A great honor for the international family business from Oberschleissheim: Schreiner Group has been recognized with the 2025 Bavarian Medium-Size Business Award. The awards ceremony took place in a festive setting at the Munich “Künstlerhaus” at the end of July.

The Bavarian Medium-Size Business Award recognizes up to ten companies per year that stand out from the crowd due to innovative prowess, sustainability, social engagement, and a strong corporate culture. From numerous entries, the judging panel this year selected Schreiner Group—a third-generation family-owned business that has long become established as an international innovation leader in the field of high-tech labels and functional labels.

Responsible Entrepreneurship

“This award means a lot to us. It validates our daily striving not only to deliver top technological performance but to also ‘live’ responsible entrepreneurship—in dealing with our customers, our partners, and especially our employees,” said President and CEO Roland Schreiner.

The judging panel particularly recognized the company’s clear strategic focus on innovation, internationalization, and sustainability. Schreiner Group consistently combines high tech with humanity. The company shows how lived values, excellent quality, and a strong sense of responsibility for the environment and society can go hand in hand.

Roland Schreiner
President and CEO

Sustainable Development

Schreiner Group has been standing for sustainable developments in the label industry for years—by investing in climate-friendly production, development of smart product solutions, and strengthening of global locations, among other things. At the same time, the company remains loyal to its medium-size business roots—with a clear commitment to quality in apprentice training, employee development, and social engagement.

At this year’s FINAT Label Competition, Schreiner Group impressed with the Smart Syringe Box from the Schreiner MediPharm business unit. The smart packaging solution specifically for syringes won the first-place award in the “Innovation” category. As part of the European Label Forum, the high-tech company was recognized with the award by the European association for the self-adhesive label industry (FINAT).

Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen, Head of Technology and Innovation Management, personally accepted the award in Amsterdam. “This recognition shows how important smart packaging solutions are for the future of clinical trials,” said Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen. Schreiner Group has been developing smart labels and packaging solutions for various industries for many years. The Schreiner MediPharm business unit specializes in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and offers smart solutions for safe and efficient uses. “Our many years of expertise in the development of innovative products make us a reliable partner for the Healthcare, Mobility, and General Industry markets,” said Roland Schreiner, President and CEO of Schreiner Group. “The FINAT Award validates the fact that our innovative products not only meet the current requirements but also set new standards for the future.”

Intelligent Packaging: Smart Syringe Box

The Smart Syringe Box from Schreiner MediPharm is an intelligent form of packaging for syringes that has been developed primarily for use in clinical trials. The box includes perforated compartments with integrated electronics that document the exact removal of individual syringes. As a result, relevant data such as the time of removal and compartment can be stored and transmitted to the database in real time via NFC, App, or Bluetooth. In addition, temperature monitoring and tracking ensure maximum safety and traceability.

Praise for the Third License Plate in Kosovo

In addition to the Smart Syringe Box from Schreiner MediPharm, the Third License Plate in Kosovo from Schreiner PrinTrust was recognized with a “Highly recommended certificate.” Due to the large number of non-registered vehicles and resulting economic damage, the Third License Plate was rolled out in Kosovo. It is applied to the inside of the windshield and contains all the key vehicle data and insurance status. That makes it easier for law enforcement officers to identify non-registered vehicles and enhances traffic safety.

A great honor for Schreiner Group: Roland Schreiner, President and CEO of the international family-owned company, was recognized with the prestigious Alphazirkel Family Entrepreneurship Award at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. The exclusive award is only presented every five years. It honored Roland Schreiner’s prudent leadership and the company’s successful transformation in the digital age.

Roland Schreiner has been leading Schreiner Group in the third generation with a modern management style since 2012, successfully setting the course for future-proof corporate development. Special emphasis was given to his holistic business management, internationalization, lean management, structural transformation, and impressive innovations for the pharmaceutical and automotive industries.

“A visionary full of ideas”
“I feel very honored to have the opportunity of accepting this accolade. The Alphazirkel Family Entrepreneurship Award is a great recognition for the joint success achieved by all our dedicated employees and motivates us to continue our journey as a family business,” said Roland Schreiner. The award itself, a rhinoceros from the Royal Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory, donated by Serafin, was presented to him during a festive ceremony at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof by Andreas E. Mach. The founder and spokesman of the Alphazirkel recognized Roland Schreiner as a “visionary full of ideas,” saying that “He knew how to carry the family company’s success forward by combining innovation, value-oriented entrepreneurship, and strategic thinking. His leadership style is characterized by a down-to-earth attitude, clarity, and foresight.”

