants can be manufactured – for

example, in addition to swirled pudding, variations that feature top-

pings or double-layered product masses as well. Along the lines of

kinematics reversal – in contrast to the solutions known thus far –

rotation of the actual cups is no longer required. This makes it pos-

sible for the first time to not only create this product shape on ther-

moforming machines, but also to operate 32 dosing heads at the

same time and make use of the benefits offered by the servomotor

drive.

Edition 01/2012

OYSTAR Benhil delivers a record breaker to Milkon Südtirol

The Milkon Südtirol dairy cooperative has modernized its creamery. Playing a role in this is the Multipack 3000 that was presented by OYSTAR Benhil for the first time at interpack in May 2011. As the world's most versatile unicellular filling and wrapping machine for pasty products, it assures higher productivity and a greater competitive edge. A newly equipped Milkon Südtirol creamery has been brought into operation in Bolzano, Italy, in January 2012. Also playing a part in this plant modernization is a real record breaker, the Multipack 3000 from OYSTAR Benhil. With its output of 100 packages per minute and a format flexibility of 50 to 1000 g, it is the world's most versatile unicellular filling and wrapping machine for pasty products. The Mila brand of sweet cream butter and cultured butter will be packaged at Milkon Südtirol. The Multipack 3000 is equipped with a CIP dosing device, thus satisfying the highest hygiene standards. Furthermore, the filling and wrapping machine is remarkable for its precise filling accuracy and high degree of availability. Thanks to its modular design, it can be re-equipped within just a short amount of time, thus clearly increasing the cost-effectiveness for Milkon Südtirol. The product is fed by means of a direct connection to the upstream plant with a corresponding exchange of signals. The Multipack 3000 can alternatively also be equipped with a trough with separately driven feed worms or with a product hopper with or without a press worm. For optimum package output, a filling level control device was installed on the dosing unit and an infinitely variable compression force adjustment of the calibrating station was implemented. Subsequent adaptations to suit other wrapping materials and formats for all variants of the bottom or length side fold are also perfectly possible. Besides the new Multipack 3000, Milkon Südtirol is already using several filling and sealing machines from OYSTAR Hamba in the production of semi-solid and agitated yogurt with or without fruit pieces. Furthermore, the dairy cooper-ative uses a filling and sealing machine for preformed bottles for drinking yogurt or smoothies and several end-of-line packing systems from OYSTAR A+F.

OYSTAR Hassia enjoying success in Turkey The Turkish food manufacturer AK Gida has chosen to make use of a machine from OYSTAR Hassia – for the fourth time! In this case, it's the “THM 16/48” forming, filling and sealing machine (FFS) featuring an aseptic dosing system.

The THM 16/48 is distinguished by its flexibility, reliability and high rate of efficiency. The FFS machine at AK Gida will be able to produce 54.000 cups à 45 grams per hour at a nominal output of 30 strokes per minute. The cups – manufactured in 6-pack units (30-up format) – are filled with "Petit Suisse", a cream cheese product made of pasteurized cow’s milk enriched with a wisp of cream. The 6-pack units are provided with perfo-rated snap-lines to allow the cups to be separated easily. The tool is de-signed for "low waste" perforation (trimming and star-shaped punching). With the sale of this new machine, OYSTAR Hassia continues to expand on the strong business relations it enjoys with long-term customer AK

Gida. The food manufacturer had already purchased an aseptic machine for its pudding production in 2003. Two additional machines followed in 2007: A stick pack machine for chocolate sauce as well as an additional FFS ma-chine for the production of cream cheese.

Edition 01/2012

FAGE USA Dairy Industry, Inc. Continues to Rely on OYSTAR

The yogurt manufacturer FAGE USA Dairy Industry, Inc. (“FAGE”) has purchased a total of five OYSTAR

machines. The newest investment is a Flexline FL 8/8 CA for preformed cups from OYSTAR Hamba.

With the sale of its “Flexline FL 8/8 CA” cup filling machine, the OYSTAR Group con-

tinues to cultivate its excellent business relations to FAGE, one of the company’s

longstanding customers. Apart from a c up filling and sealing machine from OYSTAR

Gasti for packaging its main product – “Greek Yogurt” – the dairy has already put

three other cup filling machines from OYSTAR Hamba into operation at its New York

manufacturing plant.

