Coperion - Comprehensive Analysis Report
Summary
Coperion, founded in 1878 and headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, is a global industrial and technological company specializing in the development, production, and servicing of plants, machinery, and components. The company operates across diverse industries, including plastics, recycling, chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and minerals, playing a crucial role in the manufacturing of numerous everyday products. Coperion's core mission is to empower customers with innovative solutions that enhance their market competitiveness, striving to "Shape what matters for tomorrow™" through advanced products and solutions for various industry challenges. The company is recognized for its leadership in compounding and extrusion systems, material handling, feeding, and related processing technologies.
1. Strategic Focus & Objectives
Core Objectives
Coperion's main business objectives include sustained investment in research and development to foster innovative technologies. The company aims to provide highly integrated, turnkey production lines and offer comprehensive solutions ranging from individual components to complete plant setups. This strategy is geared towards maintaining and expanding its position as a global industry leader.
Specialization Areas
Coperion specializes as a global industry leader in several key areas:
Compounding and extrusion systems
Size reduction, washing, separating, drying, and agglomeration
Feeding, weighing, material handling, and pneumatic conveying systems
Milling, mixing, thermal processing, and dust collection
The company's unique value proposition lies in its capability to deliver comprehensive process infrastructure and provide solutions that span the entire value chain in relevant industries.
Target Markets
Coperion primarily targets a broad range of industrial market segments:
Plastics and plastics recycling
Chemicals
Battery manufacturing
Food and pet food
Pharmaceuticals
Minerals and infrastructure
Additionally, their services extend to comprehensive aftermarket sales and support, ensuring long-term customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
2. Financial Overview
Funding History
Coperion was acquired by Hillenbrand (US) in December 2012 for $545 million. Prior to this acquisition, Coperion had raised a total of $145 million in funding. The company generates approximately $480.6 million in annual revenue, positioning it as a significant entity within its parent company's portfolio. The acquisition by Hillenbrand integrated Coperion into a larger industrial conglomerate, providing strategic backing for continued growth and market expansion, particularly in global markets.
3. Product Pipeline
Key Products/Services
Coperion offers a comprehensive range of products and services, primarily focused on processing equipment and systems for various industries:
Extruders & Compounding Machines: Includes high-performance twin-screw extruders and comprehensive compounding solutions. Noted for advancements like 1000 KTA PE single line production post-reaction and single line color compounding for pipe grade materials.
Process Equipment: Advanced feeding and pneumatic conveying equipment, milling components, size reduction, washing, separating, drying, and agglomeration technologies. Coperion K-Tron's feeding, weighing, mechanical components, and control technologies are key offerings in this area.
Plants & Systems: Provides complete, turnkey production lines and customized plant solutions, integrating various components for seamless operation.
Service: Comprehensive aftermarket sales and support, including maintenance, spare parts, and optimization services.
C-Beyond Digital Services: A platform aimed at maximizing product, machine, and system utility for customers through advanced digital tools and insights.
Custom R&D Solutions: Ongoing development of specialized solutions such as post-reaction extrusion for polyolefin processing and additive feeding solutions.
4. Technology & Innovation
Technology Stack
Coperion distinguishes itself through:
Core Platforms: Advanced high-performance twin-screw extruders, feeding systems (including weigh belt feeders, vibratory feeders, and volumetric feeders), pneumatic conveying systems, and material handling solutions.
Proprietary Developments: Over 100 patents held by Coperion K-Tron for feeding, weighing, mechanical components, and control technologies. Innovations include advanced post-reaction extrusion and single line color compounding for specialized materials.
Scientific Methodologies: Emphasizes continuous research and development, particularly for polyolefin processing and battery manufacturing, to develop cutting-edge processing systems.
Technical Capabilities: Expertise in bulk solids handling, precision weighing, thermal processing, size reduction, and dust collection, integrated into comprehensive plant solutions. Business platforms like Extruders & Compounding Machines, Process Equipment, Plants & Systems, Service, and C-Beyond highlight an integrated approach to process infrastructure delivery.
5. Leadership & Management
Executive Team
Ulrich Bartel – President Coperion: Joined Coperion in 1990 as an engineer, with a degree in process technology. He has held various leading positions globally, including in Japan, China, Singapore, and the USA. He headed the Polymer Division as President since 2014 and was appointed President Coperion and Senior Vice President of Hillenbrand in 2021. He has been a member of the Executive Board of Coperion since 2014.
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrich-bartel-12a8841a/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrich-bartel-12a8841a/)
Alby Schenk – Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Joined Hillenbrand in 2011, holding various management positions before being appointed CFO for Coperion in 2023, where he oversees finance and accounting.
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alby-schenk-7722a52/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alby-schenk-7722a52/)
Markus Parzer – President Performance Materials Division: Joined Coperion in 1992. After an apprenticeship and industrial engineering studies, he held several leading positions at the Stuttgart production plant, including leading Order Management, the Extrusion Systems Business Unit, and the Polyolefins Business Unit. Since 2021, he has served as President Performance Materials Division and is a member of the Executive Board of Coperion.
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-parzer-a6907412b/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/markus-parzer-a6907412b/)
Stefan Rottke – President Aftermarket Sales & Service Division: Joined Coperion in January 2016 as CFO before transitioning to lead the Service Division. He is currently President of the Aftermarket Sales & Service Division.
