“We create tailor-made premixes. Customers often come to us with a finished product and a problem: insufficient flavour, the wrong texture, or a shelf life that doesn’t meet expectations. We look for the solution and test it here in our own pilot bakery and butcher’s shop.”

“It started with a practical issue: we had a long corridor constantly used by forklifts, and we wanted to automate that with a simple roller conveyor. But as we started thinking, more possibilities emerged, and the idea grew into a broader automation project. That’s when we got in touch with Fraxinus.

We also realised that the existing floor wasn’t strong enough – it was an office floor, not suitable for heavy machinery. Together with a structural engineer, we decided to remove part of it and replace it with a stainless-steel platform with drainage channels, topped by a new mezzanine. Everything then came together into one integrated project. The need might not have been urgent yet, but we chose to do a thorough job, all in one go – and looking back, that was absolutely the right decision.”

“The previous discharge process was entirely manual: operators had to lift bags, operate stackers and move everything themselves. We’ve replaced that with a controlled container flow. The result: far fewer forklift movements, improved ergonomics and, above all, greater traceability. We now know exactly what is where and what has been processed. That’s crucial in a food company.”

“Honest and to the point. What was drawn was exactly what was built – no surprises along the way. Any issues were discussed and solved immediately. That was certainly the case for the big-bag unloading station: there’s never a standard solution there, because every product flows differently. Fraxinus fine-tuned that with us. Safety was part of the discussion right from the design phase, for example in the manual discharge area. That open communication created real trust.”

“From the preliminary design stage, this was a key topic. Fraxinus integrated our existing automatic discharge machine into the new control system and made it fully CE-compliant. In the manual discharge area, additional adaptations were made so that operators can work safely and ergonomically, without losing speed. This combination ensures that the flow is not only safe but also practical for people on the floor.”

“Pallets arrive on roller and chain conveyors. A barcode scan determines their route: to the discharge points, upwards, or return. Empty containers are sent via shuttles and lifts to the various discharge zones – big bag, automatic or manual. Weigh cells and MES registration provide complete traceability. Even cleaning is built in: a fixed cleaning container collects rinse water and drains it automatically. Hygiene is thus fully integrated into the process.”

“It has made things much easier for them. In the past, they had to lift bins to height with stackers and move everything back down manually. Now everything arrives directly on the conveyor they can unload it, discharge the material and get on with the next job straightaway. It saves a lot of effort and makes the process more user-friendly. The team is happy, and at the same time, we can handle more volume.”

“It fits perfectly with our growth ambitions. The next step is to fully link the “old” production area to the new container flow, so that preparation starts already in the warehouse and unnecessary movements disappear.”