At FAGE the Flexline FL 8/8 CA in aseptic design fills and seals both preformed round

cups and double chamber cups with strained yogurt. Fruit fillings or the addition of honey as well as fruit yogurt are

also possible. The filling quantity for the round cups is 170 ml, 200 ml or 250 ml; and 150 ml in the case of the double

chamber cups. Thanks to the fully automatic adjustments, cups of different heights can be processed without chang-

ing the format. Depending on the cup geometry and product properties, the FS system, which operates with two dou-

ble production lines, achieves a production rate of up to 36,480 cups per hour.

One Hundred Percent Sterile Production

The cups are first cleaned by means of ionized air and then sterilized and dried through suctioning to remove any

particles that might be present. Afterwards they are filled with the respective recipe by means of a pre- and main

dosing device. For this purpose, the product is supplied by means of a valve manifold to a 200 liter supply tank that is

connected directly to the dosing units. During filling, the cups are elevated to the filling nozzles with the help of steam

traps in order to obtain a proper filling pattern. All of the dosing equipment is designed for CIP /SIP treatment. When it

comes to cleaning and sterilization, the entire dosing device is rinsed with a caustic cleaning solution and sterilized

afterwards with 130 °C steam. All movements are servo-controlled so that changes in the filling curves or filling quan-

tities can be easily controlled via the control panel.

To seal the cups, pre-punched cover plates and – depending on the product – additional inserts made of parchment

are taken with vacuum suction grippers from a feeder, sterilized with sterile air enriched with peroxide and dried by

hot air. For uninterrupted production, the lid stations are equipped with changeover devices which make refilling of

the emptied feeder possible without having to stop the machine. Afterwards the cups are sealed, the tightness exam-

ined once again by heating up the cup head space and finally removed by a packer and put into crates for transport.

Edition 01/2012

L´Oréal relying worldwide on OYSTAR IWK

The Indian subsidiary of the L´Oréal group has increased its production capacity with a new state-of-the-art

packaging line – including the newly developed "Lobe Pump" dosing system from OYSTAR IWK.

L´Oréal India Pvt. Ltd. will begin operation of a new packaging line for the manufacturing of coloration products in the

next few weeks – and is making use of the most modern of technology to increase its production capacities.

The Indian subsidiary of the world’s largest cosmet-

ics manufacturer is utilizing the new "Lobe Pump"

dosing system from OYSTAR IWK. Instead of the

previous standard solution consisting of linear pis-

tons and rotary slides, the subsidiary is now making

use of a lobe unit. This directly leads to a heavy

reduction in idle time periods that are generally

experienced by tube fillers when being cleaned and

during format change procedures. In addition, fewer

product-contacting surfaces ensure improved rins-

ing times for the dosing system.

The lobe pump system is integrated into a "TFS

180 E" tube filling machine from OYSTAR IWK. The machine fills 150 metal tubes per minute for L´Oréal while simul-

taneously labelling these tubes

per laser. Connected to this is the cartoner "SC 6", in which

the so-called "kits" are assembled and packaged. In addition

to the tube itself, a bottle, a glove and an instruction leaflet

are put in the cartons, which are labelled with a laser as well.

A checkweigher inspects to make sure that the individual

packages are completely assembled.

The L’Oréal group is currently making use of several OYS-

TAR IWK tube filling lines at its factories in Poland, Spain,

Canada and the USA.

Edition 01/2012

One Solution for all Products

The cosmetics company Kao is going with diversity when it comes to packaging its hair care products: With

the new "FP 18-1" filling platform from OYSTAR IWK, tubes and products of various shape formats and

product formulations can all be processed by one machine.

Featuring renowned brands such as John Frieda, Kanebo or Goldwell, the hair care assortment offered by Kao is

very diverse. As such, the Japanese cosmetics company’s production capabilities need to be every bit as diverse and

flexible in order to operate efficiently and profitably. The German subsidiary Kao Corporation GmbH has therefore

decided to invest in a new tube filler for shampoo and conditioners, namely the FP 18-1 tube filling machine from

OYSTAR IWK. The FP 18-1 is a powerful and efficient machine that can be used for a variety of functions and pur-

poses.

At Kao, the FP 18-1 produces 50 ml tubes with a

performance of up to 120 strokes per minute as well

as 250 ml tubes with a performance of up to 80

strokes per minute. ”That’s a peak performance, es-

pecially in light of how difficult it is to bottle this partic-

ular product“, emphasizes Peter Wrobel, Plant Man-

ager at Kao in Darmstadt-Eberstadt, Germany. "The

machine allows for the processing of up to fifty differ-

ent product form ulations as well as up to five base

materials without any problem whatsoever." The FP

18-1 is also capable of processing metal and plastic

tubes with a diameter of 10 to 60 mm and a length of

60 to 250 mm.

