Signalling machinery longevity and customer loyalty, Endoline Automation, together with distributor Ferag, is set to install its sixth end-of-line packaging machine into a leading snack producer in Belgium – almost 30 years after the first machines.

The first end-of-line systems, which were installed almost three decades ago in 1994, are still in operation within the factory of Vermeiren Princeps today, erecting and sealing almost 15 million boxes of cookies in that time.

The baking roots of the Vermeiren family can be traced back to the 17th Century. In addition to bread, they were famous for their speculoos cookies and in 1919 the family carved out a new brand, ‘Vermeiren Speculoos’ solely specialising in the creation and supply of these cookies.

In its current form, NV Vermeiren Princeps, was established in 1947. As a successful SME loacted within the municipality of Bornem, Belgian, Vermeiren Princeps has continually invested in dynamic product development and today produces a caramalised biscuit range in addition to cookies and paste.

Each year the company’s two fully-automatic baking lines, overseen by 25 employees, bake up to 2,000 tonnes of its caramelised biscuits. Half are marketed under the Vermeiren label, while the other half are packaged under a private label and sold throughout Belgium and internationally. Individually packaged biscuits are supplied in various flavours to hotels, restaurants and cafes.

Ahead of its time, Vermeiren Princeps has been incorporating automated processing and packaging lines into its facility for several decades, however first and foremost is the integrity and quality of its brand.

“Vermeiren Princeps’ objectives to automation were to increase production output while lowering costs and improving the quality of the packaged product,” comments Sylvie Laigneil, Mangaing Director of Ferag NV, the long-standing Belgium distributor for Endoline Automation. “While keen to integrate new automated solutions, the company did not want to compromise on the heritage of its brand which is synonomous with creating quality, traditional biscuits.”

Testament to the quality and longevity of Endoline Automation’s machines, Ferag installed the Endoline 702 Fully Automatic Pre-Set Case Sealer and the 211 Fully Automatic Case Erector back in 1994. “These machines are still operating well and work across Vermeiren Princeps’ full product range,” comments Sylvie.

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