Recognition of Succession Arrangement
The role of Helmut Schreiner, who “due to his carefully considered and professionally planned succession arrangement” laid the foundation for today’s success was emphasized as well. “Letting go of one’s life work is one of the major challenges for family entrepreneurs, and Helmut Schreiner mastered it with great foresight, with the best interests of the family company’s future in mind,” Andreas E. Mach said in his laudatory remarks.

Schreiner Group is delighted about a special accolade: In the 2024 “Druck&Medien Awards” (2024 “Printing&Media Awards”) the high-tech company from the north of Munich once again won recognition as an outstanding company offering apprenticeships in the printing industry. The award underscores Schreiner Group’s strong commitment to educating and training young talents. The award was presented during a festive gala in Berlin.

In the “Apprenticeship Company of the Year” category, Schreiner Group ranks among Germany’s top three training organizations in the printing industry. That underscores Schreiner Group’s outstanding commitment to education and training and shows that the high-tech company is one of the pioneers in its industry. Schreiner Group has been attaching great importance to developing young talents for years. Having had the best apprentices on state or federal level on several occasions, the company has previously been recognized as “Apprenticeship Company of the Year.”

High-Quality Apprenticeships

“We’re delighted about this outstanding recognition for our intensive efforts to offer young people high-quality and forward-looking apprenticeships,” said Roland Schreiner, CEO of the family-owned business. “Our aim is to optimally prepare the next generation of specialists for the challenges of an industry that’s in a state of transformation. I’m incredibly proud of the fact that we’re among the best in that regard.

With more than 60 apprenticeships in eleven different vocational specialties ranging from media technology to information technology specialists, Schreiner Group offers many exciting professional fields. In addition to intensive support and an excellent education and training concept, the company has established an in-house training center with workshops for technical apprentices who are optimally prepared there for jobs on the factory floor.

Exemplary Education and Training

The Druck&Medien Awards that have been presented annually for 20 years are regarded as one of the industry’s most important accolades. They recognize outstanding achievements and innovations in the printing and media industry in 25 categories. The professional judging panel consisting of printing industry experts received a total of 157 entries this year.

The innovative Needle-Trap Secu needle protection label from our Schreiner MediPharm business unit has been recognized with the prestigious World Label Award 2024 in the Innovation category. This special recognition not only validates the innovative prowess of our products but also the commitment of Schreiner Group as a whole to developing pioneering solutions for our most important markets such as the healthcare industry.

The World Label Award, which has been presented since 1996, is one of the most important international competitions of the label industry. It is organized by L9, a global alliance of the leading label associations. A high-caliber judging panel of industry experts evaluated the entries submitted in a total of 24 categories. The awards were presented in Chicago at the end of 2024, one day before Labelexpo America opened its gates.

Innovative Product Design with Sustainable Added Value

The award-winning Needle-Trap Secu product sets new standards in terms of combining safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The world’s only needle protection system with a needle trap directly integrated in the label offers healthcare staff a safe and easy way to handle prefilled syringes. At the same time, the innovative construction, thanks to its compact design, reduced plastic content, and integrated seal function, saves space and resources. The special sealing tab of Needle-Trap Secu provides an irreversible first-opening indication ensuring the integrity of the syringe up until it is used, which eliminates the need for additional blister packaging. These features not only make the product safer but also highly sustainable and cost-efficient.

Exceptional Innovative Prowess

Schreiner Group’s CEO Roland Schreiner is delighted about this outstanding recognition: “Winning the World Label Award in the Innovation category proves the exceptional innovative prowess of our company and untiring dedication of our employees. With Needle-Trap Secu, we’ve again demonstrated how high tech and sustainability can be perfectly combined with each other. Successes like these strengthen our resolve to continue developing pioneering solutions with passion and precision.”

For Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen, work at FINAT is nothing completely new: “For more than ten years, I’ve been representing Schreiner Group at FINAT. I’ve regularly attended the European Label Forum and for several years the FINAT Summit Meetings as well.” Vor der Brüggen, who has a PhD in natural science, has been with Schreiner Group for more than 20 years and since 2010 has been Director Research and Development. He draws on a wealth of experience that’s helpful for the label association too.

