History
In 1914, the company moves into new factory premises on Kernstrasse in Zurich.
The customer base is expanded to include German-speaking Switzerland. For reasons of hygiene, products are increasingly packaged in promotional paper bags.
New factory building on Badenerstrasse in Zurich-Altstetten, built shortly before the National Exhibition in 1939 and the outbreak of the Second World War.
Manual labour department
In 1958, Wipf AG is primarily a paper and cardboard processing company with flexographic and offset printing.
In 1962, the company specialises in flexible packaging and enters gravure printing and film lamination. Sealed bags are manufactured for the first time and the first vacuum packaging for coffee is produced.
The move to the new factory in Volketswil took place in 1970 and new machines (gravure printing machine, laminating machine and winder) were put into operation so as not to interrupt production.
In 1972, sterilisation-resistant composite films are developed.
The WICOVALVE® flavour protection and pressure relief valve was developed and patented in 1976.
In 1986, Wipf AG enters the blown film coextrusion sector for the production of high-quality polyethylene laminating films. After around 26 years, PE film production is outsourced.
In 2003, a regenerative exhaust air purification system (RNV) with heat recovery for heating thermal oil and hot water is installed.
Printing capacity is expanded in 2005 with a new 10-colour gravure printing system. Four years later, the second 10-colour gravure printing system is installed.
The digital printing era begins. The second HP Indigo 20000 digital printing press for printing flexible packaging is commissioned in 2014.

More than 100 years of tradition and innovation

1914
Heinrich Wipf acquires the mechanical paper bag production facility founded in 1882 by Carl Lüdin in Zürich and introduces flexographic printing. 

1934
First application of cellophane and aluminium fois in food packaging.

1962
 Introduction of gravure printing and film lamination. First vacuum packs for coffee.

1966
 Incorporation of Wipf Holding AG in Zürich.

1970
 Relocation of Wipf AG and Wipf Holding AG from Zürich to the new flexible packaging plant in Volketswil.

1971
 Introduction of blown film extrusion technology.

1976
 Production start of WICOVALVE® one-way aroma-protection/pressure-relief valve.

1988/89
Introduction of blown film co-extrusion technology. First stand-up pouch machine installed in Volketswil.

1991
 Expansion into the EU. The Wipf Group acquires Paka Verpackungen GmbH, in Marchtrenk, Austria, later renamed Wipf Austria GmbH.

1998
 SAP implementation throughout the group.

2000
 First laser perforation system installed.

2002
 New building for pouch making department.

2005
Installation of a gravure printing line, including washing plants and a fully automated cylinder logistics system.

2008/2009
 Inauguration of a second triplex lamination machine. Installation of a second 10-colour gravure press.

2010
Repatriation of Austrian manufacturing resources to Switzerland with intensified emphasis on production in Volketswil.

2012
 Outsourcing of PE film production.

2012
 Launch of digital printing for flexible packaging.

2013
 Incorporation of subsidiary Wipf Doypak A.S in Turkey.

2014
 The Wipf Group turned 100 on 1 January 2014.

2014
 Commissioning of a second HP Indigo 20000 digital press.

2015
Incorporation of RC- Film LTD, Rayong, Thailand, JV. Production start of PP films. 

2016
 Installation of a new pouch making machine, lamination machine and valve production system.

2019
Acquisition of Michel Werkzeugbau AG, specialist in mold making and plastics technology.

2020
Commissioning of a high-performance slitter rewinder with palletizing system incl. robot.

Significant increase in injection molding capacity at Michel Werkzeugbau AG after relocation to the new production building in Nänikon.

2021
Winning of the Swiss Packaging Award in the category "Sustainability" with a 10 kg mono-material pouch for dry dog food. In addition, award and distinction of the pouch in the category "Special Prize Circular Economy".

Installation of an ultrasonic spout sealing system.

Installation of a photovoltaic system on the roof of the production building.