The FP 18-1 is operated via the new "HMI" from the OYSTAR Group - an ergonomically designed, future-oriented

touch screen. Similar to an iPhone, its use is intuitive and takes place via a modern multi-touch system. Both the

machine processes and any current messages are systematically presented on the 15.4" widescreen display from

Kao and are immediately recognizable. "That makes it very easy to use", says Peter Wrobel. "We can then see all the

information we need to while always maintaining a good overview."

With the new filling platform, OYSTAR IWK is further enhancing its strong business relationship with long-term cus-

tomer Kao. The cosmetics manufacturer is currently making use of three TFS series tube fillers at its plant in Darm-

stadt, both for the production of hair-dye and hair conditioning products. "Each machine is running flawlessly and

makes a considerable contribution to our productivity", sums up Peter Wrobel of Kao. "Featuring this versatile range

of applications for our wide spectrum of products, the FP 18-1 machine is definitely the right choice for us."

Edition 01/2012

OYSTAR IWK forms partnership with OYSTAR IWK and MediSeal, a leader in blister machine technology, have formed a partnership. From now on, the companies will jointly develop and produce packaging lines for the high-performance segment. “This partnership will allow us to pool our resources and increase our productivity,” explains Markus Ehl, co-CEO of OYSTAR Holding. “This means that we will have an even stronger market presence in the future.” Stephan Plewa, CEO at MediSeal, adds: “In terms of technology, our blister machines and OYSTAR IWK’s continuously operating cartoners complement each other perfectly in the high-performance segment. This will enable us to offer our custom-ers an ideal high-speed blister solution.” MediSeal's “CP600” and “CP1200” have continually evolved over the past ten years and can be combined with OYS-TAR IWK’s continuous motion cartoners to form a line with a nominal capacity of up to 600 blister packs or 450 car-tons per minute. “Also very popular with customers is the CP400 in combination with the SC4 continuously operating cartoner,” explains Plewa. “Such a line is particularly suitable for individual stacking with just one blister pack per folding box and is capable of producing and cartoning up to 400 blister packs per minute.” As a pioneer in blister, sachet and stick-pack packaging, MediSeal is at the pinnacle of innovative packaging technol-ogy and continues to consolidate its position as a technology leader. The company is part of the Körber Medipak Group, a leading provider of packaging and inspection technology systems for the pharmaceutical industry.

The complete production line: Premier Foods confirms its confidence in OYSTAR – including final packaging Already making use of machines from OYSTAR Gasti and OYSTAR Hamba, the English food producer Premier

Foods is now making use of another piece of equipment that handles everything up to final packaging, this time from OYSTAR A+F. Almost every family in Great Britain is familiar with custard produced by the Premier Foods brand "Ambrosia". Founded in 1917, the company is one of the best known food producers in the UK and is famous for its desserts. Since its launch, "Ambrosia Puds" have been filled into cups and sealed by OYSTAR Group packaging machines at the company site in Lifton (Dev-

on), England. As of now, Ambrosia Desserts products will also be packed into trays and palletized by OYSTAR ma-chines, prior to distribution to the supermarkets. The new final packaging system from OYSTAR A+F receives the dessert tubs from an OYSTAR Hamba filling and sealing machine and forwards them to the packer. Here the 500g tubs are inserted into preformed plastic trays, called “flimsy trays”, and then supplied with an inverted tray. If a tray is packed in-completely, it is automatically rejected at a rejection station. The packaging system also allows the handling of other tubs without inverted trays, as well as the associated tray formats. In addition to the systems from OYSTAR A+F and OYSTAR Hamba, Premier Foods also operates an aseptic filling machine from OYSTAR Gasti in the production of the Ambrosia product line. Based on its positive experience with all three OYSTAR brands, the dairy company placed another order with the machine builder in April: this is for the development and supply of a new all-in-one system as a turnkey solution for complete final packaging in mini and twin pots.

Edition 01/2012

From the garage to a global leader - OYSTAR Benhil celebrates its 100th anniversary

To mark OYSTAR Benhil’s 100

th anniversary, the company held a gala event for staff

and representatives in the Lofthaus in Düsseldorf on June 15, 2012. The Managing

Directors of OYSTAR Benhil, Ralph Bellin and Bernd Große-Venhaus, each gave a

speech in which they repeatedly emphasized the company’s market leadership, the

technological advantage of the OYSTAR Benhil machines and the unique team spirit of

the ‘Benhilers’. Markus Ehl thanked the Benhil staff for their tireless efforts over the past

few years. The evening of celebration featured anecdotes from the company’s 100-year history as well as a number

of show acts.