“In May of last year, FINAT President Philippe Voet asked me if I was interested in also participating in the work of the FINAT board,” Vor der Brüggen recalls. “I was pleased to run for office—and was elected right away.” The FINAT board is responsible for leading the overall organization and for its mid- and long-term policies. Besides Dr. Jens Vor der Brüggen the board includes representatives of 13 other important companies in the label industry such as Avery Dennison, CCL Label, BASF, and Gallus. The board covers such a wide range of companies that its members represent the entire value chain of the label industry.

For FINAT and Schreiner Group, Jens Vor der Brüggen’s new responsibilities are a win- win situation. Both parties benefit from a close and intensive exchange of experience. Especially with reference to sustainability, Dr. Vor der Brüggen can contribute his findings from many years of experience to FINAT. The subject is of relevance not only to Schreiner Group, which, according to EcoVadis, belongs to the most sustainable two percent in its industry, but also to all other companies. That’s where the Director R&D benefits from his extensive knowledge regarding sustainability—from product development, to manufacturing, to recycling—to work toward the reduction of CO2 in the label industry also within the scope of FINAT.

At the end of 2023, Schreiner Group presented its prestigious “Supplier of the Year” award for the 11th time.“This award recognizes suppliers that distinguished themselves particularly due to reliability, quality, and on-time delivery,” said Roland Schreiner, President, CEO, and Managing Shareholder of Schreiner Group. This time the coveted accolade went to Gallus, a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG.

The company is a worldwide leader in the development, production, and sales of narrow- web roll-fed printing machines focused on label and packaging printing. Gallus increasingly uses offerings for digital label printing. In recent years, the company delivered several conventional machines to Schreiner Group. They included a modern Gallus Labelmaster 440 on which the company’s apprentices can learn their trade.

Schreiner Group has been working with Gallus machines ever since the 1980s. They were used, for instance, to produce millions of counterfeit-proof and tamper- proof PIN covers with opaque scratch ink. The Austrian highway vignette and the multi-layered photo protection film for the German social security ID card are some of the innovative developments that were produced on the first Gallus machines. The Swiss quality work, the service, and the developments enabling the manufacture of specialty products have been consistently impressive.

During his life as a successful entrepreneur, Senior Shareholder Helmut Schreiner developed a close relationship with Ferdinand Rüesch IV., Anchor Shareholder and Supervisory Board Member of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, and therefore delivered laudatory remarks in honor of Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG as part of the awards ceremony.

Today, Gallus printing presses can be found at all of Schreiner Group’s four locations worldwide. “On these modern machines, we successfully produce our innovative high-tech labels and functional parts. I’m delighted about the long-standing and trusting collaboration with this top-class supplier,” said Managing Shareholder Roland Schreiner. Christoph Thurl, Director of Purchasing at Schreiner Group, expressed the same view, saying that “Gallus has proven to be a reliable partner, especially with projects in recent fiscal years. Its outstanding quality and commitment to the satisfaction of our customers motivated us to recognize the company with the title ‘Supplier of the Year.”

Ferdinand Rüesch IV., Anchor Shareholder and Supervisory Board Member of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, emphasized the value of this award and expressed his appreciation. “We are proud of being recognized as ‘Supplier of the Year’ by Schreiner Group. Our partnership has great strategic importance and we are delighted that our efforts of achieving quality and customer satisfaction are honored in this way,” he said.

Excellent training of apprentices, exceptional talents: A few months ago, Schreiner Group had every reason to celebrate. Sophia Fuchs, an apprentice of the familyowned company, was recognized as the best marketing communications specialist in Upper Bavaria by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Her outstanding achievements in her apprenticeship make her a stellar career starter and prove the solid apprentice training activities of the high-tech company.

As a family-owned company, Schreiner Group has always attached great value to developing young talents. In the past, the company won recognition as “Apprenticeship Training Company of the Year” and had the best apprentices on several occasions.

In 2023, a total of 15,000 participants in 230 skilled occupations successfully passed their final exams in Upper Bavaria. Only five percent achieved the coveted grade of “A+.” Sophia Fuchs was one of them. Trained as a marketing communications specialist at Schreiner Group, she distinguished herself by achieving exceptional results. In fact, her grades were so good that she was selected as the best marketing communications specialist in all of Upper Bavaria.

