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16 octubre 2024
Factory of the Future: Introduction of the key areas
29 octubre 2024International growth in turbulent times: 1994 – 2004
Due to changes within the EU in the years previous (including the Schengen Agreement for free trade and the fall of the Berlin Wall), a shift occurred, with growth in volume giving way to growth in variety. The entire EU became one large market, and the manufacturing industry grew and transformed.
This change also affected CSi (then known as Stork Conveyor Systems). Through joining Stork, we were able to collaborate and grow together with Stork Bepak and Stork Biviator. However, these collaborations didn’t go as well as hoped, as the company cultures didn’t mesh well, and our working methods didn’t align. Something had to change, and by the end of 1995, Stork decided to fully merge the three companies into Stork Bottling, Packaging and Logistics Systems, or Stork BP&L.
The following years remained turbulent, and further changes were needed to set things straight. Former managing director Kees de Veth was asked to return, and he agreed on the condition that there would be a management buyout. And so, on 1st March 2000, we continued as Stork CSi. These were not only times of change but also international growth, with projects coming in from e.g. Asia and South America. Two key figures joined us during this decade, and are still working at CSi today: Elimar Mielke in Germany and Juan Aguilar in Mexico.
Noteworthy projects from this decade
Shell, Singapore (1994)
A specialised system for bitumen in cans, which had to be installed in the sweltering heat. Engineers included Mathé van Loon, Cok Wernsen, Ton van der Wielen, and Henri Heikens; the on-site crew included Ton Stikkers, Marco Baars, Ton van Sluisveld, Gerard Stikkers, Peter Kivits, and Gerard van Kastel.
British American Tobacco, Singapore (1995)
Fully automated and robotised internal transport system.
La Costeña, Mexico (1996)
A system with 17 palletisers for the new production facility. It was purchased after a reference visit to Kellogg’s in England, where our AGVs were so well-received that they were added to the project scope.
Absolute Vodka, Sweden (1997)
A system with a C5002; the throughput of 67 pallets per hour represented a 50% increase in capacity.
PTT Post, Netherlands (1998)
Specially designed machines to stack and de-stack mail containers on roll cages.
Zeeman, Netherlands (2001)
A system focused on product registration for faster unloading of sea containers and registering their contents. Unloading time was reduced from 9 hours with 3 people to 1.5 hours with 1 person.
Explore CSi’s international growth during 1994–2004, a decade of transformation and turbulent times. All about key projects, company mergers, and the management buyout that shaped Stork CSi.