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-rottke-9244031/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-rottke-9244031/)
Sara Albert – Executive Director Human Resources: Joined Coperion in 2014 and has held various HR positions, focusing on transformation projects in personnel and organizational development. She holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and was appointed to the Coperion Executive Board as Executive Director HR in 2025.
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-albert/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-albert/)
Recent Leadership Changes
June 2, 2021: Ulrich Bartel assumed leadership of the Coperion Group as President, succeeding Kimberly K. Ryan, who was appointed Executive Vice President of Hillenbrand, Inc.
2021: Markus Parzer replaced Ulrich Bartel as President of the Polymer Division, which was subsequently renamed the Performance Materials Division.
2023: Alby Schenk was appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Coperion.
2025: Sara Albert was appointed Executive Director Human Resources and became a member of the Coperion Executive Board.
6. Talent and Growth Indicators
Hiring Trends and Workforce
Coperion employs approximately 5,000 individuals globally, demonstrating its extensive reach and operational scale. The company maintains an active recruitment strategy across diverse fields including R&D, engineering, production, finance, sales, and service. Current hiring trends show a demand for roles such as Mechanical Assembler (Custom Machine Assembly), Electronic Engineering Analyst/Engineer II, Senior Manager - Americas Sales, HR Director, RMA Manager, Electrical Assembler, Fitter Welder, Controls Engineer, and Industry Manager (Confectionary & Other). This indicates a focus on strengthening its core technical and operational capabilities, as well as its sales and management functions.
Coperion seeks professionals characterized by "commitment and enthusiasm," "unlimited ideas," and a drive for "progress and change." The company emphasizes a positive working environment built on teamwork, mutual trust, and respectful interaction, ensuring fair pay, competitive salaries, retirement plans, and comprehensive health programs for employee well-being. The availability of opportunities for students, university graduates, and experienced professionals across its global sites reflects a strong growth trajectory and commitment to talent development and expansion.
7. Social Media Presence and Engagement
Digital Footprint
Coperion maintains a robust and professional digital footprint, primarily through its active presence on LinkedIn. The main Coperion company page features regular updates on new product launches, technological advancements, participation in industry events, and career opportunities. The brand messaging centers on its leadership in compounding, extrusion, and material handling, alongside a commitment to innovation and sustainability across its served industries (plastics, food, pharmaceuticals, and recycling).
Coperion also manages a dedicated LinkedIn page for Coperion Food, Health and Nutrition, targeting specific insights and solutions for these specialized sectors. The company engages with its community by sharing employee stories, fostering thought leadership through technical articles, and highlighting its global operations and impact.
LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/coperion/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/coperion/)
LinkedIn (Food, Health & Nutrition): [https://www.linkedin.com/company/coperionfhn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/coperionfhn)
8. Competitive Analysis
Major Competitors
Coperion operates in a dynamic and competitive market with several key players specializing in industrial machinery and processing solutions:
Industria Macchine Automatiche (IMA): A global leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for processing and packaging.
Marel (Machinery): Specializes in advanced equipment and systems for the fish, meat, and poultry industries.
Baker Perkins: Offers process machinery and systems for food, bakery, and confectionery industries.
Spiroflow Systems: Focuses on material handling and bulk bag filling/discharging equipment.
Key Technology: Provides digital sorting, conveying, and processing equipment for food industries.
RAFAKO: Involved in power generation equipment and industrial boilers.
Shenzhen Create Century Machinery: General industrial machinery manufacturer.
Ingersoll Rand: Diversified industrial company with various flow control and industrial products.
Sulzer: Specializes in pumping solutions, rotating equipment services, and separation, mixing, and application technology.
KraussMaffei Berstorff: Known for advanced extrusion technology, particularly in plastics and rubber.
Davis-Standard: Offers a wide range of extrusion and converting equipment.
Milacron: Provides plastics processing technologies, including injection molding, extrusion, and related services.
Coperion differentiates itself through its comprehensive solutions, providing everything from individual components to complete plant setups. While competitors like KraussMaffei Berstorff focus heavily on advanced extrusion technology and Davis-Standard offers a broad line of extrusion solutions, Coperion's integrated approach across compounding, material handling, and complete system delivery for diverse industries provides a distinct competitive edge.
9. Market Analysis
Market Overview
Coperion serves diverse and expanding markets, including plastics, plastics recycling, chemicals, battery manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, and minerals. The total addressable market for Coperion's offerings is substantial, driven by the global demand for manufactured goods and the increasing need for efficient, high-quality, and sustainable production processes.
Growth Potential: The market exhibits significant growth potential, particularly in key sectors where Coperion maintains a strong presence. The food and pharmaceutical industries demand state-of-the-art process equipment for precise, hygienic, and compliant operations. The rising global emphasis on plastics recycling also presents a major opportunity for Coperion's shredding, washing, separating, drying, and agglomeration technologies, aligning with sustainability trends and regulations. The burgeoning battery manufacturing industry, especially for electric vehicles and energy storage, further fuels demand for advanced material handling and processing solutions.
Key Market Trends:
Sustainability and Circular Economy: Increasing demand for recycling technologies and processes that reduce waste and utilize recycled materials.
Automation and Industry 4.0: Integration of advanced automation, digital controls, and data analytics to enhance efficiency, predictive maintenance, and overall plant optimization.
* Customization and Flexibility: Need for highly adaptable processing equipment
