Crates, boxes, and kegs - in the fresh produce sector, millions of them are lugged back and forth every day. They also need to be stacked and sealed. The logistics process is becoming increasingly automated. Yet, things like packing, wrapping, and strapping are still often done manually. Fromm's fully and semi-automatic strapping machines put an end to this. They increase efficiency and are now increasingly common in agriculture and horticulture.
F.l.t.r.: In the Netherlands - Anika Bakker, marketing coordinator; Frank van Opijnen, product manager/project coordinator, and Aaldrik Drenth, general manager.
Fromm started as a Swiss family business in 1947. It's now a multinational company with 40 offices and 1,200 employees worldwide. In 1980 a Dutch branch was established, which currently employs 30 people. Fromm has always been a household name in the steel, wood, and concrete industries. However, in recent years, it's been making inroads into both the fruit and vegetable and ornamental plant sectors. And Fromm's solutions are becoming increasingly relevant.
Their strapping machines aren't just more efficient. They also help companies work more sustainably. "We're generally all strongly inclined to consider the material. Less plastic is good. But how you use that material is also important," says Fromm Netherlands' general manager, Aaldrik Drenth. "If the material is of high quality, you need less of it. You can save, for example, on the strapping band's thickness. And that's profitable."
Distinctive from wholesalers
There are, of course, more suppliers. That's when it comes to banding and strapping machines, automatic wrappers, etc. The main difference is that Fromm isn't a dealer but a manufacturer. So, they do everything, from design to delivery and maintenance, in-house.
"That offers many advantages," says Frank van Opijnen, product manager and project coordinator. "For instance, we can advise our customer better and produce to order. We have mechanics on staff. They can step in when repairs or replacements are needed. Or provide clients with loaners, if needed."
Production
In Europe, most of the machines are produced in Italy and Germany. In Italy, it is machines; in Germany, it is both machines and strapping and protective materials (air pads). The company has a recycling plant in Germany too. There, PET granulate is made from returnable PET bottles. This granulate is used as the basis for polyester strapping.
For more information:
Fromm Nederland
www.fromm.nl