CEO Roland Schreiner is particularly pleased about this accolade. “During her apprenticeship at Schreiner Group, Sophia Fuchs displayed exceptional commitment and dedication. Her success not only proves her outstanding abilities but shows that we’re on the right track with our training activities. Solid apprenticeship training is not only an investment in our company’s future but, above all, a social responsibility for us: we want to offer young people prospects and make a good career start possible for them,” he said.

Sophia Fuchs and 106 apprentices from other companies and skilled occupations were invited by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Munich and Upper Bavaria to an official award ceremony at the GOP Varieté-Theater in Munich. At the event, Hubert Schöffmann, Member of the IHK Principal Management Board for Vocational Education, together with the respective (Deputy) Regional Board Chairpersons honored their achievements by presenting them with certificates and trophies.

In 2023, Schreiner Group was again recognized with the prestigious “Erfolgreich.Familienfreundlich” (Successful. Family-Friendly) award. The family-owned company sets standards for the compatibility of job and family with flexible working time models, childcare, and other supporting measures.

For its exemplary family-friendly HR policy, Schreiner Group received the coveted “Erfolgreich.Familienfreundlich” (Successful.Family-Friendly) award. The company that previously, in 2016, was among the recipients of the accolade was recognized for its actions promoting the compatibility of job and family by the Bavarian Ministry for Family, Labor, and Social Affairs as one of Bavaria’s 20 most family-friendly companies.

The family-conscious working conditions, the service and assistance offerings, and the flexible working time models impressed the jury. The company adjusts working hours individually to the needs of its employees and makes it possible for them to flexibly work from home. In addition, Schreiner Group offers in-house childcare during the first few weeks of the Bavarian summer vacation and assists employees returning to work after parental or caregiver’s leave.

Schreiner Group’s CEO Roland Schreiner emphasizes the importance of family friendliness as an integral component of the organization: “Schreiner Group was founded by my grandparents more than 70 years ago. My father took over the company in the 1970s—today, my mother, at the age of 80, is still working here. Even though we’re more than 1,200 employees today we know exactly that our roots are in the family. Being a family-owned business always means being a family-friendly business.”

The awards ceremony took place in a festive setting at the “Residenz” palace in Munich in June 2023. The accolade was personally presented by Bavarian State Minister for Family, Labor, and Social Affairs Ulrike Scharf, who said, “Our award winners are true ambassadors for family friendliness. Irrespective of their industry and size of their operation, they address the needs of their employees in individual and versatile ways. This strategy is a gain for the entire organization.” In that vein, Schreiner Group is among the companies demonstrating that family friendliness and business success not only go hand in hand—but influence each other.

“The German Award for Sustainability Projects intends to make commitments to sustainability visible on all levels. It’s not the size that counts in that context but the lighthouse effect: the award-winning projects should inspire additional businesses and institutions to actively address the area of sustainability,” said former Federal Minister of Justice, former Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and patron of the German Award for Sustainability Projects Brigitte Zypries at the awards ceremony in Berlin.

A look at the statistics shows the importance that Schreiner Group’s more than five-million-euro geothermal energy project has not only for the company. Due to the utilization of groundwater pumping, the company becomes independent from gas and reduces its CO2 emissions significantly. A heat pump building erected specifically for this purpose and several decentralized heat pumps make it possible for the high-tech company to heat its buildings exclusively with sustainable energy. The heat pumps are operated using 100 percent green electricity—green electricity is also produced by photovoltaics on the company’s premises. By now, Schreiner Group has achieved full independence from gas through this project—setting new standards for sustainability and climate protection.

The jury of the German Award for Sustainability Projects recognized the model character of the project and its high relevance for the company. Schreiner Group, it said, was consistently pursuing the goals of the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi). The accolade was presented by news channel ntv, the German Institute for Service Quality (DISQ), and DUP UNTERNEHMER-Magazin in Berlin.

Dr. Thomas Gulden, Head of Environmental, Health and Safety Management, who accepted the award on behalf of Schreiner Group, said, “I’m obviously very happy that our heat pump project has been recognized with this award. However, I particularly hope that these actions may serve as an example and that we can show other companies how a project like this pays off ecologically as well as economically.”

With the geothermal energy project, Schreiner Group achieved complete independence from gas and its carbon footprint has clearly improved as well—because all heat pumps are fully powered by green electricity.