Bühler Group (see above) and Premier Tech, Rivière-du-Loup, Canada, have announced the formation of a cooperation agreement concerning industrial flexible packaging. Both companies have agreed to build a design and manufacturing centre in China which is expected to be operational next year. “Combining the portfolio and expertise of Premier Tech and Bühler will enable future packaging solutions which are significantly more efficient, accurate and food safe by using automation technologies”, said Johannes Wick, CEO of Bühler’s grains & food business. “The two companies are complementing each other in a perfect way with Bühler’s strong footprint and market position in China and Premier Tech’s recognised know-how in the field of automated packaging technologies,” said André Noreau, CEO of Premier Tech’s Systems and Automation business.

In grain processing, packaging is the last step before transporting flour to bakeries and other food processors, rice to distributors or pellets to farms. In many cases – especially in developing countries – the bagging operation is still done manually. This is not only inefficient, costly, and slow, but also implies a certain variation of weight and therefore a higher give away of the packaged goods. Palletising solutions are increasingly important to allow for efficient warehousing.

Premier Tech and Bühler, internationally recognised as being market and technology leading companies, respectively, in packaging and in grain and food processing, are now establishing this strategic cooperation to meet these market demands and create new cost-effective packaging solutions. Bühler brings its know-how of high-quality manufacturing and supply chain management in China as well as its digital solutions, whilst Premier Tech contributes with its superior packaging expertise and technological leadership in this field.

The strategic cooperation will allow Bühler to provide better turnkey projects with competitive packaging solutions from China while continuing to deliver high-end products such as Bühler’s Maia bagging station from its own manufacturing network in Europe. At the same time, Bühler will continue to design and market its established weighing portfolio (since scales such as Tubex are not part of the agreement) and further improve its digital services allowing for full transparency and traceability. Premier Tech will gain better access to the Chinese market by using the cost-effective and modern packaging solutions arising from the strategic cooperation, or by combining them to its internationally renowned CHRONOS technology portfolio in weighing, bagging, and palletising. Both companies will continue to sell their products through existing channels. www.buhlergroup.com; www.premiertech.com 

 

Johannes Wick (left) and André Noreau

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