1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1981
1982
1983
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010

1963

16th November foundation of kocher-plastik

On the 16th November 1963 Gerhard Hansen founds the company kocher-plastik in Laufen at the Kocher river with the “Notification in accordance with Article 14 of the Trade Regulation Act”.

1964

Company premises hall 1

Four employees start work in the spring of 1964 after completion of the first factory building. In the early years the revenue generator are plastic regenerating works.

1965

The first bottelpack®

In the spring of 1965 the time has come. The first "bottelpack® system 301" is finished and functioning properly.

1966

Administration building hall 2 is built

1967

FAT 320 001

As early as 1967 the company founder Hansen, and his staff developed and built the high-performance machine 302.

1968

Gold medal at the Leipzig Trade Fair

1968 brings "bottelpack® technology" its first international recognition. At the Leipzig Trade Fair the system is awarded the gold medal for the exceptionally high technical level.

1969

FAT 460 001

The first "bottelpack® type 4010M " with revolving moulds for bottles is handed over to customers in 1969.

1970

Hall 3 is built

In 1970 the new, two-storey production and assembly hall is built.

1971

FAT 350 001

The following years are marked by new developments. Another “bottelpack® type 305“, a tandem synchronised machine with 2 moulds, is built and finished in 1971.

1974

FAT 312 001

The redesigned “bottelpack 3012", a system with a performance between that of types 301 and 302, rounds off the product range.

1975

The company holopack is founded with the result that kocher-plastik receives orders to build machines for its new sister company in the oil crisis.

1976

Hall 5 built

In 1976 the healthy order situation makes it necessary to build a large new assembly building, today’s building 5.

1977

1st CNC machine

1978

Apprentice workshop

The company kocher-plastic has been training apprentices since 1965. In 1978 it sets up its own apprentice workshop to provide mechanical training.

1981

Bernd Hansen joined the company

On 2nd May 1981 graduate engineer Bernd Hansen joins the company.

1982

FAT 324 001

10 type 324 machines are built at the request of a customer. These units are a special version of the 302 and are built in large numbers.

1983

Trainees build a 320 model

In 1983 our trainees build the first "bottelpack® model 302". Of the 18 trainees seen in the picture, 9 are still employed in management positions for kocher-plastik.

1985

Bernd Hansen becomes managing director

In January 1985 Bernd Hansen takes over the management of the company and from April of that year becomes the managing director solely authorised to represent the company.

1986

FAT 460 001

1987

Company founder Gerhard Hansen dies

1988

Major contract for USA drinks industry

1989

25 years of Kocher-plastik / 1st CoEx parison head

 

1990

FAT 320 200

In 1990 the anniversary model 302 200 is made and delivered to holopack.

1992

FAT 914 001 leak detector

Construction of the first high-voltage leak detector. In 1991 the first machine of type 321, 321 001 is delivered to a customer in Ireland. The machine was designed for PP ampoules (polypropylene).

1993

FAT 360 001

In 1993 the "360 001" successfully passed the FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) and is sent to a customer in the UK. The machine can make 500 ml and 1000 ml bottles for irrigation solutions.

1994

Sale of the 1st cap welding machine (SM)

After buying the designs from Auracher, the first SM (cap welding machine) was sold in 1994.

1995

3D-CAD Cadds

In the technical office the 3D-CAD system Cadds is introduced into the mould design department. The result is that the 3D model can be converted directly by a programming software into a machine program for the CNC machines.

1996

DIN EN ISO 9001 certification:

The first certification was awarded on 19th February 1996 (DIN EN ISO 9001:1994 – certificate number 12 100 6383- TÜV CERT)

1997

Development of the automatic sterile air chamber (ASR)

The development of the automatic sterile air chamber (ASR) in the years from 1995 to 1998 was another milestone in the automation of the "bottelpack® systems".

1998

8 type 460 machines are delivered.

In 1998 we delivered a total of 8 type 460 machines to 3 different customers. So far, this is the record in one year for this type of machine.

2000

The 364 (XXL) is born.

The first type 364 machines are sold on the basis of a couple of drawings. The fully electric machine rotates the 4 closing units on one turntable. The customer raises the order to 5 machines during the building time of the first machines. The output of the machine is up to 6000 pieces of 500 ml bottles in one hour.

2001

Hall 8 built

To implement project 364 (XXL), a new hall had to be built. This exceeds the previous one in height and level of equipment and, for the first time, an assembly shop is fitted with a craneway with a 10t crane.

2002

DIN/ISO 9001:2000 Certification

2003

FAT 364 001

The prototype of the type 364 bottelpack® machine passes the FAT and is handed over and delivered to the customer within the defined project time without any noteworthy delay.

2004

FAT 321 053 CoEx

In the anniversary year we were able to present a few new projects to the general public during an Open Doors Day. The 364 002 in full operation and the first 321 Co-Extrusion machine sold.

2004

40 years kocher-plastik

2005

FAT 324 011

A new machine generation is built. The 324 machine with one mould is operated entirely by electricity, with no hydraulics at all used. The unit is delivered on time to Saudi Arabia.

2006

Mould making department built

The old mould making shop, with about 280 m² and 3m clearance, has a new hall built over it. While full production continues, the transfer takes place, the old building is demolished and the new 1000m² are inaugurated in December.

2007

FAT 362 001

The bigger sister of the 324 with 2 moulds and double the performance is finished and delivered in 2007. This machine also runs completely on electricity and feeds the energy generated during braking back into the grid.

2008

Expansion of the canteen

After an employee survey a canteen is set up at kocher-plastik at the request of the employees.

2009

Company premises

This picture shows the company premises including the most recent building, hall 9.

2010

FAT 460 100

Machine No. 100 of type 4010M is handed over to the customer after passing the FAT.
 

COMPANY HISTORY

You can learn more about the living company history here:

The development of the bottelpack® system by Gerhard Hansen in 1963 is the catalyst for the foundation of “kocher-plastik”, which now has more than 400 employees.

kocher-plastik grows from small beginnings into a globally active company.