Global supplier of weighing and packing line solutions Ishida Europe has announced it is to open a Paris office at the end of 2003. With effect from January 2004, all sales, projects, spares, service and training for the French market will be handled by Ishida France. The move is designed to allow Ishida Europe to meet the changing needs of French customers directly as the food and packaging industries develop towards more integrated packing solutions.
The new 400 m² facility, which includes office space, warehousing and demonstration and trials facilities, is located north of Paris near Charles de Gaulle airport. The company believes that the location provides good transport links. It is expected there will initially be 14 employees, soon rising to 17, many of whom are joining Ishida from Beaurain Frères, Ishida Europe's current exclusive French agent.
"As a result of a long-standing partnership with Beaurain Frères, Ishida Europe has a large and dynamic customer base in France, whose needs are constantly evolving," said Ishida Europe sales and marketing director Andy Hicks. "As our aim is to meet, and exceed those needs, the new French office will enable even closer collaboration for bespoke developments.
"With Ishida's integrated capabilities in multihead weighing, tray handling and sealing, checkweighing, weigh-price-labeling and end-of-line casepacking, our focus will be on delivering total project management and turnkey solutions. We will remain in close contact with Beaurain Frères to progress various projects, particularly when the expertise of both companies is of value to our customers."
Beaurain Frères will continue to focus on its core activities and offer bespoke solutions for the food industry, combining one hundred years of experience with process and packing systems from several principals.
Ishida Europe is a global player in the design, manufacture and installation of complete weighing and packing line solutions, particularly for the food industry. The firm develops advanced automated systems for weighing, packing, labelling and handling food products.
Headquartered in Birmingham, UK, the group is supported by four additional offices in mainland Europe, one in the UAE and one in South Africa. Ishida Europe's 2002 sales reached €60 million in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Ishida Europe is a subsidiary of Ishida in Japan.
For further information on Ishida's new French office, please contact Torsten Giese at Ishida Europe.