Bagging Machines Partnership: Q-and-A with STATEC BINDER

A: STATEC BINDER as it’s known today formed in 2008. It’s a joint venture between Binder + Co., which was formed in 1894, and BTW Binder, which formed in 1997. Both companies still exist today, by the way.

A: No, they combined the bagging machine parts of each business into a separate entity, owned by both companies. Binder + Co. is still an independent company today. It continues to specialize in solutions for manufacturers with screening, sorting, crushing, and fluid bed dryers.

BTW Binder is a part of BT systems, a specialist and general contractor for plant construction in the area of storage technology and intralogistics, automation technology, image processing, quality control systems, sorting technology, switchgear manufacturing and electrical industrial installations.

A: Yes, yes. It is similar. And the specialty for STATEC BINDER is bagging machines.

A: Yes, so, back in 1978, Binder + Co. launched with a fully automatic open-mouth bagging machine called the ABF/SPK. Since then, STATEC BINDER has developed more bagging machines which offer more flexibility and offer a wider range of bag types and formats.

A: Yes, over 45 years, actually. In 1999, STATEC was formed as a packaging specialist company. It made fully automatic and semi-automatic bagging machines. By 2008, both companies had expanded into palletizing lines and other related products. They formed the joint venture because of their overlap and shared expertise in packaging technology.

Now, STATEC BINDER has installed over 1,900 machines across the world. We have a 5000-square-meter facility in Austria where we assemble up to 150 machines annually.

A: Yes, well, the combined know-how of the two companies, and the long history of designing and engineering bagging solutions tailored to industries and companies means STATEC BINDER has deep expertise. Our machines are engineered for reliability, performance, and above all, precision.

Our company’s deep knowledge has allowed us to continually expand and improve our products through the years.

After four decades of being in the market, for example, the model PRINCIPAC is one of the fastest, most reliable, and most precise bagging machines in the world.

And today our products not only include bagging systems for 5 kg to 50 kg bags, but also big bag filling stations, and more.

A: Well, it has to do with accountability to some extent. If our name is on the machine, then we are responsible for its performance. So, we must know and have documented every step of its creation.

And it’s also a practical matter. The precision and quality of our automatic bagging machines is due not only to their design, but also to the way they are made. Our facilities have been tooled and engineered to create that precision and quality. It’s more cost-effective to make them in Austria and ship them complete than it is to try to replicate the facilities elsewhere.

A: Yes, well, STATEC BINDER’s bagging machines are fully automatic, so every step of their functionality must coordinate and follow the correct order. Otherwise, a filled bag could be released too early, or the product could be discharged from the filler without a bag properly attached. Precision-engineered machines prevent these situations.

Integration of the bagging machine with the rest of the line is also of critical importance. This is why STATEC BINDER appreciates our partnership with Columbia/Okura. We could not partner our bagging machines with palletizing systems that do not share our commitment to precision.

A: Like any investment in high quality products, there is an expectation of longevity and reliability. But there’s also an assumption here about the customers, or maybe a better way to say it is there is a responsibility on the customers’ part to treat the machinery with the care and attention that precision equipment warrants.

There are really three parts to making the change to a fully automatic bagging system successful. First, yes, our bagging machines must operate precisely. Second, as we said, they must be installed and integrated with the line precisely, which is what we trust Columbia/Okura to do for us here in the U.S. But third, they must be operated precisely. And what we mean by that, really, is that they must be well-maintained. This means cleaning them and following the instructions provided in the operator’s manual to perform routine maintenance on schedule. When regularly cleaned and maintained, STATEC BINDER bagging machines will perform reliably for decades.

A: Investing in fully automated bagging and palletizing systems can provide a solid foundation for increasing competitiveness. Robot-assisted systems, as you already know, can significantly accelerate palletizing. And when you combine that with an integrated STATEC BINDER bagging machine, you can ensure stable, and well-formed layer patterns.

All of this helps companies in many ways.

First, there’s increased productivity. With a manual bagging machine, operators can fill an average of 10 bags per minute by hand. A STATEC BINDER machine can bag up to 20 bags per minute—doubling throughput. Our machines also create efficiency with the automatic inspection and labeling of bags.

Another benefit is increasing a company’s flexibility.  The user-friendly interface and intuitive controls of STATEC BINDER’s bagging machines allow operators to easily manage and adjust dosage, performance, volume, and bag material to suit their production needs.

Consistent quality of the bagged goods is another benefit. Because our machines have state-of-the-art monitoring systems and control mechanisms, each bag will be filled with the precise volume specified and closed perfectly. This reduces product loss and supports the manufacturers’ own reputation for quality.

I think another important thing that benefits companies, but more importantly, perhaps, their workers, is improved occupational safety. STATEC BINDER machines are made to the highest safety standards—these are European standards which are higher than those in the U.S.—in our ISO 9001-certified assembly hall in Gleisdorf, Austria. Automated bag-fillers reduce dust, creating a safer working environment. They also reduce the risks of injury from manual activities.

Overall, more automation leads to standardized production processes, greater efficiency, and more profitability. Automated bagging machines also reduce errors, which can mean cost-savings.

A: No, it’s the opposite. They have a clear user interface that makes it easier for operators to control processes, production capacities, and to facilitate analysis and fine-tuning of the machines. Plus, they’re made with networked systems for remote maintenance. Our operating instructions, training, and global customer service keep companies running smoothly and minimize downtime.