60 years: That’s six decades of inventiveness, world-renowned packaging machinery, and dedicated employees. In short: “Packaging Moments,” as only the Gerhard Schubert GmbH can create them. On June 26, the company celebrated its milestone birthday with about 3100 guests on its Crailsheim site. And the company brought in two top-tier acts, Olaf Schubert and Sarah Connor, to Crailsheim.

“With the birthday celebration, we want to thank all those employees who have made the company what it is today,” Ralf Schubert emphasized in his welcome address. It didn’t matter whether someone had been with Schubert for just a year or several decades; it was the contribution of each individual that counted.

From 6:30 PM, guests could access the company site at the former Hofäckerstraße 7, which has been renamed “Gerhard-Schubert-Platz 1” since July 1, 2026, in honor of the company founder. The continuously free catering was primarily handled by the Hägele Catering team in their usual style. From lentils with spaetzle to pulled-pork burgers, it offered a colorful mix of local and international street food. Visitors quenched their thirst at numerous drink stations: perfectly chilled, beer, soft drinks, and other beverages awaited the guests. The unusually hot June day, with temperatures reaching 38°C, had them grabbing drinks heartily: around 8600 bottles of water and 1000 liters of water in barrels, along with many other refreshments, ensured the necessary cooling.

At 7:30 PM, the second and third generations of the family officially welcomed the guests: On stage, Ralf, Gerald, Peter, and Johannes Schubert shared the most gripping moments of the company’s history in line with the festival’s motto: shared flights to customers, childhood memories from the assembly hall, and early-morning encounters with the plant service staff vividly demonstrated how family-oriented Schubert remains after 60 years. This was also highlighted in a short film featuring other employees: marketing, assembly, sales – they all painted the picture of a close-knit company where the “we” and the joy of work come first.

Following this was the highly anticipated first live act: Comedian and namesake Olaf Schubert delivered his typically laconic commentary on AI, entrepreneurship, and team spirit. Expectations for the musical performance, the details of which – like those of Olaf Schubert – had been kept secret until the very end, were correspondingly high.

When Gerald Schubert finally revealed the secret, the crowd spontaneously applauded: While the “Devil’s Violinist” David Garrett had brought excitement to the 50th anniversary, 2026 featured the musically versatile Sarah Connor. The artist, touring with an impressive band, performed R&B, soul, and pop-rock hits from the last 20 years. She not only drew audiences to the stage but also attracted onlookers to the embankment along Dr.-Bareilles-Straße, offering a perfect view of the unexpected live concert. As more and more glow sticks began moving to the beat of the hits in the twilight, the festival atmosphere was perfect. The crowning conclusion of the stage program followed at 11:00 PM: During the balloon glow, the two Schubert hot-air balloons on the ground were ignited in time with the background music. Amid smoke trails and a light show, 99 balloons rose simultaneously into the night sky. Guests then celebrated with DJ “D White” until the early hours of the morning.

The result is also worth noting: The cocktail sales – the only paid offering of the evening – generated €8,070. The money is donated equally to social institutions in the region.

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