Founded in 1984, Pagès Group comprises four divisions – Machines Pagès, Pagès Medical, Polymac and Pagès Robotics. It has a worldwide base of 200 employees and has factories and offices in France, The Netherlands, USA, Canada and China.
From its inception, the company has specialized in customized automation systems for the packaging industry, and especially decoration solutions. It has built up more than 40 years of experience in high-performance in-mold labelling (IML) systems, handle fitting machines, and medical automation systems, as well as innovative downstream solutions that include product/decoration inspection, assembly-and box filling systems.
Driven by sustainability
According to Yannick Ains, CEO and President: “With 3,000+ systems installed in 45 countries across the globe, we have many major customers that are household names. And although their applications and products vary, there is a single common thread that unites all of them, and this is the drive for greater sustainability. Indeed, sustainability is probably the number one priority in the packaging market.
“Many of the big players are looking for the holy grail in terms of packaging: compostability, renewable resources, and competitiveness,” he adds, “and it is becoming clear that molded-fiber packaging is one of the most promising alternatives to current packaging; but it has traditionally been tough to create same level of branding and shelf appeal on molded-fiber packages.”
Flexible & sustainable branding
Recognizing this paradigm shift in packaging materials and to cater for the need for more attractive solutions, Pagès Group has developed its patented MFL technology, an automated labelling solution that offers high-quality decoration that is compostable, glue free and 100% paper. But for this approach to be functionally and financially attractive it has to offer better performance than pressure-sensitive label solutions.
“We worked very closely with the technical team at Rockwell Automation to hit the main target of maximum throughput,” Ains explains. “This led the development of a solution for wraparound labels, which exhibits an incredibly quick cycle time, all thanks to the optimization we have achieved with the PLCs, drives and motors. So, this new solution ticks all the boxes in terms of sustainability, flexibility, small-batch capabilities and of course high-quality decoration.
“Our capacity to design larger systems with a bigger output and customized downstream solutions was a game changer in the packaging industry,” Ains adds. “And many converters buy our solutions for their reliability, flexibility, customization, and long lifetime.”
Performance founded on effective automation
Many of these operational metrics are underpinned by class-leading automation solutions. “Rockwell Automation is a global leader in industrial automation, and as we export 80% of our systems, it was important to have a supplier that could offer support and services worldwide. And this support is essential from our side too, which is why we leverage the connectivity offered by the Rockwell Automation infrastructure to enable remote access so that we may deliver our own lineside support.”
Pagès Group has also been able to streamline its design and programming efforts, while also incorporating the ability to more easily modify designs in line with market demands. Its customers gain greater flexibility and throughput, alongside improved safety and easier maintenance and troubleshooting.
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