The history of the Müller Group.

Embark on an exciting journey through time

2024
The Müller Group is rolling out its new sustainability strategy at the start of 2024. It is tackling the economic, ecological and social challenges holistically. The Müller companies have been investing in the health and safety of their employees, in the quality of their products, customer solutions and services, as well as in protecting the environment and reducing their energy consumption for decades. For the new strategy, a sustainability team held workshops to identify the levers for sustainable development and future viability within the Müller Group. Thanks to this basis, the Müller companies can now launch individual sustainability initiatives. Three equally important thrusts are being pursued: Climate-neutral Müller Group, resource-conserving products and motivated employees.
2023
In January, the new production buildings and administration of the Indian joint venture Müller Unifab are officially opened in Vadodara. In addition to the Müller and Saraiya families, the Swiss Consul General in India, Martin Maier, also attends the celebrations.
At the Annual General Meeting in June, Chairman of the Board of Directors Walter Müller-Freyberger steps down from the Board of Directors. Having already relinquished the chairmanships of the operating companies in 2022, he is handing over the chairmanship of MVM Pack-Holding AG (Müller Group) to Patrick Müller.
After the first photovoltaic system was installed at the Münchenstein site in 2012, a targeted expansion of the electricity production areas has taken place over the past two years, which has now been completed in 2023. There are photovoltaic systems at all Müller Group sites - in Münchenstein, Reiden, Muttenz and Rheinfelden (Germany). The focus of the expansion was placed in Münchenstein and Reiden, as this is where the energy-intensive production of steel drums is located. Numerous roof renovations were carried out as preparatory work. Overall, the Müller Group can currently produce up to 2.3 GWh of green electricity per year. That is enough energy to power around 475 four-person households.
2022
From January 1, Christian Reinau, Jonas Müller and Daniel Müller will join the Board of Directors. At the same time, Walter Müller hands over the office of Chairman of the Board of Directors of the operating companies to Patrick Müller and Jonas Müller respectively. This means that the 5th generation of the family will continue to be involved in the management of the Müller Group.
On January 1, Matthias Meier takes over as Managing Director of Müller DrumTec from Thomas Furtwängler, who will retire in March 2023.
The sustainable work of the four Müller companies is a matter close to the Müller family's heart. At this year's meeting of the Board of Directors, at which the Müller Group's future priorities are discussed, the Board of Directors instructed the Executive Board to develop a Group-wide sustainability strategy.
Müller Packaging will celebrate “125 years of existence” and “100 years of the Münchenstein site” in 2022 with a varied program. This includes an “Official Evening” with customers, business partners and the Müller family, a very well-attended open day and an employee excursion to Stoos, to name just a few examples. As part of the anniversary celebrations, Müller Packaging also sponsored the new Vitaparcours in the municipality of Münchenstein, which was officially opened by Patrick Müller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Müller Packaging, among others.
2021
In January, Müller DrumTec is certified as an ATEX and IECEx facility. This gives the company in Badisch Rheinfelden an important unique selling point over its competitors.
Peter Müller, former CEO of the Müller Group, retires. He joined Müller Plastics (then still Plastomatic) in 1982 as Sales Manager and then took over as CEO. In 1999, he became CFO of the entire Group, and in 2006 Delegate of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Müller Group. He handed over the CEO position to Christian Reinau in 2019. In addition to his operational functions, he has also been a member of the Board of Directors since 1997. He will remain with the Müller Group in this role.
The spin-off of Müller Processing GmbH from Müller GmbH took place in Badisch Rheinfelden on July 1, marking the official launch of the new Müller Processing. Müller Processing consists of the AG in Switzerland and the GmbH in Germany.
In August, the Müller Group began developing its digitalization strategy. In a series of workshops, 70 employees contributed and consolidated their needs.
At the Vadodara site in India, the Müller Unifab joint venture completed the production buildings and the surrounding infrastructure. Production facilities have been installed and put into operation.
In addition to “Packaging” and “Processing”, the Müller Group is now establishing the “Systems” division. Müller DrumTec is part of this division. In the three divisions, the Müller companies can pursue their different strengths more independently and consistently.
2020
The coronavirus pandemic is paralyzing societies and economic systems worldwide. During the crisis, Müller Group companies are focusing on the well-being and health of their employees - and are consistently pursuing the goal of keeping production running.
Corona is having a major impact on sales activities. Face-to-face meetings are no longer taking place. All trade fairs are canceled. New communication channels, such as MS Teams or Zoom platforms, are introduced and help to maintain close and trusting cooperation with customers and business partners.
CEO Christian Reinau addresses all 400 employees in a video conference and informs them about the strategy of the Handling & Processing division, which will be implemented from January 1, 2021: The systems business, which is currently partly located in Müller Processing, Müller Cleaning and Müller Intralogistics, will be merged into one company. The Systems division (i.e. technical customer solutions “around the drum”) will remain with the current Müller Processing. The company will change its name to Müller DrumTec GmbH. The Müller Cleaning and Müller Intralogistics brands are withdrawn from the market. The systems business is continued under (the new) Müller Processing. Thomas Furtwängler becomes Managing Director of Müller DrumTec and Thomas Storrer of Müller Processing.
The new website goes online in mid-August. Following the corporate design change in 2018, the market presence is now consistently fresh and contemporary.
Fernando Cruz has become better known throughout Switzerland. He is the man on the barrel in the national advertising campaign of pension fund insurer SwissLife, which focuses on the long-standing partnership with Müller Packaging.
2019
In the first quarter, Müller Packaging, Müller Cleaning and Müller Intralogistics move into the two office floors of the new building at Tramstrasse 20 in Münchenstein. For the first time, all companies based in Münchenstein are united under one roof.
