Develops and manufactures production and packaging systems for pharmaceuticals, medical technology and consumer goods – from laboratory to high-performance line
Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH
Allmersbach im Tal · Aspach · Backnang · Oppenweiler · Satteldorf · SchlierbachNew on Amplifa
About Harro Höfliger
Harro Höfliger Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH develops and manufactures highly specialized process solutions and machine systems for the pharmaceutical industry, medical technology, and consumer and home care products. The portfolio covers production and packaging systems across all industrialization stages, from laboratory systems to automated high-performance manufacturing. Core processes include dosing and filling of powders, liquids and lyophilizates, web-processing methods including laminating, cutting and sealing, delicate micro-assembly of devices, aseptic fill/finish and barrier technology, as well as cartoning and end packaging through to complete turnkey lines. The systems are complemented by services such as engineering and innovation, device, pharma and customer services, validation in accordance with EU and US GMP, and digital solutions with real-time monitoring and AI-supported fault analysis. Founded in 1975, the family-owned company with headquarters in Allmersbach im Tal in the greater Stuttgart area employs more than 2,500 staff at six German sites. The export share exceeds 80 percent, with around half going to regions outside Europe.
- Site
- Allmersbach im Tal
- Processes
- Dosing and filling (powders, liquids, lyo beads, solid materials, micro to macro, laboratory to, Assembling (pre-assembly and final assembly, delicate assembly processes), Web processing (multi-layer products, laminating, cutting, die-cutting, converting), Packaging (cartoning, folding cartons, shipping cartons, pouch packaging, secondary packaging), Barrier technology (aseptic and containment technology, open RABS, isolators, OEL limits below 0.05, Aseptic filling and sealing of IV bags (one-time docking, nitrogen purge,, Coating of microneedles (microarray patches) with vaccine, Sealing (pattern contour sealing, high-frequency sealing, heat sealing)
- Materials
- PVOH film (polyvinyl alcohol), Biodegradable polymer films, Polymers (Nanopatch square), Polymer materials (pouch film), Release liners / carrier materials, Web materials (laminate), Alginates (wound care), Lyophilizates (lyo bead pellets, active and excipient ingredients)
- Founded
- 1975
- Employees
- more than 2,500
- Industries
- Pharmaceutical industry, Medical technology, Consumer goods / home care
- 01
Feasibility studies and prototypes (Engineering & Innovation Services)
- 02
Formulation and process development (Pharma/Device Services)
- 03
Design and systems engineering
- 04
Pre-qualification in test rooms and FAT
- 05
Validation and qualification (EU/US GMP)
- 06
Turnkey line integration incl. secondary/end packaging
- 07
Commissioning, training and worldwide customer service
- 08
Digital process monitoring (Harro DIGITAL)
Materials and Processes
PVOH film (polyvinyl alcohol)
Water-soluble film for pods/tabs, processed with patented contact-free water sealing.
Biodegradable polymer films
Multi-layer film layers, e.g. for the Accordion Pill capsule platform.
Web and laminate materials
Web processing of multi-layer web systems and carrier materials including release liners.
Alginates and wound care materials
Processing and packaging of wound dressings such as island plasters, foams and alginates.
Lyophilizates (lyo bead pellets)
Piece-accurate pneumatic dosing of pellets (0.5–2 mm) with the Lyobead Dispenser.
Pharmaceutical active ingredients and formulations
GMP-compliant processing of solid, liquid and highly potent media including containment.
Sites
Allmersbach im Tal
DEHeadquarters, development & manufacturing
Aspach
DEManufacturing & logistics
Backnang
DEProduction site
Oppenweiler
DESite (acquired in 2022)
Satteldorf
DEPlant for packaging and end packaging machines (since 2005)
Schlierbach
DETechnology center (acquired in 2022)
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dosing and filling (powders, liquids, lyo beads, solid materials, micro to macro, laboratory toJoining | – | – | – | – | Pharmaceutical active ingredients, Powders, Liquids, Lyophilizates (lyo bead pellets) |
| Assembling (pre-assembly and final assembly, delicate assembly processes)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Web processing (multi-layer products, laminating, cutting, die-cutting, converting)Joining | – | – | – | – | Web materials, Films, Polymer materials, Release liner, PVOH film (polyvinyl alcohol), biodegradable polymer films |
| Packaging (cartoning, folding cartons, shipping cartons, pouch packaging, secondary packaging)Joining | – | – | – | – | Folding cartons, Shipping cartons, Pouch film, Polymer materials |
| Barrier technology (aseptic and containment technology, open RABS, isolators, OEL limits below 0.05Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Aseptic filling and sealing of IV bags (one-time docking, nitrogen purge,Joining | – | – | – | – | IV bags (pre-sterilized), Filling media (liquid), Filling tube |
| Coating of microneedles (microarray patches) with vaccineSurface | Microstructures 0.25 mm high | 1 cm (patch square) × 0.25 mm | – | – | Polymers (Nanopatch), Vaccines |
| Sealing (pattern contour sealing, high-frequency sealing, heat sealing)Joining | – | – | – | – | Pouch film, Polymer materials, PVOH film |
| Water sealing of pouches (pods/tabs, contact-free, modified inkjet print head)Joining | – | – | – | – | PVOH film (polyvinyl alcohol), Detergents and cleaning agents (powder, gel, liquid) |
| Deep drawing of film (pouch/pod production)Joining | – | – | – | – | PVOH film (polyvinyl alcohol) |
