Following the May kickoff, the company hosted a second customer event in early September, welcoming guests from Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Australia for live technology demonstrations. The guests were able to see the AMICUS® depalletizing robot and the RADIMAT-PATHFINDER® — an automation system for empty bag logistics — and several other packing machines in action. HAVER & BOECKER’s technology brands greeted their customers with individual information stands showcasing their solutions and highlighting the scope of the company’s services.
One customer said, “It was an interesting night, and I learned a lot. Even though I’ve known H&B for years, I did not know that they are not only a machine manufacturer but also a full-service provider for the operation and maintenance of packing plants.”
History Brought to Life by Music and AI
HAVER & BOECKER treated guests to an anniversary concert where musicians and singers presented an entertaining journey through the six generations of the company. The music for the event was performed by the Northwest German Philharmonic Orchestra from Herford with its partner choir and the Musikverein Oelde, which shares a long partnership with HAVER & BOECKER.
The audience was led through a well-curated selection of classical and modern pieces by none other than HAVER & BOECKER’s founding figures themselves: AI-generated videos brought Carl Haver and Eduard Boecker back to life in a humorous conversation about the early years of the company. As Florian Festge added after the concert, this highlighted how HAVER & BOECKER is facing the development of artificial intelligence with optimism. “We do not deny that there are challenges, but we focus more on the chances and possibilities that this technology offers for our customers.”
Concluding the concert, Managing Directors Niklas Haver and Florian and Fabian Festge shared brief remarks on current company developments before inviting closing words from the youngest members of the company family and humanoid robot Buddi.
Spotlight on the People
The anniversary celebrations honored employees and customers alike, expressing deep gratitude for their ongoing support and commitment. During one portion of the event, the company invited employees and their families and friends to stroll through 23 stations in the production halls and see the HAVER & BOECKER machines in action. More than 4,000 visitors, young and old, admired the new Mission Control Center, where the company presents its QUAT2RO® services for process analysis, and the HAVER & BOECKER Institute, where material tests are conducted.
With a variety of tasty food, cold beverages and sweet treats, historic and new packing technology and fun activities, the atmosphere was filled with cheerful talk of old times and proud explanations of what HAVER & BOECKER has achieved.
HAVER & BOECKER can rightfully claim to be a true family company, as relationships with customers and employees often last decades; and some employees have even recommended the company as a workplace to family members.
“After all these years of successful partnership with our employees and their families as well as our customers, we wanted to thank them and invite everybody for a special celebration,” said Dr. Fabian Festge, Managing Partner of HAVER & BOECKER.
As many employees and the managing directors share a passion for classic cars, the event also included a classic car, bike and motorcycle rally from Münster to Oelde, further emphasizing the company’s historical reach. Starting at the BEHN + BATES production site in Münster, HAVER & BOECKER employees drove about 94 historic cars and 12 motorcycles through the scenic Münsterland area to the headquarters to be presented to the visitors.
Community as the Driving Force
Highlighting the company’s development from manufacturing manual packing machines to delivering completely automated packing lines and full-cycle service, the anniversary weekend first and foremost celebrated people, bringing together customers from all over the world and giving employees a chance to show their work to their loved ones. This strong connection to the people highlights that community often drives innovation — and it’s something HAVER & BOECKER is proud to embody.
HAVER & BOECKER will be concluding its anniversary year with a final customer event on December 3, presenting yet another glimpse into current machine highlights in Oelde. Customers who would like to experience the technologies again can still register via the HAVER & BOECKER website: www.haverboecker.com.
