The beginning of CSi

In 1964, during the establishment of CSi, then known as Conveyer Systems N.V., the Netherlands experienced significant economic growth. Founder Kromhout van der Meer anticipated substantial investments in automating production processes and sought to respond to this trend. The company’s initial goal was to deal in machinery, devices, tools, construction works, land, and auxiliary materials, including their processing and handling.

One of CSi’s pioneering products was a brake roller system applicable to pallet roller conveyors. This revolutionary concept provided controlled buffering for pallet roller conveyors without any form of propulsion. Kromhout van der Meer proudly secured the first projects utilizing this technology with companies such as Hero and Remia.

CSi’s customers portfolio gradually expanded to include prominent names in the Netherlands during that era, such as AKU/Enka, Shell, Heineken, and others. At the time, the manufacturing of CSi’s in-house developed systems and machines occurred externally, with components sourced from third parties. Components were procured, and all parts were transported to the customer, where they were assembled into flawless operating transport systems.

In 1965, the first contract was signed, marking the establishment as a material handling hub. This contract involved supplying and installing a bulk transport elevator system for the metered delivery of coal dust in a gasification system at Shell.

One notable subsequent project from this period was a drum tilting system with inlet and outlet lines for handling 200-liter drums of lubricating oil. These drums were supplied in a vertical position but had to be stacked horizontally. Specifically designed drum tilters, known as tilt crosses, were developed for this purpose.

CSi delivered comprehensive box transport systems to Enka and Dalon for both raw and finished products. These systems primarily consisted of conveyors, roller conveyors, and switches for various products. The products were packaged in boxes, labeled with small codes, and transported through CSi’s systems to the shipping and storage departments.

The system also featured “policemen”, an at the time commonly used mechanical priority dosing system, preventing two products from crossing paths simultaneously and causing jams. This application was considered high-tech in an installation mainly comprised of limit switches, relays, and pneumatically controlled valves.

Enka, impressed by the system’s performance, chose to utilize CSi’s services again during their subsequent expansion and relocation of production to then Czechoslovakia. This marked CSi’s first export project in its history. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of CSi employees, this project, beyond the Dutch borders, became a tremendous success. It marked the beginning of CSi’s journey as an international export company.