“Before the implementation of this new system, we packed our plates into boxes by hand. That was monotonous work that strained our employees’ backs and arms. Our productivity and competitive ability were suffering due to the stress on our staff,” says one of Minimaid’s owners, production manager Kim Grahn.
Up to 95 per cent of Minimaid’s plates are exported around Europe. The most important export markets are Germany, Great Britain and the Nordic countries. Founded in 1986, Minimaid is a family company with some 70 employees. The company decided to invest in a new packaging machine in 2018, and after competitive bidding, Stora Enso was chosen to deliver the machine.
“We were striving for more competitive edge through automation. The packaging line is for our main product, the production capacity of which was estimated to rise by at least 20 per cent,” Grahn says.
“The usual question question is: What happens to the employees if replaced by a machine? At Minimaid, the same employees are now controlling the machine and the production.”
Production run in a couple of days
According to Kim Grahn, Minimaid’s packaging machine project proceeded very smoothly from bidding and design to delivery and implementation.
“The service on the Stora Enso side was speedy in all aspects. Our packaging machines were designed already during the previous spring, but we wanted delivery, installation and implementation to take place after the summer season. In total, the installation of the machine only took a couple of days, after which we could run it for production,” Grahn says, impressed.
He says the machine’s operation system is so well designed and easy to use that it deserves the best of grades.
“We received training to use the machine, and based on the training we were soon able to independently use the machine. Once we invest in one more module at the end of our production line, our machine project will be complete.”
Focus on usability
Project and planning manager at Stora Enso packaging automation, Teemu Vikman was happy to hear Grahn’s feedback. He says the project that was initiated at the Pactec 2018 fair showcases success in partnership.
“Minimaid didn’t have previous experience of packaging machines but they did have a clear need for one. We got the chance to deliver Österbergs’ W80 packaging machine that represents the latest technology and packs plastic-wrapped plate bundles into transport boxes.”
Vikman says positioning the plastic-wrapped plate bundles in the machine was a challenge, but it was solved during the design and testing phase.
“We needed to figure out how to make the bendy, stackable plate bundles stay put in the machine. The solution required several trips to the manufacturer in Sweden, but we achieved it on time before the delivery.” All in all, Vikman thinks the Minimaid project was handled exemplarily.
“Due to the shape of the products, they were custom categorized for the machine in cooperation with Minimaid. The result is the best possible alternative in terms of both machine usability and production,” Vikman concludes.
