MAULBURG, GERMANY – A world market leader in vacuum packaging, Busch Vacuum Solutions is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Founded in 1963 by wife and husband Ayhan and Dr. Karl Busch, the family-owned machinery manufacturer now boasts 8,000 employees and 110 subsidiaries worldwide.

Dr. Karl Busch, the company shared, is credited with developing the first vacuum pump specifically for food packaging. Dubbed the HUCKEPACK, which is German for piggyback, the original version of Busch’s vacuum pump featured a stacked design.

The manufacturer’s rapid growth, meanwhile, is attributed to the vision of Ayhan Busch, who emphasized the need for international expansion. The company opened its first foreign branch in 1971 in the United Kingdom.

Serving a number of industries throughout the world, Busch now has production facilities in China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Korea, Romania, Switzerland, the UK, the United States and Vietnam.

Today, Ayhan and Dr Karl Busch, and their three children – Ayla, Sami and Kaya Busch – jointly manage the company.