Packaging machinery pioneer Gerhard Schubert passes at 84, leaving key industry legacy
Packaging equipment pioneer Gerhard Schubert, founder of Schubert machinery has died at the age of 84 in Crailsheim, Germany, with the business praising him as an ‘extraordinary personality’ within the industry, reports Neill Barston.
As the business acknowledged, he leaves behind him a significant legacy for the business, having overseen the company’s continued major expansion over the past few decades in his native country and around the world.
Confectionery Production noted on a previous site visit to the business, that colleagues of the late business founder noted that prior to the pandemic, he insisted on regularly being seen around the company’s headquarters, taking an active interest in the business that he created back in 1966 (see our previous exclusive video on the business here).
As the company, which played a key role in this year’s Interpack in Dusseldorf noted, its founder’s initial work went on to become some of the most recognised and respected machinery around the world, across a number of segments including confectionery and snacks.
The company added that his passing was ‘a great loss’ and it concluded: ‘On life’s journey, he left traces that will reach far beyond his time with us. He once very aptly described himself: “Yes, I am a visionary. A designer must have vision.” And this vision – to build “the best packaging machines in the world” – is one that he brought to life with flying colours
Notably, the business is presently undergoing a major period of expansion, with a total of €38 million being placed into creating a new production hall at its Crailsheim headquarters, with works on the 12,000 square metre additional facility beginning in April 2022, and are anticipated to be completed this summer, offering facilities for around 300 staff.
Schubert’s corporate management: Marcel Kiessling, Managing Director Sales and Service, Gerhard Schubert, Founder and Managing Partner, Ralf Schubert, Managing Partner, Peter Gabriel, Commercial Managing Director (from left to right)
Reflecting on Gerhard Schubert’s career, the company explained that he had laid the foundation for the business in 1953 with an apprenticeship as a mechanic. He then spent several years gathering experience as a design engineer at the Strunck and Kugler companies before setting up his own engineering & design office in 1964.
Only two years later, Gerhard Schubert was founded in Crailsheim (Gerhard pictured in his early years with the business). As the business explained, with his pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial daring, Gerhard Schubert built the small company into an international group of companies over a period of decades and took the family business to the forefront of the world’s packaging manufacturers. He always remained down-to-earth and deeply connected to the region surrounding his hometown of Crailsheim. In addition to his two sons Ralf and Gerald Schubert, the next generation of grandchildren is now working in the company.
As we reported in our last edition of the magazine, the business had made a significant impact at Interpack – which returned after a six year absence, exhibiting a broad array of machinery, including showcasing its latest cobot robotics systems, as well as a number of enhancements for its flowpacking series, and furthering of its Mission Blue strategy delivering major sustainability gains for the business.