Vetico is at the cutting edge of technology. Our POP, Flip and Origami projects are the most recent proof: we successfully turned 17 Omron Viper robots from Japan into three customer-centric solutions. And still, we’re as hungry for innovation as ever. Chief Executive officer Arno van de Ven gives an update on our ambitions.
“I dream of a machine that can do it all,” Arno begins. “Right now, you can only manufacture products X, Y and Z sequentially, but I’d love it if they could all overtake each other on a single line. For example, product carrier 1 could be routed only to robots 2 and 5, while robot 3 handles product 2. That would enable us to fold, fill and position all at once, using different molds and different products. It really would open the door to infinite flexibility.”
Part of the solution
If it were up to Arno, his dream would come true within the next decade or so, and perhaps even sooner. “We’ve already taken the first step and are currently awaiting a case packer that can move freely on command. When it arrives, we’ll create a test setup that can process two products at once, with the second product on the line overtaking the first. With our new case packer, we’ll be one step closer to my dream solution.”
In the future, we’ll rely on machines”
People and technology
Combining people and technology is sacred to Vetico, but won’t that be consigned to oblivion by the emergence of the ultimate machine? “No, humans and machines will always keep interacting. While dark factories will never materialize, we will be able to make more with fewer people. As a case in point, we’re looking to double in size with the same number of employees. “We currently rely on people for agility. In the future, we’ll rely on machines.”
Today and tomorrow
The Innovation Center would be nowhere without Vetico employees, who work on a wide range of innovations for today, tomorrow and beyond. “We’re set to launch a new cardboard packaging line for a premium confectionery brand in Q1 2025,” explains Arno, “using a robot to collect products and package them in a box. The remarkable thing is that we can process bags, jars, cans and boxes without a single changeover.”
“We’re also working on a project that combines Vision technology and AI,” our CEO continues, “in partnership with innovative suppliers who aren’t afraid to invest. Birds of a feather, eh? We’re also in the midst of transitioning to more mono-materials and paper packaging.”
as long as we learn from it and end up with a win”
Driven by technology
Courage. According to Arno, that’s what you need to lead the way. But you won’t get anywhere without action. “We’re not averse to a little experimentation, as long as we learn from it and end up with a win. We just get up and get going. There are only one or two other truly innovative co-packers in Europe. It helps that I’m a true-blue techie: I can’t help but approach things from a technical point of view. We’re the kind of company that wants to get everything right: commerce, finance and especially technology. I haven’t seen our approach copied anywhere else!”
