Mediane has acquired a position as a supplier of bags and sleeves for potted herbs, lettuce, vegetable and bread packaging over the last few years. The business now produces around 1.5 billion bags and sleeves annually and exports to over 50 countries.
"We've built up a customer base with whom we can grow. We supply to growers in greenhouse cultivation, in particular hydroponics, and open ground," says Robert van der Laan of Mediane. "We want to be more than 'just a packaging supplier'. We think like a retailer and grower to understand the specific needs and play into them as quickly and as well as we can."
Their existing customer base regularly asked for various other packaging besides the bags and sleeves such as flowpack and laminates. This fit exactly into Mediane's mission. Mediane wants to remain faithful to its current customer base rather than look for new markets and buyers. This loyalty comes first. Mediane has now entered the flowpack market. Both micro and macro perforation has now been added to this. The most recent step is the expansion into laser perforation. Robert: "We want to be able to offer a complete package of perforation possibilities for our existing buyers in the agri and horti sector. We produce everything ourselves, and all under one roof."
"The market for sleeves for potted herbs and bread bags will always remain our core activity," continues Robert van der Laan. With the arrival of the new generation of printing machines (high definition) and the various perforation machines, multiple high added-value application have come within their reach. Thanks to Mediane's current buyers they are able to further grow and expand.
It is clear that for the various packagings for fresh products, such as sleeves, bags, and rolled foil, the retail prefers a fast pre-press, high value printing quality, quick delivery on call and BRC certified production due to 'Food Safety'. Robert: "Our customers want to know where and under which conditions with what quality control the packaging is produced. It seems quite logical to me."
There is also a growing consciousness within fresh products in the area of where and under which conditions they are produced. If packaging has to travel across half the world to reach its destination, it has negative consequences for the CO2 footprint. A complete focus on locally grown products and then importing the packaging from "far far away" are in clear contradiction of each other. We have a huge advantage here over products that have to be imported from far outside of the EU, such as China, Vietnam or Turkey. If a date or appraisal to the printing machine or audit is planned, you know everything will be correct at Mediane."
Growing in a sustainable manner also means marketing and packaging in a sustainable manner. Packaging suppliers have to be carefully selected. This is why you rarely see packaging materials originating from outside of the EU. The market for fresh products is dynamic and demanding. As a packaging supplier you have to be able to respond to changing situations and demand from the retail quickly. All of the raw materials that Mediane uses come from the EU.
In October 2017 the installation of a Nordmeccania laminating machine took place. This machine can do a lot; solvent-free, solvent-based, but also Coldseal. The expectations for 2018 are high. In the fourth quarter Mediane with produce 'pots', in which they will process their own leftover waste. It seems like a strange combination but was a conscious choice. This product will also be sold within our existing customer base. This is another example of sustainable production. Mediane starts small scale and with a simple 13cm pot.
Mediane has been a joint venture between Mediane and Efekt spo zoo for over 10 years. There is a sales office in Richmond, USA.
For information:
For Europe, Australia, New-Zealand, North-Africa and the Middle-East, please contact:
Mediane
P.O. Box 1623
3600 BP Maarssen
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 346 285029
E-Mail address: info@mediane.nl
Voor North America and Canada, please contact:
Mediane North America LLC
1506, Pump Road
Richmond Virginia 23238
USA Tel: +1-804 740 0397
E-Mail address: peter@mediane.nl