Bromberg Customer Case Study
Packaging specialist relies on the consistent use of ELKALUB H1 lubricants
An interview with the managing director of Bromberger Packungen about his experiences with ELKALUB H1 lubricants.
Mr. Bromberger, you use almost exclusively ELKALUB lubricants in your print shop. Are lubricants actually something you even think about in your day-to-day operations?
Christof Bromberger: Well, it certainly depends on your perspective. For our printing technicians, the lubricants we use naturally play a role in the context of maintenance. Otherwise, the lubricants are meant – and you can take that literally – to ensure that production runs smoothly. To put it more bluntly: Our machines have to run, and the lubricant has to do its part to make that happen. And we’ve had good experiences with ELKALUB in this regard for many years.
To what extent are you directly involved with lubricants?
Let me back up a bit. The requirements for our industry have become increasingly stringent in recent years. Even the tiniest amounts of particles are detectable today and are regulated by corresponding limit values. Today, it’s no longer a matter of ppm – parts per million –but of ppb –parts per billion. These are the kinds of particle levels you’d find in that famous sugar cube in Lake Constance. So today, our customers aren’t just looking at the raw materials we use in large quantities, such as cardboard, but also at materials like inks or coatings.
And now also the production resources, such as lubricants?
I’ll get to that in a moment. Regarding your first question: I usually focus on the materials used when new requirements –whether legal, industry-specific, or similar –are imposed on us. Key terms here are low-migration inks or HACCP – as a company, we have to decide: Do we want this? Can we do this? What does this mean? And, of course: What opportunities does this present? These are also strategic and business decisions. Bromberger Packungen has always been at the forefront in the past. We’ve proactively tackled these challenges. For example, we’re certified under HACCP, FSC, and PEFC.
And now, the use of H1 lubricants as well.
The requirement to use H1 lubricants certainly takes on a new dimension in this context, since we do not use lubricants as production inputs, but “only” as auxiliary materials. This means that our products – namely, packaging - do not contain any lubricants.
Why the requirement to use H1 lubricants?
Quite simply: because of HACCP – at least that’s how we see it. We manufacture a large number of our packaging products on behalf of food producers and the pharmaceutical industry. To further enhance food and consumer safety, our customers have expressed a desire for the use of appropriate lubricants.
Has Bromberger Packungen converted its entire production to H1?
Yes, it began two years ago with the scheduled overhaul of a printing press. We used that opportunity to switch to H1 lubricants in collaboration with ELKALUB. We then equipped the other printing presses with these lubricants as well. A year ago, as a final step, the post-press processing line was also equipped with H1 lubricants.
Wouldn’t it have been enough to switch only the area where packaging for the food industry is produced?
Bromberger Packungen doesn’t do things halfway. Besides, it’s not practical. Suddenly, an order comes in where, due to tight deadlines, you have to produce on all lines at short notice. No customer would understand if I told them, “I’m afraid that’s not possible - the machine doesn’t have the right oil.”
About the company
Bromberger Packungen, a company still family-owned and operated today, was founded in 1904 as “Lithographische Kunstanstalt Karl Bromberger.” Christof Bromberger, representing the fourth generation, has been at the helm since 2004. Bromberger Packungen specializes in the production of folding boxes, displays, and promotional materials. Many major brand manufacturers have their packaging produced by Bromberger, ranging from simple folding boxes produced in the millions to elaborately finished presentation boxes for exclusive special editions.