Bizerba in Transition: How Angela Kraut Brings Together Tradition, Digitalisation and Sustainability in the Packaging Industry -- interpack 2026

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As CFO and shareholder, Angela Kraut is steering the family-owned company Bizerba into its fifth generation. In this interview, she explains how 160 years of heritage can align with digitalisation and sustainability, why packaging means far more to her than technology – and why women, in particular, have an opportunity today to actively shape this future.

Bizerba is a company with deep roots — now in its fifth generation. How does it feel to be part of this legacy?

It’s a special feeling to be part of a story that began almost 160 years ago. For me, it’s not only about leading a company – it’s about carrying a responsibility toward generations, our colleagues and our customers. We are proud to be present in more than 120 countries today while still staying true to our roots in Balingen. This balance between a strong home base and a global footprint is what defines our identity.

Was there a key moment when it became clear: the packaging industry is your industry?

There wasn’t one single defining moment — I grew into this world. As the daughter of my parents, I’m continuing the company’s journey, and I’ve experienced the Bizerba DNA from an early age. They taught me what it means to take responsibility while also having the courage to try new paths. This balance between tradition and progress has shaped me deeply.

As I got older, I became more aware of how strongly Bizerba influences everyday life — often in ways you don’t notice at first glance. Our solutions help companies around the world adapt to new requirements and markets: with sustainable, precise and digital technologies. They make logistics faster, food safer and production more efficient.

Whether it’s weighing fruit and vegetables, slicing bread or cold cuts, handling pre-packaged goods or paying at the checkout with our systems — Bizerba is part of the experience everywhere. This presence, and the opportunity to drive innovations that have an immediate impact, showed me early on: this is my industry. This is where I can truly make a difference.

Which values from your family history shape your day-to-day work — and how do you bring them into today’s packaging world?

View of Bizerba’s central logistics centre at the Balingen site.
Image: Bizerba

The values of my family accompany me every day: reliability, quality and responsibility. From an early age, I saw how essential it is to think long term while still having the courage to explore new paths. For me, this now means translating those values into a digital and sustainable future — with solutions that are efficient while preserving resources.

Bizerba stands for precision and innovation. How do you manage to connect nearly 160 years of tradition with topics such as automation, digitalisation and sustainability?

By not seeing tradition as a brake, but as a foundation. Our history gives us stability, while our innovative strength drives us forward. We invest consistently in digital platforms, automation and AI — without ever losing sight of our core competence: precision. For me, this is the ideal symbiosis of experience and future orientation.

Is there an innovation or project where you would say: “That is quintessentially Bizerba — and quintessentially the future”?

A very good example is our work in the area of smart checkout. Solutions like Supersmart show how we connect digital technologies with brick-and-mortar retail – making processes more efficient and more convenient for customers at the same time. For me, that is quintessentially Bizerba and quintessentially the future.

If you had to describe the packaging industry in three words — which would they be?

View of the Bizerba GLM-I price-labelling and goods-marking system.

At interpack 2023: Bizerba’s GLM-I price-labelling and goods-marking system in action.
Bild: Bizerba

Innovative. Sustainable. Global.

What fascinates you about the packaging industry?

The packaging industry is present around the world and developing at a rapid pace. Packaging doesn’t just protect products — it carries information, represents sustainability and shapes brands. This diversity is what makes the industry so exciting.

The packaging industry is highly driven by technology — how did you find your place in it?

Technology from Bizerba: Supersmart, enabling a smooth and secure self-checkout experience, and the Q1 retail scale

By staying curious and not letting technical hurdles hold me back. For me, technology isn’t just a means to an end — it’s a tool for creating innovative solutions. And that’s what continues to inspire me today.

View of the Supersmart self-checkout solution

Technology from Bizerba: self-service areas.
Image: Bizerba

What has been your biggest learning as a woman in a leadership role in this industry?

My biggest learning is that authenticity is essential. Especially in a technology-driven industry, there is little value in playing a role or striving for perfection. What matters far more is communicating openly, asking questions and being willing to learn continuously. Leadership doesn’t mean knowing everything – it means bringing the right people together, listening, considering different perspectives and ultimately making clear and responsible decisions. This mindset builds trust – within the team as well as externally with customers and partners.

Have you ever felt that you had to “prove yourself more” as a woman — and how did you handle it?

No, I’ve never had that feeling at Bizerba. We work with a mindset of equality — independent of gender or any other characteristic. In our family-owned company, competence, commitment and team spirit are what count, and this attitude is deeply rooted in our culture. From the very beginning, this has given me the freedom to focus on what truly matters: on content, decisions and results. This respectful way of working together has shown me that performance and collaboration matter far more than external labels.

What opportunities do you see for women in the industry today compared with ten years ago?

Opportunities have increased significantly. Diversity is now understood as a true competitive advantage – and that opens space for new perspectives and career paths.

If you could give young women one piece of advice: what is the key to succeeding in a technology-driven industry? What would you tell those who want to enter this world?

Go for it! Technology is exciting and full of opportunities. Networking, continuous learning and courage are key to making the most of them.

In May 2026, the next interpack will take place as a major highlight for the industry. What does the trade fair mean to you personally and to Bizerba?

interpack is the showcase of the entire industry. For us, it is the key platform to present innovations, set trends and engage in direct dialogue with customers and partners.

Is there a “must-see” at the Bizerba stand that you can already share?

Yes, we’ll be presenting solutions that combine automation and sustainability in a very special way. I don’t want to reveal too much just yet — but it will definitely be worth a visit.

A look into the future: what will the packaging industry – and the role of family-owned businesses – look like ten years from now?

Digital, sustainable and highly connected. Family-owned businesses like Bizerba will continue to play an important role, because they combine stability, long-term thinking and innovative strength.

About Angela Kraut

Privately, Angela Kraut loves spending time with her family and being outdoors. Travelling together — whether to nearby regions or far-off destinations — gives her fresh perspectives and inspiration. “The combination of staying close to my family while discovering new places is an important balance to my working life,” she says.

Her hobbies include sports and food. “Being active is the perfect way for me to clear my head, while good food stands for enjoyment and quality of life. I especially appreciate regional cuisine — authentic, high-quality products and traditional preparation are very close to my heart.”

About the Company Bizerba

Bizerba, headquartered in Balingen in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, has been in existence since 1866 and is now run by the family in its fifth generation.

The company offers its customers a solutions portfolio built around the central parameter of weight. Its offering includes holistic solutions for slicing, weighing, labelling and inspection – ranging from hardware and software to apps and cloud services, as well as labels, consumables, comprehensive service solutions and flexible leasing options.

With around 4,500 employees, Bizerba operates in more than 120 countries and runs production sites in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Serbia, the United Kingdom, China, the United States and Canada, along with a global network of sales and service locations.

Bizerba in Transition: How Angela Kraut Brings Together Tradition, Digitalisation and Sustainability in the Packaging Industry