The Board of Directors of MVM Pack-Holding AG (Müller Group) has appointed Christian Reinau as the new CEO as of 1 April 2019. He will thus take over the strategic management of all five Müller companies from Peter Müller, who held this office from 2006 to March 2019. The handover was celebrated in a ceremony at the KUSPO in Münchenstein. All employees were invited. In the entertainment section, the Basel drum ensemble STICKSTOFF shone and inspired.
The Swiss companies of the Müller Group will receive revised, modern personnel regulations. It brings uniform rules for the employees of Müller Packaging, Müller Plastics, Müller Cleaning and Müller Intralogistics. Employees will receive 30 days' vacation after reaching the age of 50. Paternity leave will also be introduced.
2018
The Müller Group has concluded a joint venture with the Indian company Unifab Engineers. The new company, MuellerUnifab Packaging LLP, will supply customers in Asia with high-quality steel drums produced locally with Swiss know-how and quality standards. The contracts were signed in February. The joint venture started on 1 April 2018.
Müller GmbH wins the employer award «Job-Motor». It is awarded by the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in Freiburg, Schopfheim and Villingen-Schwenningen as well as the Freiburg Chamber of Trade and the Baden Association of Industrial Enterprises. It honours companies that have created new jobs in 2017 and have taken special measures to retain skilled workers in the long term.
2017
The fifth generation of Müllers joins the team. At the annual general meeting of MVM Pack-Holding, Patrick Müller and Ueli C. Müller are voted onto the management board as new members as part of the company’s long-term succession planning. In addition, Daniel Müller and Jonas Müller are appointed managing directors of Müller GmbH Rheinfelden.
With the ceremonial turning of the first sod on 14 November 2017, work begins on the construction of the new production and logistics building for Müller AG Packaging in Münchenstein. The new building will serve to optimise current manufacturing processes.
2016
As measures of the Müller Group strategy, the company Plastomatic AG is renamed «Müller AG Plastics» and Fördertechnik AG is renamed «Müller AG Intralogistics».
With the adoption of LEAN management in the Müller Group, we want to create values without prodigality.
In November, the 4th and 5th generation of the Müller family meet for a family day to visit Müller GmbH in Rheinfelden Germany.
2015
The sites of the Müller Group located in Switzerland are faced with major challenges by the abolition of the minimum Euro exchange rate of CHF 1,20 by the SNB on January 15th.
«I am Müller» is the slogan for the celebration on the 12th of September. The employees and pensioners of Müller GmbH celebrate the 50th anniversary of the site in Rheinfelden together with their families with an eventful festivity. Simultaneously the new production hall is officially inaugurated. The extension over more than 1.300m2 is the third expansion of the production space since the company was founded in 1965, additional to the years 1970 and 1999.
The management system FSSC 22000 for food safety for selected drum productions is introduced and successfully certified.
2014
Starting April 1st, the Müller AG Cleaning Solution is based in Münchenstein and under new management.
The company Müller Container Systeme GmbH Appenweier (Germany) is founded. It produces and sells container systems for the pharmaceutical and food industry.
The two business segments Industrial Packaging and Handling & Processing are doing well in the market. The Müller Group employs 400 people, including 14 trainees.
The Müller Group is working with a new ERP System.
The public road that crosses the factory premises in Münchenstein will be taken over by the municipality. This allows the planning of production-related optimizations at the Münchenstein site.
The 4th and 5th Müller generation meet in October for a family day to visit Müller AG Verpackungen in Reiden.
2013
The Müller AG Immo Münchenstein is founded. They supervise the estate and the residential and commercial properties of the Müller Group.
2012
The Müller-Systemtechnik of Fördertechnik AG Münchenstein is successfully integrated in Müller GmbH Rheinfelden (Germany).
Daniel Müller, representative of the 5th Müller Generation, joins the Müller AG Cleaning Solution as head of Technical Division.
The whole Müller Group achieves the initial certification of the management system ISO 14001 and occupational safety OSHAS 18001.
In August the 4th and 5th Müller generation meet for a family day and visit the plants Plastomatic AG Muttenz and Müller AG Verpackungen Münchenstein.
A photovoltaic system for 100,000 kwh is installed on the roof of Müller AG Verpackungen Münchenstein.
2011
Senior partner and shareholder of the 3rd generation Rudolf Müller dies at 86 years on the 13th of March.
On November 17, the Müller Group wins a good second place at the renowned SVC Entrepreneur Award Northern Switzerland.
The year is marked by a large Euro crisis and a strong Swiss Franc.
2010
Senior partner and 3rd generation shareholder Hans Müller-Senn dies on the 23rd of March at the age of 83.
Fördertechnik AG Münchenstein takes a 25% stake in ILS Intra Logistik Service AG in Muhen.
2009
The global recession is putting pressure on the course of business.
Müller AG Verpackungen Münchenstein and Reiden certifies the hygiene management system DIN 15593.
The new Müller brands are introduced and the Müller film is produced.
The company Müller AG Cleaning Solutions, Wohlen, is founded. It produces cleaning systems for the pharmaceutical and food industries.
2008
The work rests - for some contemplative and proud moments. The Reiden plant of Müller AG Verpackungen celebrates its 30th birthday.
The financial crisis also challenges the Müller Group.
On August 21, the 3rd, 4th and 5th generations of the Müller family meet at the Rheinfelden plant for Family Day.
Plastomatic AG Muttenz, a manufacturer of plastic food packaging, passes the initial certification of the BRC/IoP management system.
2006
Walter Müller takes over from Marco Fischer as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the operating companies of the Müller Group. Peter Müller replaces Marco Fischer as CEO of the Müller Group.