November/December 2019
Industrial Packaging
B ULK D ISTRIBUTOR
Schütz expands in Norway
17
T
he Schütz plant in Norway celebrated its latest expansion
and modernisation in August.
At the site in Kongsvinger, around 100 km northeast of Oslo the
entire local production of plastic components has been concentrated
and expanded in a newly-built hall space covering 1,200 sqm. In
addition to the extrusion blow moulding system already in place, a
new three-shift layer extrusion blow moulding system was installed
and inner container production was linked to IBC assembly via new,
fully-automated conveyor technology.
Production of plastic pallets has also been relocated to the new
hall complex with the result that plastics production is now all under
a single roof. Following centralisation in combination with other
optimisation of intralogistics as a whole, the efficiency and flexibility
of the plant have now been given a further boost.
During a plant tour, the guests were able to gain an insight into
manufacturing which consistently follows the most stringent
environmental, safety and quality management guidelines. Visitors
were also impressed by the improvements to in-plant logistics. This
project was realised parallel to expansion. One interesting detail is
that thanks to this infrastructure upgrade, just-in-time orders can
now be realised even faster.
Another component of the expansion process is a new, fully-
separate warehouse which also meets the highest standards of the
foodstuffs industry in accordance with FSSC 22000. Considering the
weather conditions in Northern Europe, this means that finished
products no longer need to be stored outside. Furthermore, it also
guarantees perfect, order-based storage in line with customer orders,
providing customers with even more reliability of supply and
flexibility.
Veit Enders, business unit manager EMEA Schütz, and Erik Platek,
general manager Schütz Nordic, welcomed representatives from
industry, business and politics. Numerous international customers
representing a wide variety of sectors also took up on the Schütz
invitation and were thanked by Enders in his speech for decades of
mutual trust and ensuing long-term partnerships. At the same time,
he emphasised the significance of the Nordic countries – an
Erik Platek, general manager Schütz Nordic, said the current plant expansion
and modernisation at the Konsgvinger site has further increased flexibility and
supply security for customers in Northern Europe
The factory tour gave visitors a chance to see the ultra-modern production lines and efficient internal logistics
extremely important market for Schütz right from the start, where
the company has meanwhile also established itself as the largest
reconditioner.
Reprocessing containers and reusing recovered plastics is a key
component of the company’s sustainability strategy.
Platek also expressed his gratitude to those present for the long
term and successful business relationships established. On the
company’s 20th anniversary, he reviewed the development of the
Norwegian location. His outlook for the future promised continuity
and steady expansion by means of ongoing investment.
In her welcoming remarks, Margrethe Haarr, the deputy mayor,
praised the company’s efforts and the positive effect it has on the
business region as a whole. Schütz Nordic is one of the most
important employers in the province of Hedmark and has made an
essential contribution towards its development, she said.
The plant was commissioned in 1999. 2003 saw comprehensive
technological upgrades and conversion to automatic production
facilities. Since then, the location has been distributing the
extensive Schütz product range of IBCs and drums made of plastic
and steel on the Scandinavian market, including the Schütz Ticket
Service.
In August 2011, after relocating to a larger operational site, a new
plant opened with state-of-the-art production technology. 2013
saw the company embark on a co-operation with All-emballage.
This Swedish reconditioner had meanwhile become a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Schütz. A year later, the plant was certified in
accordance with the FSSC 22000 industrial standard within the
framework of launching Foodcert and Cleancert packaging.