Groninger at the PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago

The requirements for pharmaceutical production equipment are becoming increasingly complex. Manufacturers are increasingly seeking partners who not only master individual process steps but also offer comprehensive solutions along the entire value chain. Against this background, groninger will present itself from October 18 to 21 at PACK EXPO International 2026 in Chicago at booth W-28022.

At one of North America's most important industry trade shows, groninger will demonstrate how decades of expertise in fill/finish, combined with extensive know-how in downstream processing and a strong lifecycle offering, can be integrated into a seamless solution approach.

“Our core competence clearly lies in filling and sealing pharmaceutical liquids. At the same time, we have observed for years that customers are increasingly looking for integrated solutions that go beyond individual process steps,” says Dirk Schuster, Vice President of Global Sales Pharma. “This is where we can draw on a broad portfolio and deep process understanding.”

As an exhibit at the trade show booth, groninger will showcase an SMKE Assembly Line. The system exemplifies the company's expertise—in this case in pharmaceutical downstream processing—and also represents the holistic solution approach that groninger pursues today. The machine processes all common pre-filled single-use syringes made of glass and plastic and can be flexibly integrated into existing production environments. This allows multiple process steps to be combined into one solution, enabling manufacturers to make their production processes efficient and quality-assured.

“Not every innovation can be presented in steel and iron at a trade show,” says Schuster, adding: “Many of our latest developments are brought digitally to Chicago. These include modern high-performance systems for pharmaceutical production, new technologies for processing pre-filled syringes and vials, as well as concepts that consistently combine automation, flexibility, and process security.”

The demands on pharmaceutical production systems have noticeably changed in recent years. Increasing automation, higher requirements for quality and data integrity, and regulatory standards such as Annex 1 are driving the industry forward. Particularly in aseptic production environments, closed processes, automated workflows, and strict contamination control are becoming more prominent.

At the same time, pharmaceutical companies expect shorter project lead times, reduced interfaces, and seamless integration of all production steps. As a result, turnkey concepts and holistic system solutions are gaining increasing importance.

“Today, many pharmaceutical companies view their production lines much more comprehensively,” confirms Philipp Hauser, Managing Director of groninger USA. “It's about risk minimization and holistic approaches,” Schuster and Hauser agree.

The desire for holistic solutions is not limited to production itself. For many pharmaceutical companies, the entire lifecycle of a system is increasingly in focus. New regulatory requirements, sensitive products, or changing production needs often necessitate the further development of existing systems. This is where groninger’s Lifecycle Solutions come into play.

“Today, the success of a project is not determined solely by the technical specifications of a machine,” says Hauser. “Equally important is how reliably a system can produce over many years.” How flexible is the system in adapting to new requirements and regulations? How quickly is support available when needed? How long are spare or format parts available? “These are questions our customers are concerned with alongside all regulatory requirements,” Hauser continues.

The industry's development is therefore clear: it is no longer just about powerful individual machines but integrated solutions throughout the entire lifecycle. At PACK EXPO, groninger will demonstrate what such an approach can look like in practice.