Portuguese companies 'package' innovations in industry – ECO

Founded 27 years ago, Portuguese Mind develops solutions for Programming and cutting systems created with the aim of accelerating and improving product development processes. It has offices in Santa Maria da Feira and Lisbon and exports about 50% of its solutions, mainly for the American and European markets. It employs 80 people and has a turnover of seven million euros.

From robotic arm to mobile robot

Regular presence in Empack, Logistics & Automation, ELP has introduced two “innovative” products, both of Danish origin and which can cost €150,000. The collaborative robotic arm can move 13 boxes per minute between pallet pick-up and drop-off; While the mobile robot can transport pallets weighing up to 600 kilograms. But he confirms that there are other models that have the ability to transport pallets of up to 1,350 kilograms.

“It is a collaborative technology. It is equipment that can work together with people and have a positive impact, considering that it is not necessary to make major changes to the space the customer already has,” summarizes Felipe Carondo, CEO of EPL. a The automotive industry (Forvia and Visteon) are among the main clients of this robotics solutions company, which is nearly two decades old. with With offices in Lisbon and São João da Madeira, it employs 11 people and has a turnover of four million euros.

Pack pallets into cardboard every two minutes

With 38 years in the market, fitmbalWhich works in the industrial packaging sector, and has been present at this exhibition since the first session. One of the innovations presented at Portugal's largest packaging, logistics and transportation exhibition was a pallet wrapping machine using paper, instead of the traditional stretch film machine. “He is New to the global market. We represent a global leader in end of line packaging. We are the first distributor to own this machine.”Augusto Souza Rosa, managing partner of Fitembal, tells ECO. The machine costs 25 thousand euros and has the capacity to fill a 1.5 meter pallet every two minutes.

The machine that wraps pallets in cardboard consumes 70% more compared to stretchable plastic films. “I can use very little plastic to get a pallet properly secured, whereas with paper we have to use a lot more paper. It is equipment for a niche market, that is, for those with products linked to sustainability, such as the cork, wood or paper sector.“, explains the director.

Fitembal is located in Santa Maria d'Avioso (Maya), employs 38 people, and generates €5.5 million It exports a small portion of production to Europe, Algeria and Morocco. Clients include Super Bock Group (formerly Uncer), Refrige – Sociedade Industrial de Refrigerantes, Água do Luso or Água de Penacova.

Spaniard Oscar Barranco, director of Empack and Logistics & Automation, explains to the ECO This exhibition has always been held in the Porto area, because “that is where the industry is concentrated,” he explains. At the same time, this initiative is also taking place in Madrid and Bilbao (Spain).

Vertical elevator from Holland

This was the first time that the Dutch manufacturer Quimorox participated in an exhibition in Portugal. The group offers solutions such as pallets, product and pallet elevators, packaging machines, etc. The solution they demonstrated at the event held at Exponor was a continuous vertical lift for boxes, with design Patented. It is a solution that it claims can transport two thousand products per hour.

mark Boyx, Main accountant From Quimorox explains, “A modular elevator has the ability to move boxes from one level to another quickly and effortlessly.” Founded in 1995 by Peter Hansen, Quimorax exports more than 60% of its equipment, employs 130 people, and had a turnover of 23 million last year.

Founded in 1991, Guimarães Pinto Brazil Collection It started by devoting itself to the automotive wiring industry, but now offers solutions in the field of in-house logistics, i.e. Everything necessary for the internal movement of materials, whether to the warehouse E-Commerce Or for industry. At the exhibition, the company made a small display of 24V wiring and internal supply equipment for material transportation and production support.

“Our projects are not small, considering that We have built high-volume automatic warehouses and assembly lines.Cristina Costa, Head of Marketing and Communications at Pinto Brasil, says: It exports 90% of its production mainly to Germany, and employs more than 260 people.