coalza

COALZA

THE PACKAGING PIONEERS

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COALZA

I PROFILE

Coalza was founded in 1963 and immediately began to play an important role in the development of the Spanish food industry. Thanks to the company’s vertical packaging solutions, artisan producers were able to take their first steps towards industrialisation. Hannah Barnett spoke to CEO Fernando Fernández Garcés to find out more. or a company that has been operating

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From its headquarters and 5,000 square

for 60 years, the secret to Coalza’s

metre factory in Valencia, Coalza maintains

success may be never standing still.

a powerful commercial presence. The com-

Evolution, adaptation and modernisation

pany also has a subsidiary in Palencia in the

have proved essential.

north of Spain, which it opened three years

“The main thing is innovation; it’s key,”

ago to carry out R&D into the best available

said CEO Fernando Fernández Garcés. “If

technology on the market. The innovative

we are not re-inventing ourselves, we are

facility mainly develops solutions for

not improving or producing something that

end-of-line automation and palletisation.

is as efficient as possible for customers.

And if we don’t, and run the same machines

An innovative partnership

for years, we risk being overtaken by

In February 2022, Coalza acquired

new players.”

another big player in the packaging sector,

Coalza started as a small company, man-

IRTA, which specialises in manufacturing

ufacturing vertical packaging machines. A

Vertical Form Fill Sealing machines (VFFS).

strong drive for growth came when it began

Like Coalza, IRTA is known for its innovative

to incorporate key projects into its opera-

engineering department which develops

tions. It has now sold machines in over 75

robust, reliable and versatile machinery for

countries with partners and distributors the

packaging food and other products.

world over, from France to the US, and from

Coalza and IRTA have achieved a union

Ecuador to Morocco.

that mixes skills and values, as a result of

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COALZA

I PROFILE

a pioneering partnership in the field. The

easy to use for clients, meaning it is not

collaboration between the two pack-

necessary to have specialised personnel

aging heavyweights demonstrates what

operating it.”

sets them apart from the competition.

The other key to the success of the

“These factors include the experience

acquisition is the opportunity for improve-

of both companies in the market and our

ment. “Innovation is the base for growing

exemplary customer service,” explained

our company,” as Mr Fernández put it.

Mr Fernández. “We offer remote assistance

Innovation takes many forms, but one

for all cases where required. We are the

of the most pressing – for Coalza as for

leaders in process control and compre-

any company – is to find new ways to

hensive solutions. And our machinery is

manage its environmental footprint.

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“We see ourselves facing the future,

The doypack series includes the necessary

growing and doing so responsibly. That’s

equipment to form, fill and seal doy bags.

why we are currently in the process of

This type of bag stands out for its elegance

perfecting paper packaging, offering an

and stability, as well as for the maximum use

ecofriendly alternative that benefits the

of its size to display the brand, product or

environment,” said Mr Fernández.

descriptions on its surfaces.

Coalza had already made €15 million in

“The main thing about the doypack

sales halfway through 2023 and plans to

series is that we can build five different

reach €20 million by the end of the year.

formats with only one machine and very

Most of the increased revenue will come

small changes are required,” explained

from IRTA, which is projected to grow by

Mr Fernández. “It’s very fast solution. If

50%, and will be upgraded with larger

a customer is thinking of switching the

facilities to complement an extended

package format or product, they can

production capacity.

configurate it using the same machine.

It’s a very functional and flexible multi-

An innovative product The advantages of vertical packaging

format machine.”

Coalza is consistently investing in techno-

machines are numerous. They include

logical and research resources, aiming to

minimal packaging costs, simplicity of

exponentially improve its solutions, speed

operation, reduced production space

and production capabilities.

and a rapid return on investment. One of

Both hardware and software follow

the company’s most exciting new prod-

the same progression since Coalza-

ucts is the doypack vertical packaging

Irta is also working on the upgrade and

machine series.

implementation of a SGA program, which

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COALZA

I PROFILE

will ultimately allow its solutions to manage

An innovative future

stock more efficiently.

Coalza values loyal, long-term relation-

Coalza is highly committed to the

ships with its suppliers. One reason for

preservation and well-being of the

this is simply because it makes good

environment and is strongly motivated

business-sense.

to recycle and give a second life to

“We try and always work with the same

machinery parts where possible. This

supplier,” explained Mr Fernández. “Clients

commitment will be the key to achieving

don’t want electronics that are constantly

ISO 14000 certification in 2024. Coalza

changing and disparate parts. We need

also receives significant support and

to control the stability of our inventory,

incentives from the Spanish government

because we are not just manufacturing

to strengthen and continue its strong

the machines, we are operating the after-

legacy of corporate culture.

sales service. So it’s really important that

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when clients call ten years later, we are

increased from 48 hours to up to six months

not saying: ‘sorry, you have to change half

in some cases,” Mr Fernández explained.

of the machine.’ We are able to provide

“You can’t keep all that stock in advance.

them that spare part instead.”

The only way that we could try to keep the

Of course, Coalza still pushes for innovation and evolution of equipment

time down on the projects was to engage with our clients.”

where possible too. “We do ask our suppliers

The company intends to keep growing.

to improve,” Mr Fernández said. “If we find a

It has a plan to raise turnover to €30 million

better product, we test it, and if our suppliers

within the next three years. This involves

can give us that, we continue with them; but

increasing production capacity, supplier

if not, we have to move forward.”

numbers, manpower and its international

The last few years have been especially

footprint: and of course, to keep innovating

turbulent for the supply of electronics,

“For innovation, we need a good research

according to Mr Fernández. Many items

and development department staffed by

from the big companies like Siemens,

the right people,” concluded Mr Fernández.

Rockwell and Omron are manufactured

“We are a small company in the scope of

in China, where the supply chain has expe-

the world, so we must be sure about what

rienced numerous delays. But coming up

kind of machines we are investing in. But I

against adversity is where a company like

like selling good products. And I like it when

Coalza flourishes.

a project is a success. Our clients are our

“We had to develop new products and new solutions, because the delay had

best ambassadors, so when they are happy, we are happy.”

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