FEATURE BARCODING, LABELLING & PACKAGING THE REAL GREEK: CONSUMERS VALUE AUTHENTICITY SAYS GLOBAL PACKAGING EXPORTER
has its own in-house development and mould engineering departments. Kotronis installed its first IML system in 1998. Soon after, Kotronis broke new ground with the introduction of tamper-evident, compact Feta cheese container. Then followed a line of thermo sealed Feta packaging. By 2004, the innovative design for Hellmann’s salad redefined both the packaging and the appearance of the product.
GREEK YOGHURT APPEAL The mass-market success of Greek-style yoghurts in recent years cannot be underplayed. Currently accounting for 7.3 per cent of the share of Greek products in the world market with the country ranking fourth as the world’s largest yoghurt exporting nation, Kotronis has contributed significantly to this dynamic trade market with the introduction of the complete range of thin-wall injection moulded cups.
Authenticity is big in the food world. For premium Greek food packaging specialist Kotronis
K.Plastics SA, conveying this authenticity using strong visual and tactile properties to global consumers underpins its success
N
ow, with the addition of 21 El-Exis packaging machines and eight new
high-speed, energy efficient Sumitomo (SHI) Demag all-electric injection moulding lines, the company has the capacity to become an even bigger export sensation. Over the past few years, Kotronis
K.Plastics has invested in its state-of-the- art, high-speed injection moulding facility, securing its position as one of Greece’s leading manufacturers of premium plastic containers. The distinctively branded packaging used predominantly by Mediterranean food producers and destined to international markets is produced at the modern 33,000 sq. metre plant located in Efpalio, western Greece. Producing in excess of 350 million
packaging products for deli-salads, yoghurt, Feta cheese, spreads, antipasti and ice cream annually, the company has a fleet of 50 injection moulding machines, operating 24-hours a day, seven days a week. In the past five years, turnover for Kotronis has doubled, and so too has its workforce, which currently stands at 160. Highlighting the critical role that
packaging innovation plays in shelf appeal, Chair of the company’s board Giorgos Kotronis comments: “Unlike the Greek domestic market, where the packaging
10 MAY 2019 | MATERIALS HANDLING & LOGISTICS
appearance of dairy products are deemed by local consumers as rather irrelevant, international customers demand attractive and practical packaging with pleasant visual and tactile properties.” Kotronis continues: “Domestic
customers repeatedly come to us as they seek assurance that their products are going to win the tough international competition for shelf space.” To cater to this growing demand,
Kotronis has 21 El-Exis SP packaging machines located at its headquarters, with five more on order. Eight all-electric IntElect machines round out the company’s impressive Sumitomo (SHI) Demag fleet. Integrated within the line up are numerous in-mould labelling systems, enabling Kotronis to deliver global marketing and promotional campaigns at the push of the button. “High availability and high machine
speed are the relevant factors that keep us ahead of the competition,” emphasises one of the founders’ sons and managing director Augustinos Kotronis. “When a large international supermarket chain wants to launch a ‘Greek Week’, then we can deliver on the spot, even if special labels for this campaign are only released at the eleventh hour.” Founded in 1971, the family-run business
Kotronis Plastics based in Greece produces in excess of 350 million packaging products annually
FUTURE INNOVATIONS With packaging aesthetics being such a critical purchasing influence, Kotronis is continuing its quest to serve the €3 billion export food market, as well as tackle global challenges such as food waste and the plastics agenda. Most recently, the company, in
collaboration with one of Greece’s largest Feta cheese producers, has developed a new packaging barrier that uses brine to significantly extend shelf life without the use of preservatives. Kotronis has also embarked on testing biodegradeable packaging concepts, which includes exploring the viability of introducing IML with an oxygen barrier. Right now though, Kotronis is
benefiting from its new energy and resource-efficient Sumitomo (SHI) Demag injection moulding fleet. “In addition to delivering exceptional process consistency and lowering operational costs, the latest generation of El-Exis SP machines installed by Kotronis consumes up to 20 per cent less energy when measured against comparable packaging machines,” adds Arnaud Nomblot. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is currently
Sumitomo Shi Demag
www.uk.sumitom
o-shi-demag.eu
exploring with Kotronis further integration of robots, automation equipment and solutions for visual mould control into higher-level control and management systems. “Hygiene is prevalent throughout our production facility. We use automated systems to collect the packaging as it comes off the moulding machines, reducing the risk of cross contamination”, adds Augustinos Kotronis.
/ MATERIALSHANDLINGLOGISTICS
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