The pandemic has forced many companies in the potato, vegetable and fruit sector to introduce improvements in the area of logistics and automated processes. This development includes a surge in demand for automated weighing- and packaging machines. To respond to this need, Manter plans to further expand its manufacturing facility in Emmen, The Netherlands.

Producers that invested in automation solutions have been able to better continue their activity during the current health crisis. It made them less dependent on human labor and able to respond more easily to the 1,5 meters distance guidelines. It also gave them the flexibility needed to react more quickly to changing market demands.

“Companies realize the necessity of automation in the short term by the effects of COVID-19, to ensure business continuity facing high absenteeism and a lack of qualified workers.” explained Michiel Eilander, commercial manager at Manter International B.V.

The urgent need for automation solutions has resulted in a huge increase in the number of requests for Manter weighing- and packaging machines, Eilander continued.

In order to support this growth, the company decided to invest in extending its production facility in Emmen, The Netherlands. “The last few months we took steps toward increasing our production capacity. We just hired additional staff and outsourced some of the work,” says Eilander. “The increasing demand for our machines […] makes us grow quickly. We already have advanced plans to expand our location to create more production capacity and to assure our quality as usual,” adds Eilander.

Manter recently celebrated 25 years of existence and is present in five locations in three different countries and delivers to over 70 countries worldwide.