Körber – From a basement workshop to a global technology group

1946

Start-up since 1946? Sure, it was the birth of a global technology group

Many myths surround the founding of the Group. According to legend, Kurt A. Körber makes his first sales call on 14 July 1946 in a telephone booth at one of Hamburg's bigger railway stations. This marks the moment Hauni Maschinenfabrik (today: Körber Business Area Technologies) is founded. For his small business, Körber rents a basement workshop in Bergedorf to repair damaged cigarette makers. Soon after, Körber develops his first cigarette machines. The "MAX" filter assembler, which was delivered from 1956 onwards, quickly becomes a bestseller on the world market.

1955

Leap across the ocean

A central component of the DNA of the Körber Group has always been proximity to our customers – both locally and globally. A precise understanding of the markets and consumer trends characterizes all companies of the Group. For this reason, Kurt A. Körber expands his business abroad at a very early stage. With the opening of the location in Richmond, in the US state of Virginia, in the fall of 1955, he sets the course for the international growth of the Group.

1959

Initiating new ideas and shaping the future

Group founder Kurt A. Körber is not only a successful entrepreneur but also a charitable "instigator", who promotes various programs and projects for the benefit of society. In 1959, he establishes the Kurt A. Körber Foundation. Ten years later, the Hauni Foundation is established. In 1981, Körber merges the activities of both foundations in terms of focus and organization to form the Körber Foundation. This enables the Foundation to use its funds in an even more focused way.

1979

Rings that connect

Two intertwined rings with the lettering "Körber" in the middle – that is our trademark. The Körber rings express the strong connection between the Körber Group and its Business Areas with the Körber Foundation and its social activities. The design stems from an idea of an employee of the information department, who registered the logo with the German Patent and Trademark Office on behalf of Kurt A. Körber on 28 July 1979. As an external distinctive feature of our Group, the rings today spread the Körber name all across the globe.

1987

Set for further growth

Kurt A. Körber quickly recognizes entrepreneurial potential and becomes active outside his initial business soon. First by acquiring companies in the paper processing and grinding machine industries. With these, the Group grows continuously and focuses on long-term sustained success.  On 17 June 1987, Körber AG is founded to unite all companies under one organizational roof.  Since 1995, Körber AG serves as a strategic management holding company.

1992

The end of an era

On 10 August 1992, Kurt A. Körber dies in Hamburg at the age of 82. From now on, the Körber Foundation is the sole shareholder of Körber AG. The founder of the Group had already decreed this in 1969. In an obituary, the Group Executive Board states: "Kurt A. Körber's lifetime achievements will live on, and his self-imposed ethical obligation to society will continue to be binding for us in the future".

1994*

We shape the success in tissue

The Körber Group acquires a majority interest in the Perini Group with sites in Italy and Brazil in 1994. This sets the basis for the Business Area Tissue. Today, Körber is the only truly integrated and global provider of advanced solutions for the tissue industry. We support our customers across the entire value chain – from rolled to folded tissue paper, from converting to packaging. Our solutions are a fundamental asset to shape the success in tissue.

* In 2023 Körber sold the Business Area Tissue.

2002

We deliver the difference in pharma for our customers

With the acquisition of the Swiss companies Rondo AG and Dividella AG, the Körber Group broadens its position in the field of packaging systems for the pharmaceutical industry. As a partner and expert in pharmaceutical technology, the Business Area today offers a unique portfolio of integrated solutions. These include consulting, inspection, handling, packaging machines and materials, track & trace systems and industry-leading software. We deliver the difference along the entire pharma value chain.

2008

We conquer the complexity of supply chains

Langhammer, a leading supplier of transport and palletizing systems, is integrated as an independent company into what is now the Körber Business Area Supply Chain. Today, the Business Area has a broad range of solutions to fit our customers' size, business strategy and appetite for growth. The portfolio includes software, automation, voice solutions, robotics and material handling – plus the systems integration expertise to tie it all together. This is how we enable our customers to conquer the increasing complexity of their supply chains.

2017

We drive digital transformation

To drive the digital transformation in our markets and shape it together with our customers, we establish the Körber Business Area Digital. It is fostering digitization while at the same time building its own technology startups, which are developing new products, services, and business models for an increase in A.I.-powered manufacturing efficiency. 

2020

We are one

What once started with a small basement workshop in Hamburg is an international technology group with around 13,000 employees worldwide today. Together, we turn entrepreneurial thinking into customer success and always find the best solutions for our customers. Since 2020, we are operating all our businesses under one brand – Körber – to communicate this promise even more clearly to our stakeholders.

2021

We are the home for entrepreneurs – for 75 years

The Körber Group is celebrating its 75th anniversary and seeks to strengthen its entrepreneurial DNA even more in the future. We are proud of our heritage and take our claim to "market leadership through technology leadership" as a daily motivation. We seamlessly implement our ideas and innovations and create measurable benefits for our customers. Because we want to continue to inspire our customers with the best solutions in the next 75 years – and beyond.

2022

Building a supply chain champion

With the acquisition of Siemens Logistic’s global mail and parcel business as well as the purchase of enVista’s omnichannel and global freight audit and payment services, Körber significantly complements its supply chain offering. Bringing the relevant competencies together puts the Körber Business Area Supply Chain in an ideal position to become a global leader in end-to-end supply chain technology.