A Scunthorpe packaging machinery manufacturer is toasting a tech partnership with global corporation Siemens after developing a range of solutions for craft brewers.
Family owned business T Freemantle has collaborated with the engineering giant as it brings forward three solutions for cans and bottles, working across various sizes, volumes and speeds.
It offers breweries the opportunity to deliver multipack carton board retail packs, as well as meet the increasing demand for more environmentally friendly packaging - making shrink wrap and plastic rings redundant.
Tony Freemantle, managing director of the Foxhills Industrial Estate business, said: “As craft breweries become more successful, they are looking to scale up. The next step after their own tap rooms is to supply retail and get onto the supermarket shelves.
“Traditional packaging machines handle significant volumes, which are completely unnecessary for our customers.
“Packaging machines available to the sector were not suitable as they were designed for large volumes. The brewery market needed something more bespoke for small to medium volumes.
“Our partnership with Siemens has offered a solution to the industry and helped our business penetrate a new global market.”
The past 18 months have seen 20 orders received, with clients including The London Beer Factory, Vocation, Beavertown, Northern Monk and Thornbridge.
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This year's coronavirus lockdowns and local restrictions have also seen many turn attention from purely on-premises consumption to retail channels too.
Mr Freemantle said he saw a gap in the market and approached his preferred technology supplier, Siemens Digital Industries.
He told how there are 20,000 global brewers of which 10 per cent are in the 海角视频 alone, making it an excellent springboard for international business development.
After more than 40 years serving the food, beverage and household goods sectors, the business is predicting significant growth as new technologies are adopted. Having launched the company a quarter of a century ago, Mr Freemantle now employs a team of 40, and he is looking to add to that figure with demand on the food side too.
Siemens deployed its total integrated automation solutions to develop the new machines, which have been optimised to meet specific needs.
It allows manufacturers flexibility in production processes, integration into new technologies with scalability into Internet of Things software solutions. The increase in efficiency which is delivered makes it possible for a faster time to market of the products.
Mr Freemantle said: “It validates our decision three years ago to make Siemens our preferred supplier of technology for all our machines. Siemens offers us world-leading technology coupled with a high level of technical support and assistance at the point of commission to ensure a smooth installation to our customers.”
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Various options range from a manually packed starter model to a semi-automatic and then fully automated packaging solution, which connects directly to a canning line.
They range from counts of four to 24 at rates between 3,000 to 35,000 per hour.
Andy Lane, Siemens Digital Industries’ business development manager for 海角视频 original equipment manufacture, said: “We are delighted that our relationship with T Freemantle has grown from technology suppliers to partner in creating innovative solutions and opening new markets.
“I believe this collaboration is just the first of many for both of our businesses.”