We see ourselves as your expert partner in label printing – with a comprehensive range of innovative machines and tailor-made services, we provide you with reliable support and guidance for the successful manufacture of your products. We consistently define our areas of activity based on the focus of our customers and their respective industries, in which we play a leading role. We are leading because our solutions deliver the greatest benefits to label printers and folding carton printers.
Our services: significant customer benefits
The uniqueness of our services is reflected in our comprehensive range of products and services, which is tailored to the needs of label printers and can be continuously adapted and customized to meet specific requirements. This includes, in particular, printing presses, die-cutting units and accessories, screen printing plates, service and spare parts, and comprehensive services.
The Gallus Group consists of the Label and Screen Printing divisions.
Comprehensive range of services for the production of product decorations such as labels, sleeves, booklets, tickets, in-mold labels, blisters, tubes, and wrap-arounds. Thanks to their sophisticated, modular design, Gallus machine systems can be flexibly expanded and are already ready for tomorrow's requirements – perfectly equipped for future market needs.
Our portfolio of printing techniques:
Comprehensive range of services for the use of rotary screen printing solutions for all types of effects and haptic solutions for printed products. Wherever maximum opacity, precise details, and intense color effects are required, screen printing impresses with brilliant, high-quality image quality.
Our portfolio of screen printing techniques:
Gallus, a subsidiary of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, with production facilities in Switzerland and Germany, is a global leader in the development, production, and sale of conventional and digital narrow web web presses for label and packaging printing. The machine range is complemented by a wide range of screen printing plates (Gallus Screeny), a global decentralized service network, and an extensive range of printing accessories and spare parts.
Gallus products are sold through the global Heidelberg Sales and Service Network. The comprehensive range of services includes consulting services provided by printing and process experts for all relevant printing and process-related tasks. Gallus employs around 300 people, 165 of whom are based at its headquarters in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
HEIDELBERG has been an important supplier and partner to the global printing industry for many years, offering its customers all the components they need to run a successful business in commercial and packaging printing. Core technologies are developed and produced in-house, while complementary components and technologies are made available to customers through strategic partnerships.
HEIDELBERG employs around 9,500 people worldwide. In Germany, highly automated and versatile high-tech machines are manufactured in all Heidelberg format classes to meet customer requirements. In Qingpu near Shanghai, China, Heidelberg produces high-quality preconfigured edition models.
In 1923, a small, clearly structured company was founded, which developed into a global market leader for printing presses over the following decades. Today, the Gallus Group is the world leader in the development, production, and sale of narrow web presses for label manufacturers.
The machine portfolio is complemented by a wide range of screen printing plates (Gallus Screeny), globally decentralized services, and extensive accessories and spare parts. The comprehensive offering also includes consulting services from label experts on all relevant issues relating to printing and process technology.
In 1999, Gallus entered into a strategic partnership with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, the world market leader in solutions for the print and media industry. The Gallus Group employs around 580 people, 270 of whom are based in Switzerland. Its headquarters are located in St. Gallen.
In December 2022, Dario Urbinati will take over as head of the Gallus Group in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
In December 2022, Dario Urbinati will take over as head of the Gallus Group in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Frank Schaum is taking over as head of the Label (Gallus) division of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Ferdinand Rüesch Senior is elected to the Supervisory Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG as a shareholder representative with a large majority at the Annual General Meeting on July 25, 2018.
Ferdinand Rüesch is contributing his 70% stake in Gallus to Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG in order to accelerate the development of a digital label printing press in collaboration with Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. Ferdinand Rüesch thus becomes the anchor shareholder of Heidelberg, a long-standing partner company. The complete acquisition of Gallus Holding AG, which was approved by the Management Board of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Heidelberg) in June 2014, was completed in August 2014.
The 30% stake acquired by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG marks another milestone in the history of the Gallus Group. When two market leaders join forces, the results are outstanding: both companies are cooperating in marketing, sales, and the development of new technologies. Customers of both companies around the world will benefit from these synergies.
Ferdinand IV Rüesch took over the business from his father.
