The packaging industry faces a key dilemma: barrier packaging reliably protects products, but is hardly recyclable, thus hindering the circular economy. Aachen-based scale up lonKraft has developed a groundbreaking solution with its plasma-based coating technology lonX. The ultra-thin, glass-like nano-coating ensures maximum barrier performance while enabling the packaging to be fully recyclable. In this way, lonKraft combines sustainable product protection with genuine recyclability.
"Our goal is to bring about lasting change in the packaging industry. By using our plasma coating, conventional plastic packaging is converted into recyclable products, thereby protecting the environment and conserving resources." Benedikt Heuer, Co-Founder & MD
With the support of Scale-up.NRW, the company is preparing to move from pilot to series production, professionalizing its structures and accelerating the industrialization of its facilities. Close cooperation with RWTH Aachen University, industry, and mentors creates optimal conditions for the market entry of deep tech innovations. lonKraft shows that technology and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, but rather reinforce each other. The goal is a functioning circular economy in which packaging is no longer considered waste, but rather a valuable resource.
Whether in production, trade, or transport, without pallets, containers, and racks, nothing moves from A to B in logistics. However, the management of these reusable assets is still intransparent, error-prone, and expensive in many cases. This is exactly where the Dortmund-based scale up Logistikbude comes in—with a radically different approach: complete automation based on existing data. Instead of relying on new, additional data collection, the cloud-based SaaS solution uses existing information from ERP, transport, warehouse, and partner systems to detect, record, and orchestrate load carrier movements in the network in near real time—without any manual intervention. The platform already processes around 20 million load carriers per month automatically. This enables shippers, logistics service providers, and retailers to permanently reduce shrinkage and reorder rates while ensuring full transparency of inventories, requirements, and turnaround times.
"We have proven to industry leaders such as the Nagel Group, RWE, and DACHSER that load carrier management can be automated—across company boundaries. Now it's a matter of establishing this standard across Europe." Dr. Philipp Honing, Co-Founder & CEO
Founded at Fraunhofer IML in Dortmund, Logistikbude is now scaling its solution across Europe with strong growth in the enterprise segment. The Scale-up.NRW program supports the company in establishing international structures, setting standards, and further expanding strategic partnerships.