BFSV – About us

Packaging is
our topic

Our origins lie in the port. Here, in 1954, the Consultancy Office for Seaworthy Packaging – in short: BFSV – was founded.

Start 9 About us

The reason: Shipowners and shipping companies needed qualified help to get a better grip on ongoing transport damage. And the close connection between practical requirements for packaging and scientific work on packaging materials, packaging materials and packaging aids is still our trademark today.

Against this background, we have noticeably driven development beyond the core topics. We have long since also been active in the areas of primary and secondary packaging.

To this end, we have networked with the Departments of Process Engineering and Ecotrophology at HAW Hamburg and intensified our cooperation. This allows us to make greater use of the strengths of the sciences established at the HAW Bergedorf site.

Our work is based on five pillars:

the packaging research
the packaging consulting for practice
the packaging testing
the scientific teaching
and continuing education for the packaging industry

our vision

We protect the environment,
products and people.

our mission

We test, we question,
we learn and we share our knowledge.

Our values

We are reliable, always remain curious
and want to shape the future.

BFSV – easily explained

Primary and secondary packaging are the star at our institute. We test existing packaging, develop new variants, advise our customers and pass on our knowledge in the form of training courses. Our goal: to protect people, the environment and products.

Our structure

Our team

We are packaging experts with heart and brain, with competence and passion. Above all, we know that our customers benefit most from us when we act as a team. And that is exactly our philosophy.

Our team

Career & Jobs

Our job advertisements are aimed at high school and university students, trained engineers and administrative specialists. We are open to new ideas and are happy if you find something suitable for you at our institute.

Our jobs

An overview

When cargo damage during maritime transport became more frequent and caused enormous costs in the 1950s, the shipping industry needed an inspection body. This provided the impetus for the founding of BFSV in the middle of the port. On 14 sea voyages around the globe, packaging was put through its paces. The results of BFSV packaging tests and our packaging consulting convince with grown competence. The abbreviation BFSV stands for competence and continuity, only the name has changed:

1954
Beratungsstelle für seemäßige Verpackung e.V.; foundation of the advisory office with the “Tollerort test field” in the Port of Hamburg on the initiative of the VDMA, the port authorities and the industry.

1955
First of a total of 14 test runs in cooperation with the Maritime Meteorological Office, shipowners’ associations and the industry

1958
Participation in the first “Interpack” in Düsseldorf

1961
Member of the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations (AIF)

1962
Change of name: Beratungs- und Forschungsstelle für seemäßige Verpackung e.V., Institute for Export Packaging

1963
First packaging advanced training course for Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung der Bundeswehr (Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement of the German Armed Forces), start of extensive seminar and training activities.

1966
Agreement with the RG Verpackung in the RKW on the publication of the RGV/BFSV company journals for overseas packaging.

1968
Member of the International Association of Packaging Research Institutes (IAPRI).

1972
Move to the laboratory for packaging technology at the University of Applied Sciences (FH) in Hamburg-Bergedorf

1974
Change of name: Beratungs- und Forschungsstelle für Versandverpackung (BFSV) e.V., Institute for Export Packaging (IFE)

1979
Recognition as a testing institute for EC packaging (packaging for relief supplies)

1981
Recognition as testing laboratory for packaging of dangerous goods by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM)

1989
Organization and realization of the 6th IAPRI World Conference in conjunction with the 800th Hafengeburtstag.

1990
Name change: Consulting – Research – System Planning – Packaging e.V., Institute for Consulting, Research, System Planning, Packaging Development and Testing at HAW Hamburg

1997
Accreditation of the testing laboratory by the Deutsche Akkreditierungssystem Prüfwesen GmbH Berlin (DAP) according to DIN EN 45001, incl. requirements of DIN EN ISO 9002,
Recognition of the testing laboratory by DIN CERTO Gesellschaft für Konformitätsbewertung mbH Berlin for the testing of desiccant bags according to DIN 55473.

2000
Re-accreditation of the laboratory according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000

2001
New test rig (prototype) for VCI corrosion protection effect measurement

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences is now called Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg)

2002
Extension and combination of the dynamic test laboratory with the climatic test laboratory.

2013
Foundation of the BFSV Verpackungsinstitut Hamburg GmbH

Review in pictures

As we all know, pictures say more than 1000 words. The pictures in this gallery all have a long story to tell: the story of our foundation. We know that they do not qualitatively reflect our claims, but they have aged authentically, convincingly and with dignity. Have fun clicking through!