From:Packaging Europe News

Lantech founded the stretch wrapper in 1972, so its credentials are clear. But as Felicity Landon reports, this innovative company doesn’t just focus on machines. It is far more interested in the bigger picture – the total, bespoke packaging solutions it can offer its clients.

The big issue for Lantech’s customers, says Bob Lemmen, is their own product. “Certainly they are not really interested in our machine – from their point of view, that is just a tool which fulfils a part of the process with which they deliver their perfect product,” he says. “Our focus, however, is on getting involved in the customer’s product, so we understand what the output of their factory should be and embed that in the solution we provide and our way of thinking.”

Lantech specialises in the development, assembly and marketing of modern packaging machines, serving a range of industry sectors including healthcare, chemicals and food & drink. It has more than 65,000 machines deployed worldwide and, with more than four decades of experience, it can justifiably claim to be very close to the market. And, as a relatively small, family-owned company, it is able to react quickly to trends and technology developments in packaging.

Bob Lemmen, marketing manager based in Lantech’s European headquarters in Cuijk in the Netherlands, says being close to the market is vital. “We believe our strength comes from the knowledge we get out of the market and the way we react to that,” he says. “We have a lot of knowledge and experience in implementing our machines in lines and companies’ production areas but we are also involved in the total ROI of our customer.”

The overall philosophy of Lantech is also refreshing. “We are an open, flat-structure organisation.” he says.

“At Lantech, we involve all our people. We want them to be personally interested and have the opportunity to pick up projects and ideas and work with each other instead of sticking to their functional area. So teamwork is really important.”

Global presence

Lantech’s two locations are based on its history. Headquartered in Kentucky, it was created by the merger in 2001 of two companies – the US-based stretch-wrapping operation and a Dutch company which led the way in case handling machinery. Today the company serves all continents with a broad product line. The European operation is the centre of competence for case-driven packaging machines, including sealing trays and lids. The Kentucky operation is the centre of competence for stretch-wrapping machines. The Dutch office is responsible for Europe and Africa, marketing the entire product range that comes from both sites. 

Clearly, Lantech is well known around the world, but with the elements of its twin-track history mean there is a need to reinforce one identity. Bob Lemmen says: “We are globally present and we have sales offices in Asia, Australia and other key markets. The customers see us as one company solving their needs. Now we are starting out on a project of global identity, to reinforce that message. So that our customers around the world can define us as one company with one global identity.

“Due to the way the company has developed itself, you might find our visible presence is slightly different in some regions, or some of the machines are named differently. We need to be sure we all use the same appearance  and same quality systems, the same order confirmations, brochures and other material.

Committed to excellence

The company employs about 350 people in the US and just over 100 in the Netherlands, with additional colleagues  in its worldwide network.  A key theme throughout the company is a commitment to Lean manufacturing principles, of which Lantech was an early adopter.

“Lean is a big driver – we have been practising it for 15 years,” says Bob Lemmen. “We are really ahead of the market in this, both inside and outside the company. The focus is constant quality. Whether we build a machine on Monday morning or Friday afternoon, the quality is always the same. It has all to do with people, processes and structure. This is particularly interesting to our multinational customers; they notice not only in the machines they get and the high standards but also in the best cooperation and relationships we have with them.

“We are not talking about our machines but about providing solutions and thinking Lean with them, helping them to achieve the same benefits.”

What are the priorities for Lantech’s customers? Bob Lemmen says it is ensuring that their products get from their factories to logistics centre to shop shelf without any damage and still looking perfect for the end consumer. “Transport damage is a huge issue. An estimated  1% of transported products worldwide are damaged on arrival. That is money going down the drain. We focus on that by providing packaging solutions that ensure their products will be safe and not damaged. That means delivering the perfectly shaped package.”

However, Lantech’s commitment goes a great deal further than merely delivering that perfect machine. Its highly experience service engineers travel with the machines when they are delivered, to oversea commissioning and ensure all is running as it should be. Besides that, Lantech has an extensive network of partners who are trained and certified to service and repair machines locally, and provide spare parts.

“A production line has to run – it can’t stand still. We have to act immediately if something happens. Through our network, we can ensure that an experienced and certified service engineer can be onsite the shortest possible time .”

The importance of packaging

Packaging, of course, is a rapidly moving feast of trends and new demands. There’s an increasing requirement for high-quality shelf-ready packaging, raised capacities, higher uptime, different sizes, lower costs and solutions that have less environmental impact. Lantech is constantly monitoring market developments to anticipate and respond to these changes.

For example, PET water bottles are being produced using less and less plastic. That means the bottles are less stable and can be squashed more easily. Lantech has responded with a packing solution that secures the bottles without damaging them. Cartons are being made with thinner cardboard – Lantech has adapted its machines to work with this. Internet shopping continues to gather pace – Lantech is working with customers to deliver customised packaging of products for delivery.

As for geography, the US and Europe are the company’s biggest markets but, says Bob Lemmen, ‘there is still a lot to gain in Europe’.

“The biggest growth at the moment is outside Europe. We build our machines for the biggest multinationals – we have a really good cooperation with them, so we ship a lot of machines to Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa. The advantage for them is that if they buy a machine from us, they know it will be a global standard which can be adapted as their own production strategies develop.”