This was followed by an intensive phase of decentralization with the establishment of local sales and service companies. Subsidiaries were set up in the USA, Australia, Germany, Great Britain, and Denmark, while representative offices were established in other parts of the world with partner companies.
The company was completely reorganized and equipped with the most modern production facilities and manufacturing processes available at the time.
The company entered the field of NC technology – today's CNC machines. Since then, Gallus has worked continuously on the consistent implementation of the Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma concept at all locations.
Ferdinand III Rüesch took over the business from his father and began expanding the export business and converting production to industrial manufacturing.
At the same time, market demands changed: printing silk gift ribbons, discount coupons, hang tags for airlines, and even IBM punch cards—even back then, a Gallus label printing press could handle a wide variety of tasks.
History was made in two ways at the graphic arts trade fair in Chicago: the introduction of the first Gallus flexographic printing press and the first printing of self-adhesive material on label printing presses. The innovative inventive spirit of Ferdinand III Rüesch had spread far and wide by this time.
The St. Gallen company Schuster & Co. recorded its fabric samples piece by piece by hand. When this was deemed too time-consuming, they turned to Ferdinand II Rüesch with this rationalization problem.
Together with his master craftsman Johann-Georg Schick, he designed a small, hand-operated printing press. This was how the first Gallus label printing press, the Gallus Junior, was built.
The world belongs to the brave: Ferdinand II Rüesch proved this in the worst of times.
A small, solid company is founded, which over the following decades works its way to the top of the global market with its printing machines. On March 6, 1923, the sole proprietorship "Ferdinand Rüesch, Eichmeister" is founded with the business description "scale factory and machine workshop, calibration center, Spitalgasse 8" and entered in the commercial register.
Gallus attaches great importance to a vibrant corporate culture, as this plays a decisive role in securing the success that has been achieved over decades thanks to satisfied customers. People who want to achieve a common goal need rules that everyone can and must follow.
The Gallus corporate culture comprises six key elements:
We see our external and internal customers as partners and provide them with effective support in their activities.
We provide coaching and want all employees to be able to develop their potential.
We understand quality as fulfilling the needs of our customers.
We solve our tasks as a team and, through intensive dialogue, gain the confidence that we are on the right track.
We want employees who think and act independently and who take joint responsibility for good overall performance.
We expect every employee to identify with Gallus' vision, goals, and culture.
We are committed to sustainability and therefore take equal responsibility for economic, social and environmental issues. All three dimensions are equally important, and we enhance our customers' competitiveness in a unique way. Both Gallus as a company and each individual Gallus employee act in such a way as to meet the expectations of today's generation without jeopardizing the livelihoods of future generations.
Economic sustainability
We are aware of the development opportunities in our industries and rely on our abilities to expand our market position with good performance. Our economic sustainability ensures that Gallus remains a reliable partner today and in the future.
Social sustainability
Our future is shaped by employees who are enthusiastic, able to ask questions, break old patterns of thinking, and explore new territory. As a company, we will only be successful if we manage to create the conditions and culture in which our employees can develop and grow, and in which they can take responsibility and help shape the future.
Ecological sustainability
We do not regard the integration of ecological considerations into our thinking and actions as an additional burden or obstacle, but as an opportunity and a challenge to let go of the old and embrace the new. We are therefore committed to:
Our certified environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 supports us in this endeavor.
Gallus Group certificates ISO 9001, 14001
Group management and Labels division:
Research & Development, Production, Service, Sales, Marketing
Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG
34 Harzbüchelstrasse
CH-9016 St. Gallen
Phone: +41 71 242 8686
Fax: +41 71 242 8989
Label business areas:
Research & Development, Production, Service
Gallus Printing Machines GmbH
Quarry Road 5
DE-35428 Langgöns-Oberkleen
Phone: +49 6447 9250
Fax: +49 6447 6064
Screen printing division
Gallus Ferd. Rüesch AG
14 Degersheimerstrasse
Extension 9/10
CH-9100 Herisau
Phone: +41 71 242 8686
Fax: +41 71 242 8989
