Whereas in the past Sarco Packaging's machine range consisted mainly of stand-alone machines, now that the company is a dealer of brands including Manter, IMA-Ilapak , Pronova, REV, Egatec and Project, the packaging machine supplier is increasingly used as a 'system integrator' of various lines. For example, several complete lines are currently being realised at a citrus fruit packer.
"We saw that our fresh produce customers needed to work with fewer people and higher input within one integrated system. Now, we have always integrated systems, because when we sold scales, customers often wanted a flow packer, printer and rotary table as well. We could supply all these with our own brands," says Mark van der Kamp.
"With the arrival of our colleague Wahid Payanda, we have widened our product range to include machines and packaging materials for carton making, so that we can also provide our customers with machines for setting up cardboard trays and closing boxes. With our other machines, we can bring the erected trays into the machine and fill them again. Because we have all these disciplines in house, the added value of us as a system integrator is increasingly recognised."
"And this allows us to offer a wide variety of fresh produce lines. Citrus and onions in nets are a big market for us, but we can also process potatoes in a bag in this way, using the same machines. This is ideal for the customer, who has one point of contact with an integrated line that coordinates everything and provides the service," says Mark. Sarco is mainly active in the Dutch, Belgian and German markets.
"Ergonomics is also becoming an increasingly important aspect in the purchase of machines. In order to make the work for employees more interesting and more ergonomic, one can opt for the (partial) automation of processes. Previously, each box containing 20 kilos of citrus fruit was tipped by hand. This can be done in a much more labour-friendly and efficient way. Not only in citrus fruit, but also in exotic fruit such as mangos and avocados. Apart from the fact that the people on the floor enjoy their work more and run less risk of physical complaints, the output quality is also increased. This means that the end customer will always receive the same quality product. What is also interesting is the fact that costs are reduced while productivity is increased."
"With the brands we represent, we have all the disciplines of buffering, weighing, packing in-house and can provide customised solutions to group the machines into an integrated line," Mark continues. "Sarco looks at the process together with the customer and identifies the steps that could be automated. Our specialists, who are the bridge between technology and practice, will use their knowledge to provide the most complete and workable advice possible."
For more information:
Sarco Packaging 
Rondgang 21
5311 PB Gameren
+31 (0)418 56 25 53
[email protected]
www.sarcopackaging.com