Packing up to 1,400 pots per hour while seamlessly switching between paper and plastic? Yes, the pot packer sleeve bagging machine from Weber Verpackungen makes it possible. This German packaging manufacturer introduced the machine in 2024, and since then, demand from growers across Europe has been steadily rising.
Ewald Bouwmeister and Thomas Leithe at the IPM Essen 2025
"This machine is designed to efficiently package potted flowers and herbs, significantly enhancing productivity for horticultural businesses", says Ewald Bouwmeister, Head of Business Development at Weber Verpackungen. And as the pot packer can handle up to 1,400 pots per hour with minimal manpower, allowing existing staff to focus on more value-added tasks, he continues. "For larger operations, multiple pot packers can be synchronized in line and operated with low personnel capacity. The uniform, automatic processing ensures a consistent, crease-free appearance of the packaged potted plants."
Weber Verpackungen is known for its sleeves and particularly for its bloom guard paper sleeve. So why did they invest in creating the pot packer? "There were already sleeve bagging machines on the market, but they could only process plastic packaging. So, there was no solution for paper packaging on the market. With our new machine, it is possible to quickly switch between paper and plastic without losing much time and in turn money. Moreover, it also significantly increases productivity."
See how the pot packer works in this video.
The machine operates by accommodating both paper and plastic packaging materials. "For example, when a roll of paper sleeves is finished, it can be quickly replaced with a roll of plastic, and vice versa," he adds. This feature allows horticultural businesses to efficiently tailor their packaging needs to the specific demands of their customers and markets.
According to Bouwmeister, the biggest advantage is that companies can now use both paper and plastic packaging without stopping the production line or having to operate multiple machines. "This makes the pot packer particularly suitable for companies considering switching from plastic to paper due to sustainability considerations, while still wanting to benefit from the advantages of both materials."
"In short, with this innovation, companies can boost their productivity while responding to the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions", he concludes.
For more information:
Ewald Bouwmeister
WEBER Verpackungen
Email: bouwmeister@weberverpackungen.de
www.potpacker.de