ProSweets 2017
Machinery manufacturer sees tough competition for wafer and biscuit packaging but success in chocolate
This content item was originally published on www.confectionerynews.com, a William Reed online publication.
Speaking to ConfectioneryNews at ProSweets 2017, Greg Meredith, managing director, ecomec, said as a company it operates in a niche market, only in the confectionery business because they have the skills in that area to know what they are doing, understand the market and prices, the condition and quality of the machines.
Overhaul & upgrade
“We strip it down, overhaul it, upgrade it and give it some of the latest technology that probably wouldn’t have been around in the days when the machine was built,” said Meredith.
“The machine is guaranteed. We can offer installation and the service you would get from a new machine but obviously at a heavily discounted price.
“We also buy machinery equipment. A lot of machinery dealers trade equipment not buy it for their own stock, which can be frustrating for companies because they would like to release the space and receive some money. We go in make an offer to buy the equipment, remove it, transport it, store it and its our responsibility to sell it.”
Chocolate growth area
Meredith said chocolate has been a growth area for the last 10 years and the firm gets a lot of requests to package it, either as chocolate coins, fold wrapping, chocolate eggs or figurines.
“Wafer and biscuit equipment has become more difficult to trade in, in second-hand equipment because a lot of companies have moved to flow wraps. That is the way the multi national companies have gone. But we continue to be successful in fold wrapping and end folds,” he added.
“Chocolate has grown within the last 10 years because the developing countries are getting a taste for it. Countries which may have consumed more natural sweet fruit have now got a taste for chocolate and its a premium product.
“It’s the kind of chocolate people aspire to. The cocoa butter content might not be so high but its still chocolate. We are seeing particular growth in China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran at the moment.”
