Transformation in the paper and packaging industry: Klingele drives innovation with artificial intelligence

Processes, products, services and new business models: the potential applications of AI are diverse and offer companies the opportunity to work more efficiently and grow. The paper and packaging manufacturer Klingele wants to utilise these opportunities and is setting up an AI Research Hub. The aim is to identify potential fields of application for AI and then implement technology-driven innovations. To this end, a team has been set up around Florian Härer, who was previously responsible for innovation and who will form the interface between the AI Research Hub, Klingele's IT and the company's strategic direction.

"Artificial intelligence is a key topic for the future success of our industry. We want to use the AI Research Hub to quickly create significant benefits for our customers," says Dr Jan Klingele, Managing Partner of the Klingele Paper & Packaging Group. The newly founded team will prepare an AI report by May, summarising the results of a needs and potential analysis in order to derive the most sensible application options for the company and then implement them. "AI technology is now so advanced that we want to use it for complex and time-consuming tasks in our company in order to act more efficiently and effectively and to optimise communication processes. The AI Research Hub gives us the space we need to discover AI for use at Klingele and introduce it in a targeted manner," says Florian Härer, Head of the AI Research Hub.

In addition to integrating AI into internal and external company processes and further developing the expertise of Klingele's workforce, the hub is primarily intended to contribute to the digital transformation of Klingele's existing business model. Initial approaches are offered by a concept for an AI-based platform for knowledge-based service consulting, which was developed last year in a teaching cooperation project between Klingele and the University of Stuttgart.

With the newly established department, Klingele is consistently pursuing its commitment to innovation and utilising the existing structures of the innovation system to cooperate with research institutions, companies and other partners.