CELEBRATING 13 YEARS AMID THE COVID-19 CRISIS Machinery sales have always been


Thirteen years - unlucky for some? “Unlucky for quite a number of us,” says Phil Cameron, sales director of Genesis Process Solutions. “The devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on families and businesses together with the overall effect that the lockdown is having on us all is not what any of us envisaged for 2020.” It definitely isn’t the way he would


have chosen to celebrate the thirteenth anniversary of his company’s formation. “With Brexit done bar the final shouting match, we now have something infinitely worse. But it is what it is, so we had better get on with it. Those who don’t panic and use the time wisely should come out of this fighting.” Phil Cameron together with


managing director, Neil Eardley formed Genesis Process Solutions thirteen years ago. They both had extensive knowledge of the processing industries - Eardley as service manager for feeder manufacturer, Brabender Technologie and Cameron as a sales engineer for Brabender and then a silo manufacturer. Together, they have over 45 years experience in the processing industries. When Brabender decided to close


their UK office, Eardley was offered the opportunity to take on Brabender as an agency and for Cameron, the time was right to join him. The way that Genesis has grown


has been considered slow and steady: “The plan from day one was not to grow too quickly. Other companies have failed through expanding too quickly,” said Eardley. “Setting up Genesis and starting primarily with just Brabender equipment meant that we could instantly service the existing Brabender UK customers in addition to finding new customers.” After a few years, the Walter


Krause distributorship became available. Their flexible factory silos have proven successful in the plastics, food and agricultural industries. “The plastics industry has always


been a big focus for us,” said Cameron. “With the approach of Bay Plastics Machinery to distribute their strand pelletizers, Genesis was developing an enviable reputation for


their expertise in plastics...” It was at this point that Genesis


started designing machinery. Designed by Phil Cameron, Prop-Flow effectively discharges poor-flowing material from silos and bins and is particularly effective at dealing with flake type material. But for the plastics industry, there


was a huge problem looming. Cameron continued: “To the casual observer, it seemed that all was well with the plastics industries. But ten years before the bubble finally burst – in the form of the David Attenborough Blue Planet series – we and others could see what would happen. The negative media coverage and the strength of public opinion regarding the way that certain companies in the UK were recycling plastics and other materials together with the way that plastic pollution was effecting the environment in the Far-East meant that things were going to need to change and to some degree they have. But it must be remembered that plastics are highly versatile materials which correctly managed, can only be a benefit. “With the Covid-19 pandemic, it


is plastics in the form of face masks/guards/piping for ventilators and clear screens for protecting staff that is helping save lives.” Back to Genesis. Brabender feeders


have always been used by the food industry and this side of the business has been increasing while the plastics industries were showing signs of contracting. Concentrating more on developing the food side of the business seems to have been the right decision, because Genesis has now worked for practically every major blue-chip food processor. In parallel with their machinery


sales, spares support and service department, Genesis Process Solutions has also become a system designer and installer. Cameron continued: “Because of what we are able to do with regards to our systems work, we can be talking to various customers, representing various industries about design, machinery supply and system support all in the same day. Without doubt, flexibility is the key.”


an important part of what Genesis is about. Six years ago, the company was awarded the Liftvrac distributorship, and then in 2018, the Farleygreene distributorship for the UK and Ireland. This distributorship had the added benefit that as a UK based manufacturer, it’s a Brexit- proof distributorship. “The Partnership we have with Farleygreene has been a fantastic move for both of us.” said Cameron. “It has allowed Farleygreene to concentrate on R&D, manufacturing and increasing their export market, without their home market suffering. And as we now look after the spares and service for them as well, we really are expanding our target audience.” As Genesis has grown and


developed over the past thirteen years so has the need for staff who are able to work together as a team. “As with every company, our staff are our most important asset. It isn’t just about being able to offer great equipment or systems – you must be able to provide support at every stage. We are a fairly small team, and this helps as we are all aware of what is going on with every customer which means a much quicker response can be achieved.” said Eardley. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic,


the company has had some difficult decisions to make. First and foremost is staff and customer safety, and Genesis has been able to remain open with staff working from home. Cameron is acutely aware that his customers are some of the largest food processors in Europe and that they have machinery in their systems that he has supplied: “Most of our customers will have stocks of most frequently used spare parts for Brabender or Farleygreene but invariably there will be something that they need that they don’t have in stock. While we initially shut our offices, we were still providing an emergency service for spares and repairs. When this pandemic is over, we want to still be known as the company that went that bit further for its customers.” www.genesisps.co.uk


ROBOTS SUPPORT TESTING


A German company has developed a new, contactless solution for coronavirus testing. Instead of medical personnel, the prototype machine from BoKa Automatisierung uses a video system and a FANUC robot to guide tests and collect samples. If put into practice, the system could reduce the risk of infection at test stations and free up medical personnel. The fully automated test works


either as a ‘drive-in’ or ‘walk by’ procedure. Personal data from the person being tested is scanned and assigned to a test tube with a barcode. A FANUC robot scans the barcode and hands over the test stick to the individual, who performs the test independently with the help of video instructions. Finally, the robot takes over the used test tube - and stores it until it is transported to the laboratory. “To ensure that each test is


useable, the swab collection can be monitored via camera transmission by a medically- trained person," explained Severin Bobon, co-owner of BoKa Automatisierung. As the video system and robots perform a number of the important steps, a doctor can control several test stations simultaneously. As the test system is designed


for two people at the same time, around 500 samples could be collected contact-free per 24hrs. The cell uses a six-axis FANUC


LR Mate 200iD/7L long-arm robot with 911mm reach. To save space, the control system is located under the worktable. To keep the work surface in the cell free for trays of test tubes, the robot is suspended, allowing it to work both sides of the worktable. www.fanuc.eu/uk/en


“The original designer and manufacturer of coaxial valves with 60 years of experience”


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Tel: 01908 067583 Ema l: We


Email: john.osborn@coaxvalves.co.uk Web: www.co-ax.com


6 MAY 2020 | PROCESS & CONTROL


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