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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