GKD and ULMEX enter into long-term partnership

GKD – Gebr. Kufferath AG and ULMEX Industrie System GmbH & Co KG announce the launch of their long-term partnership for the Italian corrugated board market. Since the beginning of 2026, ULMEX and GKD have been working hand in hand on the sales and related technical service of the GKD doublebacker belt BLUEBACKER and the drum lagging BLUEBACKER ECO GRIP SC.
The cooperation aims to expand the market presence of both companies in the corrugated board industry, accelerate response times, eliminate language barriers, and further strengthen on-site customer support.

Strategic reasons and synergies in focus

The partnership was established to meet the corrugated board industry’s requirements for reliable on-site service, technical consultation and rapid availability. By combining their expertise, GKD and ULMEX are creating a powerful sales and service unit that stands out in Italy thanks to short distances, solid industry knowledge, and high responsiveness.

ULMEX is an established and respected company with deep market access and many years of presence in the Italian corrugated board industry. With ULMEX’s expanded sales network and locally anchored service infrastructure, GKD is further increasing its capacities in sales and service, as ULMEX has a sufficient number of technicians and sales staff.
At the same time, customers benefit from minimized risks in plant operation, as service assignments can now be carried out significantly faster and more comprehensively.

Joint objectives and expected effects

Through the partnership, both companies aim to expand their market share, promote sustainable growth, and increase customer value. In the short and long term, GKD and ULMEX expect:

• Synergy effects from complementary product portfolios for both companies
• Increased capacities in sales and service
• Technical advancements through joint innovation impulses

Quotes

“With ULMEX, we have gained a highly renowned and experienced partner who knows the Italian market like few others. As a machine builder, the company is accustomed to providing well-founded technical advice and possesses a comprehensive understanding of the requirements in technical sales and service,” says Dominik Braun, Key Market Manager Corrugated Board & Pulp for Paper at GKD. “Our BLUEBACKER product portfolio is technologically leading. Through the new partnership, we ensure that customers in Italy benefit not only from the quality of our solutions but also from first-class on-site service.”

“The collaboration with GKD is an important step for us to further expand our portfolio in the field of high-quality industrial components,” adds Angelo Maggi, Managing Director of ULMEX. “BLUEBACKER and ECO GRIP SC laggings are pioneering products for corrugated board production. We look forward to further establishing their benefits in the Italian market together with GKD.“