Hapa History

2025 - 2024

New generations of solutions enhance transformation and support the path towards automation. 

As a trusted partner to pharmaceutical manufacturers, Hapa is helping pioneer digital workflows that enhance existing packaging processes – boosting agility, efficiency, and sustainability. New generations of machines support this goal:  

2023: evo+ family offers Hybrid, Flexo or full-Digital printing for pharmaceutical web materials.

2024: Web 4.0 5D takes digital full-color inline printing of web packaging materials to the next level.

2025: blisterjet agile represents Hapa’s most cost-efficient and versatile digital solution for late-stage customization of sealed blisters.

Hapa blisterjet
2023 - future

2023

Hapa celebrates 90 years of creating trust

Hapa’s 90th anniversary was an occasion to honor the company's long success story with a special employee event.

“The employee’s tireless commitment to Hapa as well as their professional and social competence is an important basis for our growth,” says Hapa’s CFO at the celebration.

With the industry moving towards Pharma 4.0, Hapa is your partner on the path towards digitalization and automation, while we continuously work on new software solutions.

2022 – 2010

Hapa takes over a longstanding supplier and development partner to create its own ink business.

The product portfolio further evolves, now including late-stage customization solutions for sealed blisters and blow-fill-seal (BFS) containers.

2015: launch of the redcube plus, a modular digital printing system for a variety of pharmaceutical applications.

2016: introduction of the blisterjet and BFSJET, which print directly onto sealed blisters and BFS vials.

OptiMate HMI
2009 – 2000

2009 – 2000

From the beginning of the new millennium, the company actively devoted itself to researching reliable and efficient drop-on-demand (DOD) printing solutions, including durable and abrasion-resistant, high-quality inks.

To ensure validated inline printing, especially for systems integrated into packaging lines in a GMP-compliant environment, this became the most efficient and safest method in the pharmaceutical sector.

Since joining the Coesia Group in 2006, Hapa presented more groundbreaking innovations. In 2007, the world’s first fully digital DOD printing system for inline printing of blister foils was presented, followed by solutions for carton, labels, and individual blisters.

In 2007, the world’s first fully digital DOD printing system for inline printing of blister foils was presented, followed by solutions for carton, labels, and individual blisters.

1999 – 1990

In the early 1990s, Hapa moved its Headquarters to Volketswil near Zurich, where it still lies today.

The challenges posed by the increase in production of high-mix-low-volume products were met by Hapa with the introduction of two different inline technologies: UV flexo printing systems were joined in the late 1990s by an early form of digital printing technology based on risographic UV technology. This secured Hapa a leading position in the industry for printing solutions and cemented its reputation as a technology leader.

From the mid-1990s onwards, Hapa’s know-how was suddenly more in demand than ever.

1999 – 1990
1989 – 1933

1989 – 1933

Founded in 1933 in Zurich by Curt Bäbler, Hapa’s original purpose was to “trade in patents”. The name Hapa was derived from this (German: “Handel mit Patenten”).

One of these patents was used for a machine for coding cartons in 1953. Hapa sold several thousand copies of this Druma printing machine. It was Hapa’s first entry into printing technology.

When the first blister machine was introduced in 1962, Hapa immediately recognized the need for printing technology and the advantages of inline printing. 

The Hapamatic was presented in 1970 and was the world’s first inline printing system for aluminum foils for blister machines.

FACTS & FIGURES
HAPA IN THE WORLD