KIEFEL GmbH, a market leader in the design and manufacture of polymer and natural fiber processing machines, automation and tools, has not just received one, but two prestigious accolades: the German Packaging Award 2023 thanks to its fiber-packaging machine KFT 90 as Advanced Version, which was further honored with the Gold Award for particularly groundbreaking innovation among the winners, and the Silver EcoVadis Medal for its commitment to sustainability.
Cycle times reduced by up to 30% in fiber-packaging production with Kiefel’s solution: KFT 90 as Advanced Version
The independent jury of the German Packaging Award 2023 has recently announced the winners of the German Packaging Award - Europe’s largest showcase for packaging achievements, which boasts a remarkable six-decade legacy. Among the 34 innovations from England, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria that triumphed in this crossmaterial showcase organized by the German Packaging Institute (Deutsches Verpackungsinstitut e.V.), Kiefel's NATUREFORMER KFT 90 as Advanced Version received an award in the Packaging Machines Category. During the German Packaging Award Ceremony, celebrated on September 13 in Berlin, the NATUREFORMER KFT 90 as Advanced Version also received the Gold Award, a special acknowledgement that honours the most pioneering innovations among the award recipients. Cornelia Frank, Global Director of Fiber Packaging division, and Janna Dautel, Head of the Marketing and Communications department at Kiefel, were delighted to accept the awards.
This recognition emphasizes that Kiefel is committed to expanding its product range towards natural fiber-based materials while showcasing exceptional technological advancements. Its winning entry earned praise from the panel of judges for its cutting-edge technology coupled with quality features and current technical processes aimed at providing holistic solutions for natural fiber-based packaging requirements.
“We are very grateful to receive such an honor, which further motivates us toward delivering innovative technology that meets the changing Version: 14.09.2023 Page 1/5 PRESS INFORMATION 2 demands of customers in diverse industries globally,” mentions Cornelia Frank, Global Director of Fiber Packaging division at Kiefel.
The Advanced Version of the NATUREFORMER KFT 90 includes a range of innovative features that increase productivity and offer higher output due to cycle times reduced by up to a remarkable 30%. In addition, its temperature controller guarantees optimal process reliability and grants complete control over all aspects of operation. Its optimized HMI interface streamlines machine usage, facilitating immediate production of high-quality parts without any warm-up period. Furthermore, customers can anticipate higher profits due to an advanced molding process that reduces weight inconsistencies while increasing quality of parts.
Kiefel’s commitment to sustainability recognised again by EcoVadis 2023
Kiefel has one more accomplishment to celebrate. The world's largest provider of sustainability ratings, EcoVadis, has again awarded a Silver EcoVadis Medal to Kiefel for its commitment on the path towards sustainable practices across all business operations. This remarkable achievement places the market-leading mechanical engineering company for thermoforming and joining technology amongst top-tier companies evaluated under EcoVadis' assessment criteria; ranking within the top twenty-five percent performers globally.
Kiefel established a sustainability strategy several years ago and is undertaking various measures to drive improvements forward. The focus is on four key areas on the way to a better future: goals relating to the company and its internal processes, measures towards achieving more sustainable products, social responsibility and the environment. The strategy includes its own vision and mission, while a dedicated sustainability team develops measures that have already paved the way for the thermoforming machine manufacturer’s success
“With the aim of improving the company's energy efficiency, we are implementing management system that allows us to reduce our energy consumption and helps us to progressively shift to alternative energy sources. Kiefel wants to be a pioneer in decarbonization and achieve CO2 neutrality by 2040,” emphasizes Susanne Hirschel, Head of Sustainability Management at Kiefel.
Kiefel, as a part of the Brückner Group, was also recently recognized as one of Germany's most sustainable medium-sized companies 2023 among the top 50 in the ranking of the WirtschaftsWoche business magazine.