In the field of mechanical engineering, Krifft & Zipsner GmbH is a market leader and somewhat of a ‘hidden champion’, thanks to its production of pile tuners and transport and conveying systems, as well as its servicing and maintaining of equipment. Beyond its pile turners and logistics systems there lies a focus on turnkey automation solutions for pallet transport. With CEO René Eberz being recognised for this in particular, we caught up with him for more on both these services and his career.
Founded in 1993 by Klaus Zipsner, the internationally active, owner-managed company Krifft & Zipsner has spent more than 30 years designing and implementing projects for the printing and packaging industry, standing for high quality and system availability at every turn. Distinguished by a process of vertical integration that sees it embody high levels of flexibility, the team handle everything from manufacturing and assembly to testing their systems, ensuring both a seamless process and efficiency across the board.
Certified in accordance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, as well as boasting UL certification, the company has more than 175 people working for it, whose roles cover everything from consulting and design to assembling individual customer projects. Such a big scope across its team means that Krifft & Zipsner can cover all the bases for their clients, developing logistics systems for everything from printing machines and die-cutters to laminating, foiling, and cross-cutting machines, even when these machines are operated non-stop.
With more than 2,500 machines and conveyor systems delivered over the course of its more than 30-year history in this space, Krifft & Zipsner is one of Germany’s premier providers of automation solutions. Alongside national printing and packaging companies, the company also delivers its equipment and logistics systems to clients throughout Europe and the rest of the world. But this is not all, and as mentioned in the beginning, this team also offer turnkey automation systems for pallet transport, another of their key differentiators.
Discussing this service in more detail, René commented: “Regardless of your product, we ensure that your pallets are moved through your factory or operation efficiently, in a controlled and traceable manner.” By automating pallet transport, the team can ensure a smooth material flow, and with each pallet being tracked and controlled seamlessly, keeping track of everything has never been more simple. What’s more, these solutions come from a single source and are tailored to the needs of the client, adding real value.
“With automation solutions from Krifft & Zipsner, you can optimise your pallet logistics, reduce costs, and increase your competitiveness.”
Behind all of these services is the family ethos of this business, which defines how it acts. By facing the challenges inherent in today’s business and political world as a team, great things can be achieved. Touching on this, René remarked: “Success always consists of several components. And some of the most important components are the people around you – the family that has your back and is able to ground you.” For René, the team here are family, and without them to lead, his position as CEO would be empty.
The man at the helm of Krifft & Zipsner GmbH, René got his start in this space completing a humble apprenticeship as a toolmaker, before continuing his education and honing his skills over the years. Today, René is, amongst other things, a master precision mechanic, a technical business economist, and a REFA technician. As well as developing his skills, René has grown professionally in other ways as well, taking on new challenges and responsibilities in roles across various mechanical engineering companies.
All these experiences add up to make René a discerning and capable CEO – a man known for being down to earth in his dealings and yet a visionary when it comes to the future of Krifft & Zipsner. It is thanks to him that the company is today in a very good position, something which was not always the case. René explained: “When I joined the company, the situation was very overwhelming. The pandemic was still fresh in people’s minds, and the company had grown steadily but not made a profit for eight years.”
Having to overcome everything from balance-sheet indebtedness to issues across supply chains, the company needed somebody willing and capable in the driver’s seat if it was to turn its fortunes around. So, leveraging both the good name of the company and a team with whom he knew he could achieve great things, René set about transforming the company from the inside out. Today, almost four years into the role, René has seen Krifft & Zipsner be firmly in the black for three of these, representing a full transformation.
Exploring this further, René told us: “The company was put back on a stable financial footing and I succeeded in shaping and motivating our team of employees in such a way that this was successful. The goal remains to create a versatile company, and we are currently expanding our portfolio.” He continued: “Ultimately, we want to evolve into a company that is capable of change. We want to push ahead with the standardisation of our products in order to be able to handle day-to-day business better and create a space for progress.”
With René Eberz overseeing the future expansion and evolution of Krifft & Zipsner GmbH, the company is in great hands to continue to position itself as a cross-border leader and a partner of choice for turnkey automation solutions in pallet logistics and beyond. Recognised as the Best Turnkey Automation Solutions CEO 2026 (Europe) on the back of all of the above, it is our pleasure to celebrate René in this programme. More on the great work he is doing at the company can be found by visiting the web address below.
“Our comprehensive service ensures that your system retains its performance for years to come and that you can concentrate fully on your core business. Trust in Krifft & Zipsner – for logistics that moves.”
Contact Details
Contact: René Eberz
Company: Krifft and Zipsner GmbH
Web Address: https://www.krifft-zipsner.de/