| Capsule filling (hard capsules, solid and liquid media)Joining | – | – | – | – | Hard capsules, Solid and liquid formulations |
| Capsule weighing/quality assurance (Accura-C)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS/TDS, matrix patches)Joining | – | – | – | – | Active ingredient layers, Carrier materials, Release liner |
| Inline printing of patches and seal pouches (late stage customization)Surface | – | – | – | – | Patches, Seal pouches |
| Optical/camera inspection systems and in-process controls (IPC)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Headspace analysis (head space analysis, Wilco HSA, inline residual oxygen measurement)Testing | Rejection at >1% residual oxygen | – | – | – | IV bags |
| Nitrogen gassing and vacuum evacuation of bagsSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| CIP/SIP (cleaning in place/sterilization in place)Surface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Micro-assembly of smart devices (medical technology, e.g. autoinjectors, pens, on-body devices)Assembly | – | – | – | small batches – large quantities | – |
| Assembly of pre-filled syringes (screwing in of the plunger rods, screwing unit)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Pre-filled syringes (1 ml, 2.25 ml according to ISO |
| Loading of implant inserters (pick-and-place technology, tray feeding)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Implants, Implant syringes |
| Pneumatic dosing of lyo bead pellets (single and multiple dosing, up to 30 pellets/min perJoining | Pellets 0.5–2 mm, piece-accurate counting | – | – | – | Lyophilizates (lyo bead pellets) |
| Sterile filling and packaging of vials and syringesJoining | – | – | – | – | Vials, Syringes, Sterile medicinal products |
| Manufacture and packaging of ODF/MBF film strips (from coating to primary packaging)Joining | – | – | – | – | Orodispersible and mucoadhesive film strips (ODF, MBF) |
| Manufacture of wound dressings (island plasters, foams, alginates)Joining | – | – | – | – | Wound dressings, Island plasters, Foams, Alginates |
| Processing and packaging of contact lenses and IOLs (turnkey, late stage customization)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Contact lenses, IOLs |
| Winding, tray and blister packaging of suture material including inspectionAssembly | – | – | – | – | Suture material (thread), Trays, Blister packs |
| SerializationSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Inhaler manufacturing (SMI, pMDI, nasal applicators, powder dosing through assembly, dry filling forAssembly | – | – | – | – | Inhalers, Powders, Liquids |
| Validation and qualification of systems and processes (EU and US GMP, pre-qualification inTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Engineering & Innovation Services (feasibility studies, proofs of principle, process development)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Device Services (development and regulatory affairs through to CE marking, scale-up from laboratoryEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pharma Services (process development for formulations and devices)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Digital solutions / Harro DIGITAL (real-time monitoring, AI fault analysis)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of cell and gene therapy products (ATMP systems)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Cell material |
| Diagnostics production (filling, in-process controls, packaging)Joining | – | – | – | – | Diagnostics, Test strips |
11 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production line PMK 150 for TTS/TDS converting and primary/secondary packaging | Harro Höfliger PMK 150 | 1 | – | – | Odate, Japan (Nipro Patch) |
| Production platform for web processing (PMK) | Harro Höfliger PMK | – | – | – | – |
| Cartoner | Harro Höfliger MKC | – | – | – | – |
| Capsule filling machine | Harro Höfliger Modu-C | – | – | – | – |
| Capsule weighing system | Harro Höfliger Accura-C | – | – | – | – |
| Lyobead Dispenser (pneumatic dosing system) | Harro Höfliger Lyobead Dispenser | – | – | – | – |
| Semi-automatic assembly system (Assembly Lab) | Harro Höfliger Assembly Lab | – | – | – | – |
| NANO® platform (laboratory/production platform) | Harro Höfliger NANO® | – | – | – | – |
| Aseptic filling and closing system for IV bags (rotary platform with Stäubli | Harro Höfliger | 1 | – | – | New β Innovation, Hong Kong |
| High-performance line for Accordion Pill® (10 lanes, up to 360 products/min) | Harro Höfliger | 1 | – | – | Intec Pharma |
| Robot arm (Stäubli Stericlean) | Stäubli Stericlean | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Company History
- 1975
Founded by Harro Höfliger with the general overhaul of used cartoning machines
- 1978
First trade fair appearance at interpack in Düsseldorf
- 1979
The Allmersbach im Tal site becomes the company headquarters
- 1980er
Diversification: packaging lines for the food industry, entry into the pharmaceutical market
- 1990
Pharmaceutical sector exceeds the food sector for the first time; portfolio includes capsule filling and weighing machines as well as web-processing machines
- 2005
Plant in Satteldorf for packaging and end packaging machines
- 2006
New management structure following the death of Marianne Höfliger
- 2008
Management board strengthened by Uwe Amann and Heinrich Havenstein
- 2013
Shares transferred into a family foundation
- 2018
Harro Höfliger becomes chairman of the newly formed supervisory board
- 2019
Death of founder Harro Höfliger; Markus Höfliger takes over as chairman of the supervisory board
- 2022
Acquisition of facilities in Schlierbach and Oppenweiler; Schlierbach becomes the technology center
- 2025
50 years of Harro Höfliger