Filling lines for Enricofood, Glasbest location

The partnership began with a relocation. Van Wees Waalwijk dismantled the production lines in Valkenswaard and reassembled them in Udenhout. Since then, there have been two filling lines there: one for hot products and one for cold products.

After the move, we remained their regular partner for service and maintenance. In the beginning, Enricofood’s Glasbest location did not have its own technical support team, so Van Wees Waalwijk was called in on an as-needed basis to handle breakdowns and various maintenance tasks. In addition, every one to two years, a larger project was undertaken to expand or improve production.

Enricofood’s Glasbest facility manufactures products for its own brands, including Jean Bâton (known for its truffle mayonnaise). The facility also processes products for supermarket private labels and provides contract manufacturing services for other producers.

The lines process glass jars and plastic bottles in various sizes, each with its own lid. This requires flexible production. Switching between products or packaging must be done quickly. And in the event of a malfunction, the line must be back up and running as soon as possible.

A previous project illustrates how we approach this. Production would come to a halt whenever a roll of labels needed to be changed. We built a wide, custom-designed buffer conveyor with transfer points at the front, so that products from both filling lines could be buffered. In addition, we equipped this buffer conveyor with a flexible center guide, allowing the buffer capacity per filling line to be adjusted as needed. An added benefit: jars coming out of the pasteurization tunnel cool down more effectively along the longer route. This improves the labeling process.

In 2026, Enricofood’s Glasbest location purchased a new filling machine. The existing machine was moved to the other filling line. After years of expansion and additions, it was time to reassess and streamline both lines. Space is limited, so every square meter counts.

Sales engineer Ronald van Hooren brought in engineer Joran de Jong. Joran assessed the situation on site. In consultation with plant manager Bart Marcoen, we drew up a plan based on a budget and a list of requirements. The key question: How can we integrate the new filling machine in such a way that both lines remain as flexible as possible? We consulted directly with the machine supplier, requested the technical drawings in advance, and attended the acceptance inspection.

Throughout the project, we kept Bart constantly informed about costs and the schedule. This allowed him to make timely adjustments and decisions. “This time, we really took our time with the preparations,” say Bart and Ronald.

“Thanks to our long-standing partnership and mutual trust, we were able to give Van Wees Waalwijk a great deal of freedom to come up with technical solutions,” says Bart. “At the same time, we remained closely involved in the decision-making, planning, and costs. It was precisely that combination that contributed to the excellent end result.”

“That trust is also based on honest advice. If an existing machine can do the job, they’ll tell us. Van Wees Waalwijk really wants what’s best for us,” says Bart.

The two filling lines were redesigned. The project was scheduled into the production plan, and then everything was taken apart. We dismantled the lines, cleaned everything, and reassembled them. Production was halted for five weeks. To compensate for this downtime, production was ramped up for an extended period prior to the start of the project.

Van Wees Waalwijk drew on all of its areas of expertise for this project. Our engineers designed the mechanical solutions, the electronics, and the software. In our workshop, we machined and fabricated the machine parts. Technicians assembled everything on site. The control cabinets that operate the lines were also supplied by us.

In the production hall, you’ll see standard machines and custom-built equipment working side by side. Conveyor belts feature switches, allowing for flexible use of the lines. Custom-built platforms and stairs ensure easy access to all areas. Conveyor lines carrying jars and bottles that have not yet been fitted with lids or caps are covered to prevent debris from falling in. During the design and construction phases, we took the hygiene and cleaning requirements of a food production environment into careful consideration.

Completely dismantling, reconfiguring, and restarting two filling lines within five weeks: that was quite a challenge. Nevertheless, both lines were back up and running after five weeks, as planned, and the project stayed within budget. This was thanks to the intensive preparation and close collaboration between Enricofood, the Glasbest location, Van Wees Waalwijk, and the equipment suppliers. There is now more space and a clearer layout around the lines. In addition, the changes to the conveyor belts have increased flexibility. “The fact that this went so well is a great joint achievement,” says Bart.

Van Wees Waalwijk remains involved in day-to-day operations as well. During our visit, maintenance technician Harmen was working on the production line. Enricofood’s Glasbest location has made a conscious decision to supplement its own technical knowledge with the expertise of Van Wees Waalwijk. “The partnership with Van Wees Waalwijk allows us to keep our own technical organization lean and agile,” says Bart. “At the same time, we have access to a broad range of specialized knowledge and support. That combination works exceptionally well for us.”

Ronald van Hooren adds: “We have all the in-house expertise needed to develop and maintain specialized machinery. Still, our service and maintenance department is the foundation of this relationship. It’s a hub of knowledge and expertise. That’s how we make a difference for manufacturing companies like Enricofood, at its Glasbest location. That’s also how we’ve earned the trust to carry out a project like this.”

“When I call on Van Wees Waalwijk, I have a wish list. And I just know that Van Wees Waalwijk will take care of it. They’ve been proving that for 17 years,” Bart Marcoen, plant manager at Enricofood, Glasbest location.

Enricofood plans to continue expanding production in Udenhout in the coming years. The new facility for this purpose is already in place. The expansion will proceed step by step to ensure it remains manageable. The next priority is an additional labeling machine. In all current planning, both parties are already factoring in this growth.

“We can count on Van Wees Waalwijk,” says Bart. “We know we can trust them to get the job done right whenever we call on them.”