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The Optima Packaging Group has maintained its growth path towards 2025. Revenue increased by over 6% to reach 850 million euros. Three hundred additional jobs were created, bringing the total number of employees to 3,700, 600 of whom are based at 18 international locations. The family-owned technology leader is thus maintaining its position even in a challenging economic environment.
“Our performance demonstrates that our customers require specific technical industry expertise and new solutions for dynamic markets and regulatory requirements,” says Dr. Stefan König, CEO of the Optima Group. "And that we can provide support through our partnership and knowledge."
In 2025, Optima further expanded its flexible global network. In addition to the expansion in the U.S., the company strengthened its Indian branch by acquiring an established engineering team. Meanwhile, local machine production in China advanced. Further site openings in Ireland, Italy and the United Arab Emirates reinforced Optima's global presence. These investments enhance customer proximity and reduce project lead times.
The business providing solutions for the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries continued to grow dynamically in 2025. Filling systems for GLP-1 and, increasingly, high-potency products, aseptic applications, isolator technologies, and freeze-drying were in particularly high demand. In response to stricter regulatory requirements, particularly EU-GMP Annex 1, Optima positions itself with comprehensive expertise across the entire process and plant design spectrum. The company supports pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide in translating the new requirements into robust, validatable, and economically viable plant concepts.
“Annex 1 fundamentally changes investment decisions,” says Dr. Johannes-Thomas Grobe, CEO of Optima Pharma. “Our customers expect solutions that meet regulatory requirements while ensuring efficiency and flexibility.”
In the consumer goods sector, there was a focus on solutions for the EU Packaging Regulations (PPWR). Regulatory pressure is accelerating the shift toward alternative packaging solutions and changing the investment priorities of many manufacturers.
Optima is responding to this with targeted investments in new technologies. In 2025, the company began the design and construction of a facility for dry molded fiber and paper forming with the goal of making fiber-based packaging solutions industrially scalable. The focus here is on combining regulatory compliance, resource efficiency, and economic scalability for mass production. This solution, along with other fiber technologies, will be unveiled for the first time at the industry’s leading trade fair, Interpack, in May 2026 in Düsseldorf.
In the home and personal care, cosmetics, and food markets, Optima recorded sustained high demand for high-performance and flexible machine solutions. Drivers include shorter innovation cycles and increasing demands for efficiency, quality, and process reliability.
In the nonwovens sector, the company benefits not only from its stable, modular product portfolio but also from long-term growth trends in the hygiene industry. Applications such as adult and incontinence products are gaining importance worldwide and require high-performance, highly automated production solutions. Optima also benefits from strong, long-standing customer relationships, which are continually strengthened through successful joint development projects.
In addition to mechanical and plant engineering, Optima expanded its software-based solutions. These include HMI and SCADA systems, digital twins, assistance systems, and the use of artificial intelligence—for example, for process optimization, quality assurance, and predictive maintenance. Cybersecurity is an integral part of the digital architecture; Optima is ISO 27001 certified.
Measurable progress was also made in 2025 in the area of sustainability. By continuing its “We care for tomorrow” strategy and publishing its first sustainability report, the company established a transparent foundation for responsible corporate conduct. A key milestone was the renewal of the EcoVadis Platinum medal, which ranks Optima among the top one percent of evaluated companies.
“Sustainability and information security are clear economic factors today,” says König. “They influence investment decisions and are an integral part of our competitiveness.”
Another key focus in 2025 was on expanding and training skilled personnel. Op-tima made significant investments in training and development programs, both for its own employees and for customers. Thousands of training days took place at the training center in Schwäbisch Hall and directly on-site at customer locations worldwide.
In addition, three new buildings were completed—in Schwäbisch Hall, Mornshausen, and Radolfzell—and in-house manufacturing was further expanded and modernized. This created capacity for future growth and strengthened the company’s in-house technological capabilities.
For the current fiscal year, Optima is focusing on growth through technology, customer proximity, and execution. The strong engineering foundation, innovative product and process solutions, and international presence form the basis for supporting customers worldwide in their strategic projects and achieving long-term, successful growth.
