FlexLink supplies turnkey automation for dairy and confectionery

FlexLink has received orders from two Dutch companies - Melk Controle Station and Droste - for turnkey automation installations.

The orders are a result of the ongoing automation of product handling and packaging, and recent developments at FlexLink​ towards the supply of turnkey installations. The total order value is €1.4 million and delivery is mooted for the first quarter next year.

MCS, located in Zutpen, is a high-tech laboratory for quality control of 65,000 milk samples per day as a service to dairies and farmers. The new laboratory includes highly automated handling of samples - for which FlexLink will supply robots and hygienic conveyors on a turnkey basis.

"We selected FlexLink because they supply modular conveyors that are easy to clean. We also realised that we will get a complete system, including the robots, which is unique in our case,"​ said Mr. van Hemert, project leader at MCS.

Droste, the chocolate manufacturer located in Vaassen, will replace a manual packaging process with four robots, supported by a pallet conveyor system. FlexLink will supply Sony robots, the tooling, single and twin track pallet conveyors, and the overall control system.

"We are working with trustworthy suppliers, and we found that FlexLink also offers value for money by the combination of the robots with the complete conveyor system",​ said Jan Mulderij, project leader at Droste.

"We are extremely proud to get these orders as they confirm our strategy to develop a spectrum of application knowledge which we package into one-stop shop deliveries",​ said Fredrik Jonsson, CEO of FlexLink.

FlexLink was started in 1980 and is a leading global supplier of innovative automation solutions for assembly and manufacturing industries. The company is based in Göteborg, Sweden, employs 550 people in 23 companies and is represented in 50 countries. In 2001, group turnover was €139 million.