Allschwil

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you tell me about the location?
Our location was founded in the 1930s by Alfred Bossi, a "true" entrepreneur. With the invention of the "Rondo-Welle", a small packaging machine for ampoules, the foundation for further growth was set. Today, we develop packaging solutions for pharmaceutical and biotech companies around the globe. Did you know that the top 20 in the industry are Körber customers? Some of them have their headquarters in our region, which makes exchange and collaboration even easier.
At which additional locations does Körber produce packaging solutions?
In addition to our location in Allschwil, we develop and produce packaging solutions for the pharmaceutical industry at three additional sites. We have facilities in Ejpovice (Czech Republic), Camden and Apex, in the U.S. states of New Jersey and North Carolina. Our locations are equipped with state-of-the-art machinery that combines top quality with high output. Of course, we can also produce small quantities as well as packaging for trial samples. This is how we deliver the difference in pharma.
Which career opportunities do you offer at your location?
The career opportunities at a global technology group like Körber are extremely diverse. Whether you’re an expert or a young professional, we offer numerous programs that promote your talents to unlock your full potential. Sounds interesting for you? We are looking foward to your application!
What can you tell me about Körbers ecosystem approach?
As an international technology group and strategic partner, Körber provides tailored end-to-end solutions for our customers' value chains through our sustainable ecosystem approach. Our comprehensive line concepts combine technical expertise to yield optimal outcomes: This allows our packaging solutions to seamlessly integrate with our packaging machines that are manufactured at the Körber location in Grabs.
What are the challenges in packaging development?
In packaging development, we have to consider various aspects. Safety is our top priority. Therefore, we provide comprehensive solutions for a diverse range of needs. These include: transportation and anti-counterfeiting protection measures, child-resistant folding packaging designs, and our tamper-evident system. With our packaging, customers are consistently ensured safety. Sustainability also plays an important role. Talk to my colleague Lidia to find out more about it.
What can you tell me about the testing machines in this room?
To efficiently support customers with the development, implementation and qualification of new packaging solutions, Körber offers validated pretests that comply with relevant standards and guidelines. Various machines are used for this service. You can see some of them in this room. The drop test simulates the free fall of a package onto corners, edges, and surfaces from a defined height. It demonstrates that the packaging remains intact and the product is undamaged. In the climate chamber, packaging is tested for its behavior under different temperature and humidity conditions. The tensile and pressure test checks adhesive joints and packaging perforations. Furthermore, we offer additional tests that contribute to assuring the quality and safety of packaging solutions. As an example, we can evaluate the liquid resistance of cardboard packaging. This holistic service accelerates product launches and prevents customers from additional custs due to check.
Which solutions do you offer to make your customers even more sustainable?
For more than 40 years, we have been pioneers in sustainable production chains in Körber's Business Area Pharma, supplying international pharmaceutical customers with packaging made of 100 percent paper fibers - fully biodegradable, of course. With our award-winning solutions, we make an important contribution to sustainability. For example, with packaging made from green cardboard, we save resources and reduce CO2 emissions. However, we are not only thinking about how we can produce packaging in the most resource-efficient way but also on how these packages can be disposed of or recycled effectively. Our goal is to replace plastic as far as possible. In the case of rapid pharmaceutical tests such as pregnancy tests or Covid-19 tests, we have already succeeded in doing so with our 100% recyclable monomaterials along with the folding cartons. Sounds cool, doesn't it? Join us on our journey to a sustainable pharmaceutical industry!
What contribution do you make to sustainability at your sites?
We do a lot at our sites to address the issue of sustainability. For example, right here in Allschwil, we generate electricity with our own photovoltaic system. Our buildings are heated using renewable energy sources, and we've transitioned our lighting to energy-efficient LED.

Additional information

Multitaltent monomaterial

Sustainable packaging that not only protects the environment but also saves costs? Körber's monomaterial solutions make this possible. The packaging is based on raw materials from renewable resources, e.g. paperboard. The advantage is clear: while many plastic packaging solutions involve a mix of various plastic materials that complicate recycling, monomaterial packaging is composed of a single raw material that can be easily recycled.

Another benefit is cost-effectiveness. Since the introduction of the plastic tax in 2021, all EU member states have incurred additional fees for non-recyclable packaging waste. With Körber's sustainable monomaterial packaging, customers can avoid these extra costs.

Interested in learning more about our monomaterial packaging? Here you go!

Saving time and money with packaging tests: Körbers Packaging Qualification Services

Did you know that even packaging for medicines has to pass extensive tests before being launched on the market? At Körber, we support our customers in this important process with Packaging Qualification Services. This allows us to intensively test new packaging solutions already during the qualification phase and thus avoid additional costs due to retesting.

In our test lab, for example, we simulate the fall of a package from a certain height and can thus prove its resistance. You want to know how the test works in practice? Then watch the video.

Creating packaging samples with precision

The development of pharmaceutical packaging is complex and demanding. Before a product goes into mass production, customized packaging samples are created that meet all requirements - both from the customer's perspective and from a regulatory standpoint. This is where our cutting plotter comes into play. This technology enables us to cut packaging patterns precisely from digital data to crease, perforate and score the cardboard sheet. The cardboard sheet is then glued by hand and coordinated with production and the customer for approval. This process can significantly expedite packaging development, making it more efficient.

You want to know how the cutter works in action? Feel free to turn on the machine!

Holistic solutions from a single source

In order to accompany customers on their way to creating a Factory of Excellence, we pool all our expertise for the best possible result. We identify the experts working in the various areas of the companies involved and individually bring them together in a team. In the next step, we use the interplay of our customers' experience, Körber’s specialist expertise, and the input of independent experts to ensure optimal solutions, individual approaches, and results for them. In doing so, we always act as a central point of contact, thus reducing not only the complexity of our customers' day-to-day business, but also the number of external service providers for their activities.

Packaging without plastic

We at Körber believe the pharmaceutical industry will ultimately dispense of plastic packaging within a few years. Our Rondo Solutions are pioneering when it comes to sustainability.

Today pharmaceutical packaging expects to be innovative, compact, safe, and environmentally friendly. That’s because opinions in this area also began to change some time ago. The aim is to dispense with plastic and replace it with biocompatible materials such as recyclable boxes, compostable sachets, and environmentally friendly tubes. in general, wood is used as raw material, but bamboo or fungi are also possible options.

One solution that won the prestigious Pharmapack Sustainability Initiative Award is our innovative packaging made from grass paper – an interesting alternative to packaging made from recycled paper and cardboard.

Grass paper offers companies in the pharmaceutical industry an interesting alternative to packaging made from recycled paper and cardboard. Grass paper for folding boxes replaces up to 40 percent of the fibers with grass fibers. This has clear advantages:

  • Production requires significantly less water and energy, avoiding up to 95 percent of CO₂e emissions.
  • The almost unlimited regional availability of grass shortens transport distances.
  • Grass-paper packaging is 100 percent compostable because it does not contain any chemical additives. The renewable resource grass has significantly shorter growth cycles than wood.

You want to learn more about our sustainable packaging solutions? Ask our sustainability expert Lidia!