Henkel Opens Modernized Packaging Competence Center in Düsseldorf
The packaging industry is undergoing a transformation: New sustainability regulations, rising demand for circular solutions, and the shift toward digitized manufacturing are raising the bar—requiring targeted development efforts as well as closer collaboration along the value chain.
Henkel Adhesive Technologies is responding to this trend with the inauguration of its modernized Packaging Competence Center in Düsseldorf: a central hub where hands-on collaboration transforms new ideas into industrial reality. The company has invested a seven-figure sum in this initiative.
Together for the Packaging of the Future
“The choice of adhesive or coating we make today defines the packaging that will sit on store shelves tomorrow,” explains Dirk Martin, Head of Henkel Packaging Adhesives and Coatings in Europe. “With our Packaging Competence Center, we ensure that these decisions are the right ones. Here, we offer our customers and partners a unique environment to jointly develop, test, and scale the solutions that will shape the future of packaging—faster, smarter, and more sustainable than ever before.”
The modernization of the Packaging Competence Center builds upon Henkel’s strategic partnership with Nordmeccanica, announced in May 2025, which aims to drive innovation and sustainability in the field of flexible packaging. The center is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, thereby creating a practical testing environment that replicates real-world production conditions. This allows customers to test adhesive and coating solutions under realistic conditions, validate them for industrial application, and scale them up to an industrial level.
Testing, Optimizing, and Scaling Packaging Solutions
“A strategic partnership only creates added value if it delivers practical results,” comments Vincenzo Cerciello, Vice President at Nordmeccanica. “With our machines serving as the centerpiece of the modernized Packaging Competence Center, we transform shared ambitions into tangible potential, thereby enabling the packaging industry to test, optimize, and scale solutions with unparalleled precision and speed.”
Recyclability and Sustainable Ingredients
Two new machines from Nordmeccanica—the Super Combi 5000 and the Super Simplex SL E800—replicate all industry-standard lamination and coating processes. For instance, the Super Combi 5000, when combined with five flexibly deployable application trolleys, offers a unique gearless flexo coating unit. Both systems are fully digital and feature online coating weight systems for systematic data acquisition and process control. Together, the Henkel Packaging Competence Center now meets current industry standards.
“This facility is designed to address the key future challenges facing the packaging industry: recyclable solutions and the use of sustainable ingredients,” explains Kai Ethner, Director of Application Engineering at Henkel Packaging Adhesives and Coatings in Europe. “Coatings are a prime example of a factor that plays a decisive role in driving this transformation, as they enable the functional mono-material packaging designs that the market is increasingly demanding. With a specific focus on gravure and flexographic coating applications for plastic and paper substrates, we help our customers test faster, scale up sooner, and bring recyclable solutions to market with greater impact. Here, Henkel covers its entire product portfolio—ranging from solvent-free, water-based, and solvent-based adhesive systems to coating solutions.”
In parallel, Henkel has also invested in its testing area for pressure-sensitive adhesive applications, located within the same building. Coating equipment, as well as UV activation and measurement systems, round out the capabilities of this laboratory area. Thanks to these expansions, Henkel can develop solutions for the specialty tapes and labels industry in close collaboration with its customers.
The Product Lifecycle in One Place
With its modernized Packaging Competence Center, Henkel Adhesive Technologies adds a new dimension to its customer journey, as the building is closely integrated with the neighboring Inspiration Center Düsseldorf. From chemical development to application testing, industrial validation, and training, all essential stages of the product lifecycle are covered—spanning from the design phase all the way to recycling within the company’s own recycling test laboratory.
Furthermore, Henkel supports companies with offerings such as the Converter’s Academy and additional customer training programs, designed to introduce them to the latest application technologies so that they can safely master and transfer into production more quickly.
“To achieve our ultimate goal of true packaging sustainability, close collaboration along the entire value chain is essential,” concludes Ethner. “This is not just about new machinery or buildings; it is about pooling experience and expertise to drive the industry forward—together with our customers and partners.”
