Schreiner Group is a family-owned company with worldwide activities and plants in Germany, the United States, and China. The company is a leading supplier of high-tech labels and functional parts for a variety of markets such as Healthcare, Mobility, General Industry, and Security. The three business units are characterized by specific customer and market know-how. The Schreiner ProTech business unit is responsible for the development and production of industrial markings, authenticity protection, and film-based functional parts for the automotive and general industrial sectors.
We talked to Thomas Köberlein, President of Schreiner ProTech.
Mr. Köberlein, how was 2024 for your business, a short summary?
Thomas Köberlein: 2024 was a year in which we managed to continue strengthening our market position and developing ourselves in a challenging market environment. We extended our product portfolio and concurrently developed new solutions meeting the exacting requirements of our customers in the General Industry and Mobility sectors. Regarding the overarching subject of data security, for instance, that is also evident in a TISAX certification we were awarded at the end of the year. In general, we managed to start the new year well prepared in that way.
What products/services did you launch this year?
T.K: We’re currently introducing a new generation of protective films developed specifically for large displays such as pillar-to-pillar applications. Due to an innovative coating, these specialty films reliably adhere to the displays and can be removed again without leaving any residues—even in the case of complex geometries.
In addition, we’ve achieved a small revolution in terms of processing pressure compensation seals: in a joint development project of Schreiner ProTech and a leading company for ultrasonic welding technologies we’ve developed an ultrasonic welding system specifically for mechanically sensitive pressure compensation seals. The combination of our fleece-backed high-performance membranes and torsional ultrasonic welding technology is now offering customers a new, innovative, and powerful solution.
How did the market change, compared to previous years?
T.K: In recent years we’ve been observing a clear change in the marketplace toward greater sustainability and higher Technical Cleanliness. The demands made on products and solutions have not only increased in terms of functionality but also regarding their eco-friendliness and resource conservation. Customers are increasingly attaching importance to solutions that are efficient as well as sustainable—be it due to the use of eco-friendly materials or production processes that minimize CO₂ emissions. At the same time, Technical Cleanliness is becoming an increasingly crucial criterion especially in highly sensitive areas such as the automotive industry where the quality and precision of the components are decisive.
In our Pressure Compensation Seal Process Center in Oberschleissheim, for instance, our pressure compensation seals are produced under ISO 7 clean room class conditions based on the DIN EN ISO 14644-1 and 14644-3 standards. We’ve also achieved a top rating in the Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) within our company’s industry, region, and size. You see, as a company you can’t avoid any of these truly substantial subjects! And for us, these results motivate us to continue working on sustainable products and total solutions.
Tell us about product innovation and how will it impact the future?
T.K: Innovations are a central component of our corporate values. The introduction of new display protective films for mega displays and further developments around pressure compensation seals are just some examples of how we actively shape the market. Plus, I feel that innovations are going to play an even greater role in the future because they enable us to offer customized solutions that are of high quality, meet state-of-the-art technological requirements, and enhance efficiency at the same time.
How will product innovation help the customers?
T.K: Due to our tailored solutions, customers can design their systems for greater efficiency, reduce downtimes, and save costs, among other things. In addition, our total packages can help reduce the environmental footprint of the products, which is of growing importance for many of our customers. And that means we’ve come around full circle again in terms of sustainability.
What do you think the trends will be next year?
T.K: On the one hand I expect the implementation of sustainable processes and materials to play an even more important role because the industry is increasingly pursuing “green” solutions. You see, that subject has been running through our conversation like a common thread. On the other hand, I could imagine that we’re going to see a greater demand for smart, connected solutions. In that respect, I primarily have the areas of logistics and intralogistics in mind. There’s still a lot of potential in data-driven processes and a connected factory floor, which are essential components of Industry 4.0.
What is the outlook for 2025?
T.K: For 2025 we continue to expect global challenges in various areas, be it due to economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions, or the progressive requirements in terms of sustainability and digitalization. Even so, we’re in a good position of tackling those challenges at Schreiner ProTech. Our innovative prowess and continuous further development of our products enable us to flexibly respond to changes and to keep offering tailored solutions for our customers. In an increasingly competitive environment, we’re going to stay focused on maintaining a strong market position through quality and precision while developing new, sustainable approaches at the same time.