Introduction
Bekum Maschinenfabriken GmbH is a German manufacturer of extrusion blow moulding machines for plastic packaging and technical hollow articles. Founded in Berlin in 1959, the company operates as a family-owned group with production and service functions in Germany, Austria, and the United States, and it supplies customers in more than 100 countries through direct sales and representatives.
Bekum’s core business is the design and manufacture of machines and systems used to produce bottles, canisters, industrial containers, medical packaging, automotive fuel tanks, and other hollow plastic parts. Its portfolio spans small packaging formats through large containers, including equipment for applications from 5 ml to 20 litres in Berlin and larger systems for above 20 litres in Austria. The company also emphasizes in-house development of key components such as its extrusion head, as well as digital service tools intended to support uptime, remote assistance, and spare-parts access.
In the plastics machinery sector, Bekum occupies a specialized position within extrusion blow moulding, a process valued for producing hollow containers with controlled wall distribution, multilayer structures, and efficient high-volume output. The company’s installed base of more than 18,000 machines reflects its long industrial presence and its role in the global packaging equipment ecosystem.
History and Development
Bekum was established in 1959 in Berlin by Gottfried Mehnert, who derived the name from “Berliner Kunststoff Maschinen.” The company has since remained focused on extrusion blow moulding technology, building its reputation around machine engineering, process know-how, and long service life.
A second major development has been the company’s expansion into an international manufacturing structure. Bekum today operates across Berlin, Traismauer, Siegburg, and Williamston, Michigan, with production, engineering, sales, and service functions divided across these sites to support regional customers.
A third milestone is Bekum’s continued product modernization. In 2026, the company introduced the SmartLine fully electric machine series, which was presented as a more efficient and cost-effective addition to its portfolio and was integrated with Bekum’s digital support environment, including SmartConnect remote assistance and a digital spare-parts catalog.
Business Operations and Segments
Bekum’s operations are structured around the manufacture and servicing of extrusion blow moulding systems.
- Berlin, Germany functions as the head office and is responsible for development, engineering, sales, and service for high-performance machines for smaller containers.
- Traismauer, Austria serves as a production and engineering site for larger packaging systems and technical parts applications.
- Siegburg, Germany supports sales and service activities.
- Williamston, Michigan, USA handles production, engineering, sales, service, and recruitment for North and Central America.
The company’s corporate purpose, as recorded in registry and business-directory sources, is centered on the production of plastics processing machines, plastic parts, and general machine and tool construction.
Products and Technologies
Bekum’s machine portfolio covers monolayer and multilayer extrusion blow moulding for packaging and technical components.
Main equipment areas
- Fully electric blow moulding machines
- Hydraulic blow moulding machines
- Small-format packaging systems
- Large-container and industrial packaging systems
- Systems for technical parts and automotive applications
- 3D blow moulding systems
- Multilayer and co-extrusion configurations, including up to 7 layers in specified applications
Technical characteristics
Bekum highlights several technical features across its machines and systems:
- In-house extrusion heads developed and built by the company
- Spiral distributor heads used on selected small-packaging systems
- Energy-saving extruders and fully electric machine designs aimed at efficiency improvement
- Digital service integration, including remote support and spare-parts access
Product capability range
Bekum states that its systems are used for hollow containers ranging from 3 ml to 3000 litres, covering very small medical and cosmetic packaging through large industrial vessels. Its Berlin site focuses on containers from 5 ml to 20 litres, while the Austrian site covers packaging above 20 litres and larger-scale technical applications.
Applications and End Markets
Bekum’s machines are used in several end markets that depend on lightweight, repeatable, and chemically resistant hollow plastic parts.
- Pharmaceutical and medical packaging
- Dairy and liquid food packaging
- Food and beverage packaging
- Cosmetics and personal care packaging
- Industrial packaging
- Agrochemical packaging
- Automotive applications, including fuel tanks
- Technical applications, including 3D filler pipes and other engineered hollow components
These applications reflect the broader role of extrusion blow moulding in modern plastics processing, particularly where container geometry, barrier properties, multilayer construction, and high throughput are important.
Global Presence and Market Position
Bekum describes itself as a company with installations in more than 120 countries, while other company materials state that it serves approximately 100 countries directly or through representatives. Its operating structure across Europe and North America supports this export-oriented model.
The company has reported more than 18,000 machines installed worldwide, and company materials indicate that roughly half of those machines remain in use. This installed base is significant in the blow moulding machinery market because it supports aftermarket service, spare parts, modernization, and customer retention over long machine lifecycles.
Industry directories and company materials place Bekum in the segment of specialized plastics machinery and equipment manufacturing, with a focus on extrusion blow moulding rather than broad-based plastics processing machinery.
Research and Development
Bekum’s product strategy emphasizes continued development of machine efficiency, process control, and digital service. The SmartLine launch in 2026 is presented as a fully electric platform designed for efficiency and cost-effectiveness, while SmartConnect links machines to remote support functions.
Earlier company communications also show a focus on compact electric systems for consumer packaging and on adapting machine technology to specific market segments such as pharmaceutical, consumer, and industrial packaging. The company’s technical identity is closely tied to in-house development of extrusion components, particularly the extrusion head, which is presented as a core differentiator.
Sustainability and Environmental Initiatives
Bekum frames parts of its portfolio around resource efficiency and energy-saving machine design. The shift toward fully electric systems is consistent with broader industry efforts to reduce energy consumption and improve process control in plastics processing equipment.
The company also emphasizes machinery suited to multilayer packaging, which can support barrier performance and material optimization in some applications. In industry terms, such equipment can contribute to downgauging and performance optimization, although the environmental effect depends on the specific packaging design, resin system, and end-of-life pathway.
Quality Management and Certifications
Bekum and external business directories identify the company with ISO 9001:2015 certification. In the machinery sector, this certification is commonly associated with structured quality management in design, manufacturing, and service processes.
Financial Performance and Economic Impact
Business-directory sources classify Bekum in the approximate revenue range of 51–100 million euros and indicate a workforce of about 350 employees across its group operations. Company materials similarly describe a workforce of around 300 to 350 people across its sites.
Bekum’s economic footprint is concentrated in capital equipment manufacturing, aftermarket service, and technical support. Its installed base, global service model, and long machine lifecycles also create a continuing flow of demand for parts, upgrades, and process optimization services.
Innovations and Future Outlook
Bekum’s recent direction suggests three continuing priorities:
- Electrification of machine platforms, led by SmartLine
- Digital service integration, including remote diagnostics and parts access
- Application-specific engineering for packaging, medical, and industrial hollow articles
The company’s position in extrusion blow moulding remains tied to its ability to combine process reliability, energy efficiency, and customer-specific machine design. Its installed base, international manufacturing footprint, and specialization in multilayer and technical applications indicate a business model focused on long-term industrial relationships rather than high-volume commodity machinery.
References
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CPS+ eMarketplace. (n.d.). BEKUM MASCHINENFABRIKEN GMBHBEKUM MASCHINENFABRIKEN GMBH. CPS+ eMarketplace. https://www.chinaplasonline.com/eMarketplace/ExhibitorInfo?CompId=1032827Link