INNOFORM visits Felix Schoeller – Interview with Julian Thielen and Guido Hofmeyer
With the first INNO‑Fiber, Innoform has established a new industry event – and sent out a strong signal right from the start. Around 70 participants on site and others watching the livestream spent a day and a half of intensive discussions on paper-based packaging solutions, regulation, technology and collaboration across the entire value chain.
For Julian Thielen, the new managing director of Innoform Coaching, it was the first event he had conceived and hosted entirely on his own. His verdict is clear: “Brilliant.”
A new format – and a strong team
From the outset, INNO‑Fiber was conceived as a platform for dialogue. The aim was not to deliver traditional keynote speeches, but to provide practical insights from people who truly believe in their topics. This is precisely what the participants highlighted as particularly positive: the quality of the presentations, the logical structure of the topics and the palpable commitment of everyone involved.
The team-based approach also proved its worth from an organisational perspective. The programme, speakers and discussions all flowed seamlessly into one another – and continued in the conversations following the presentations.
Host package: Experience the industry first-hand, rather than just listening
A special feature of INNO‑Fiber was the host package. Following the first day of the event at Innoform, the second day saw a visit to Felix Schoeller. Host Guido Hofmeyer did not hesitate for a second to support this new format.
The idea behind it: not just to discuss paper for the flexpack market in theory, but to make it something you can experience first-hand in production. It soon became clear to Hofmeyer that these were exactly the formats that were needed:
“We need to talk to each other more. Events like INNO-Fiber bring together exactly the right people to really make this transformation happen together.”
Guido Hofmeyer, Felix Schoeller
The second day of the event in particular demonstrated just how valuable this change of perspective is – moving straight from the lecture theatre to the machine.
Why INNO-Fiber? Paper is an exciting world for flexpack manufacturers
For a long time, Flexpack was virtually synonymous with plastic film. But that is changing fundamentally. Paper-based solutions are rapidly gaining in importance – driven by PPWR, sustainability targets and new market demands.
Julian Thielen sums it up: for many people from the world of film, paper is uncharted territory. There are uncertainties, gaps in knowledge – and sometimes resistance too. This is exactly where INNO‑Fiber comes in: to foster understanding, share knowledge and provide a dedicated space for this topic.
Die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette an einem Tisch
A frequently expressed wish at Innoform conferences is for greater involvement from brand owners. The INNO-Fiber host package has achieved this. The participant profile was deliberately broad:
- trademark owner
- Converter
- mechanical engineer
- paper manufacturer
- supplier
- Regulatory experts
This diverse mix made the discussions particularly valuable – and led to new contacts and concrete ideas for future collaboration.
Why Tesa? Small components, big impact
Tesa was there as a sponsor, impressively demonstrating just how crucial seemingly small components can be. Adhesive tapes play a central role in roll changes, in processing and in the ongoing production of paper-based packaging.
It is precisely here that it becomes clear just how closely all the cogs must mesh for paper-based solutions to work reliably – a core principle of INNO‑Fiber.
PPWR, barriers and new paper-based solutions
The PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) was a key topic at INNO‑Fiber. Felix Schoeller demonstrated how paper manufacturers are responding to this with a range of technologies:
- Thin PE extrusion coatings weighing up to 3–4 g/m²
- Multi-layer extrusion solutions
- Dispersions‑ und Curtain‑Coating‑Technologien
- Precise, application-specific barrier properties
The aim is to develop fibre-based packaging solutions that are both compliant with regulations and technically feasible.
Virgin fibre, recycled fibre – and openness
A key topic of discussion at INNO‑Fiber was the question of virgin fibre versus recycled materials. Felix Schoeller currently relies predominantly on virgin fibre – for functional reasons and due to its product history. At the same time, it was emphasised that the industry is undergoing change, and that an open-minded approach remains crucial.
Cooperation means more than just an exchange of ideas: it must be put into practice – including through external documents and joint approaches to solutions.
What’s next for INNO-Fiber?
Plans are already underway for the next instalment of INNO-Fiber. Meanwhile, the next major Innoform event – INNO-Circle, taking place on 1 and 2 July 2026 in Würzburg – is just around the corner. The event will explore the topic of the circular economy – including paper-based approaches – in greater depth.
One thing is clear following the first INNO‑Fiber:
The industry-wide dialogue has begun. The demand is there. And this format leaves us wanting more.
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