ILLIG wins new orders in Brazil, China and Europe

Heilbronn, May 25, 2023 – ILLIG Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG was able to win important new orders for thermoforming and packaging systems worth double-digit millions of euros within just a few weeks between March and May of this year. The technology specialist from Heilbronn, Germany, will be delivering several thermoforming lines to customers in Brazil and China. Some orders will also include molds and packaging development consulting services. In addition, the first machines of the XLU series, a PLU 40 (Pulp Lamination Unit) and a CLU 40 (Cardboard Lamination Unit) for laminating pulp and cardboard trays, which were presented for the first time at Interpack, were sold to customers from France.

“The pleasing exhibition results are an encouraging sign that the expansion of our product portfolio in this direction was a good strategic decision. We analyzed the markets well, anticipating the needs of our customers worldwide to deliver the right products that met all their needs," explains Jürgen Lochner, CSO/CTO at ILLIG.

The German technology leader impressed the Asian audience at the ChinaPlas plastics trade show in Shenzen, China, in April with its new RDF 85 thermoforming system, which was shown in production for the first time. On the very first day of the trade show, an RDF 85 was sold to a Chinese customer. The ChinaPlas exhibition was highlighted by the sale agreement of 12 RDM 75Kc thermoforming systems to the Chinese Zhink Group.
“ChinaPlas was a big success for us. We had many promising conversations on the possible delivery of thermoforming and packaging systems to other Chinese and Asian buyers. We could sense a real atmosphere of optimism in China and in the entire Asian market,” relates Robert Zhang, Managing Director of ILLIG China.

In early May, ILLIG presented a new machine concept for the first time at Interpack in Düsseldorf: the XLU series, which will be available as PLU (Pulp Lamination Unit), CLU (Cardboard Lamination Unit) and the TLU (Tray Labeling Unit). The solutions for lamination and labeling of pulp, cardboard and plastic packaging are designed primarily for the food and cosmetics industries. The technology company based in Heilbronn, Germany, developed the new product family prioritizing the efficient use of resources and an optimized price/performance ratio. The sale of the first machine to French customer Écofeutre as well as the positive feedback received at the trade fair are clear confirmation that ILLIG has done a good job in analyzing the market demands and customers’ needs.

The end of March, ILLIG was off to Brazil’s Plástico Brasil in Sao Paulo, where the technology leader from Germany showcased its products and services and technical know-how to a large number of customers and potential new buyers from all over South America. The importance of the South American market was once again on full display: ILLIG is currently delivering new machines to Brazil that were already ordered back in 2022. At Plástico Brasil, a successful packaging company from Brazil decided to purchase several ILLIG thermoforming lines including tools to significantly expand production capacity. 

Jürgen Lochner: “ILLIG has a strong reputation in South America, China and around the world. Many long-time and also new customers rely on ILLIG’s proven high-performance thermoforming and packaging systems. Again and again, customers report to us that their main reasons for choosing ILLIG are ILLIG’s superior technology, the quality and performance of ILLIG machines, tools, and service, and their confidence in the ILLIG brand.”