Dusseldorf - It's safe to say that the K 2013 press conference for the Brückner Group, the German specialist in machinery and lines for production and processing of plastic film, was not small in scale.

For the first time, the members of the Brückner Group exhibited on a joint booth at the K show. At the booth, were representatives from Brückner Maschinenbau, Brückner Servtec, Kiefel Technologies and PackSys Global.

The Brückner Group said the number of visitors during the show exceeded all expectations.

"This is a clear sign that the technologies shown perfectly match the challenges of the plastics industry worldwide," the company said. "But it is also a commitment for all Brückner Group members to further provide the best individual solutions based on the customers' appropriate needs."

The Brückner Group stresses that it focuses on developing the market position of the individual companies within the group to its own strengths. This includes investments in the expansion of the Kiefel Customer and Technology Center and production locations for PackSys Global and a new "Innovation Test Center" for Brückner Maschinenbau, which offers a wide range of test facilities for installation components.

Growth through acquisitions

The Brückner Group is continuing to pursue a growth strategy based on acquisitions. The company says the the integration of PackSys Global in 2011 was an important step was taken toward this strategy. At the beginning of 2013, PackSys also acquired the Swiss company MADAG Printing Systems, a supplier of hot-stamping machines for the packaging, machinery and automobile industries. In the markets for closures and tubes, this has opened up "interesting synergies with regard to both technology and customer potential," the company said. It also strengthens the product portfolio of PackSys Global as well as that of the entire Brückner Group.

The company said its is looking into additional strategic acquisitions.

"The focus lies on medium-size engineering companies whose technological bias fits in with the Brückner philosophy and which share the same values as the Brückner Group as a family business; these include long-term strategic thinking, an absolute focus on the customer and a strong orientation towards company employees," the company stated.

Group revenues

In 2010, the company had revenues of more than €300 million ($412 million). The following years, 2011 and 2012, revenues €500 million ($687 million) and €600 ($825 million), were record years for the Brückner Group.

All the companies within the Group contributed to the growth rates. In particular, the company says the order development for the film-stretching lines of Brückner Maschinenbau was significant.

The previous figures will be exceeded again in 2013 with an expected turnover of well more than €700 million ($963 million).

Still, the company cautioned that following the years of high demand for production lines for oriented packaging films, during the next few years a cyclical decline in orders at Brückner Maschinenbau will temporarily slow down the Group's growth to a certain degree.