With standard machines to custom solution

• Roll maker: forms Mentos candies into rolls (newly purchased by Perfetti Van Melle)
• Flowpacker: packs rolls into flow packs (newly purchased by Perfetti Van Melle)
• Casepacker: packs flowpacks into boxes (existing machine, overhauled by Van Wees Waalwijk)

The purpose of the new production line is that we can flexibly fill the flowpacks with rolls of Mentos. It is possible to pack 3 to 6 rolls of Mentos in a Multipack. This flexibility makes this production line efficiently deployable."

"We often start our collaboration with a few brainstorming sessions, where we come up with solutions together while thinking out loud that we didn't know about beforehand. In this way we create the most efficient production line together, each from our own expertise and technical insight.

We have been working with Van Wees Waalwijk for so long that by now they know a lot about our product. This in combination with their technical knowledge and expertise makes them a fine party to work with. You know it's going to be alright when you engage them," says Michel.

Ronald (sales engineer Van Wees Waalwijk) adds: "It's also real collaboration. After all, we can only engineer the best machines and offer customized solutions when we understand each other well and can spar together about the possibilities and impossibilities."

For this production line, Van Wees Waalwijk overhauled the STORK box packer. This was completely checked pneumatically and mechanically. A number of improvements have also been made so that it can be cleaned more easily.

A custom-made reject belt was added to the roll maker to be able to dispose of rejected Mentos dragees. Between the output chain of the roll maker and the input transport system of the flowpacker, Van Wees Waalwijk made a custom-made transport system. This system effortlessly transfers 450 rolls per minute from the roll maker to the flowpacker. A convenient platform for the gluing unit (to glue the wrapper of the candy roll) under this transport system completes this part of the production line.

After the flowpacker, a conveyor belt from Van Wees Waalwijk catches the packages again and shoots them against an upstanding wall. Here a vacuum piston under the conveyor belt sucks them onto the belt and they continue their way to the overhauled casepacker.

As soon as they come out of this, they go through a larger conveyor on their way to the elevator. But before they arrive at the elevator, the boxes are turned by the box turner that Van Wees Waalwijk has added to the production line. A sticker is applied and then the boxes of candy disappear to the warehouse. Ready for distribution.

"When we work with Van Wees Waalwijk, I know that they always deliver quality and that the promised lead time/delivery time is met. That is very valuable.

It is also nice working with Patrick and Maikel, colleagues of Ronald van Hooren. We always start a project with an inventory of what is needed, then we look at what we have on hand and take measurements right on the spot.

Sometimes we make a copy of what is there and take away right away what can be improved. The ideas are further elaborated on a drawing. Then the design is discussed and after approval the detail engineering is started. This always goes smoothly and on schedule. If we are satisfied with the detail engineering then construction begins."

"At Van Wees Waalwijk, I also know that quality is guaranteed because they have in-house production. An additional advantage is that we can switch quickly and work on a project à la minute. In addition, we can easily make a test setup to test whether something that has been thought out on paper actually works in practice."

"At Van Wees Waalwijk, they keep going until it works! They show a lot of self-initiative. I experience that as very pleasant," Michel continues his story. "And even when they have to contact one of our regular suppliers, that's no problem at all. I find that quite special.

In the future, we will probably take on many projects together. And I expect these will mainly have to do with improving existing lines. How can things be done even more efficiently? And of course we are happy to involve Van Wees Waalwijk in that!"