Edition 01/2012

The anniversary festivities were rounded off on June 16, 2012, with an open day at the company site for staff and

their families as well as retired Benhil employees. The opportunity to see the latest OYSTAR Benhil machines and

meet former colleagues and companions drew some 500 people to Neuss that day. In addition to machine demon-

strations, the whole day featured a very varied program for visitors of all ages.

Edition 01/2012

Here is an extract from the Benhil chronicle, which was compiled on the occasion of the company’s anniversary. The document can be downloaded from our website: http://www.oystar-group.com/fileadmin/content/news/pdfs/Chronik_OYSTAR_Benhil.pdf

A hundred years ago, the Benhil “machine that wraps four-sided prismatic items” was revolutionary. Everything began in 1912 with engineer Wilhelm Hilgers’ obvi-ous yet revolutionary idea to form and wrap butter with a machine instead of doing it manually. The advantage was obvious: it meant that the individual items could not only be weighed more fairly but also packaged in a more compact and hygien-ic manner. No sooner said than done – Hilgers submitted his patent application for the world’s first packaging machine for margarine and butter and promptly teamed up with his friend Johannes Benz to establish “Benhil” (the company name is an amalgam of Benz and Hilgers). Within a few months, the company had built its first “Type 11” butter forming machine as well as a “Type 15” cartoning machine. A chief engineer and seven skilled tradesmen built the machines using an anvil, a grinding stone, a surface plate and a filing bench with six vices. The company grew rapidly. Before long, there were 120 employees manning the workbenches and the product range was expanded. In addition to butter, the ma-chines were now also packaging yeast, soft and hard cheese, and soap. World War II almost drove the company out of business, but as soon as the war ended, things quickly began to improve for the machine builder, because Germany still

had a large number of butter and margarine factories. This allowed Benhil to successfully sell its pre-war bestseller, the “105” model, well into the 50s. “The machine was a solid product, right down to the smallest detail”, former works manager Dieter Möller recalls. “You could have packaged water with it.” Over 1,000 units left the workshops in the period leading up to the start of the German economic miracle. In 1956, control of the company passed to the founding generation’s heirs, who pressed ahead with its expansion. Packaging machines for cheese spread, ice cream, lard and broth paste were added to the product range while Eu-ropean sales were intensified – using unusual methods at times: for example, the field staff installed a machine on the back of a small truck and took it round lots of marketplaces in France. Dieter Möller remembers it well: “When we arrived in a village, we would open a butter churn, put the butter in the screw trough and let the Junior 11 do its thing. The French were excited. They hadn’t seen anything like it before." In the 60s, Benhil continued to expand its international business. The focus now switched to the American market, but there was a problem: the consistency of US butter differed from that of German products as it was whipped using air. What is more, the Americans packaged it in sticks. The Benhil designers spent a year designing a machine for this new area of use. The result was the seven-meter-long “8360” model. With this model, the butter went directly from the churn into the machine, where it was formed into bars, packaged and then placed into cartons. For the first time, all the production stages were performed by a single machine. On the international political stage, meanwhile, there was a reshuffling of the cards as globalization got going. Benhil now also intensified its sales in Scandinavia, the Middle and Far East and North Africa. In Germany, the company also took over SIG’s filling and wrapping machine division in 1998 – and with it, the paper-saving tip-folding process, which allows you to save up to 30 percent in packaging material. Innovations in a three-year cycle: at the beginning of the new millennium, the company brought the first of its Multi-pack machines – the “Multipack 5000” – onto the market. This was a single-cell filling and wrapping machine in the medium output range, capable of producing format-flexible packages ranging from 50 to 500g. In 2008, this was followed by the “Multipack 8000”, a fully automatic filling and wrapping machine for filling and packaging paste-like products, as well as its sister model, the “Multipack 8600”, for filling and packaging sticks. Three years later, the range of machines was rounded off by the “Multipack 3000”. As a single-cell filling and wrapping machine in the lower output range, the machine has a format flexibility ranging from 50 to 1000g with an output of up to 100 packages per minute. Much has changed in the packaging machinery industry since 1912 and the “machine that wraps four-sided prismatic items”. A century on from its beginnings as a garage-based company in the north of Düsseldorf, Benhil has estab-lished itself as a global market leader for filling and wrapping machines.