They can stack 40,000 boxes per hour at DS Smith Packaging in Hoek of Holland. That is ten full lorries. "But we would rather not," Henk van Raalte says. "Then it is really full pressure. We would rather work in advance." This is also possible: since 1st of January the department has moved from De Lier to Hoek in Holland and their storage capacity has considerably increased.
Henk van Raalte in front of the transport department of the company
The new establishment of DS Smith Packaging
It was a busy time for DS Smith Packaging, who supply corrugated cardboard packings for horticulture. In June last year the entire packing division of SCA Packaging was taken over by DS Smith, including the premises where Henk van Raalte works. "New visiting cards" he summarizes. "There are now English instead of Swedish senior executives, but very little has changed." For the British concern this take-over was an extension of the area to be serviced. The work to be done by the establishment has not changed. "Even the telephone numbers remained the same. Occasionally somebody says SCA Packaging," Van Raalte mentions with a laugh. This is not strange: most people have already worked for the company for years.
More important for the business is the move, which since 1st January is no longer in De Lier but in Hoek in Holland. At the new address there is a lot more space, the area went up from 5,000 to 13,500 m2. The extra space is used for storage. "As a result we can service our clients better," Van Raalte mentions. That has not gone unnoticed in the market. LC Packaging has stopped the set-up activities in Nieuwerkerk at the IJssel and moved those to DS Smith Packaging and also the Greenery and Smart Packaging know where to find the company.
In the production area 21 machines have been set-up with which 40,000 boxes per hour can be stacked. That is between 10 and 15 lorries full. "But we would rather not do this," according to Van Raalte. "We prefer to work in advance." This is successful, because of experience the company can work out how many boxes are required and when. Once we know the area we know exactly how many boxes are required," Van Raalte estimates.
Delivered stock
Stock in store
The machines are driven by returning seasonal employees. During the visit a number of them came over from a different establishment of DS Smith. "At the moment there is less work there, but we do not want to lose them," Van Raalte continues. "They have been working for us for quite a long period. We cannot employ them permanently as they would walk around with a broom from October to March. But we want to keep them for the whole the season and therefore they come and work here till it becomes busier there. "The peak for the company is June-July for glasshouse vegetables and November till January for fruit."
The packing line holds 21 machines
Ready for transport
The corrugated cardboard packings come for most part from the factories of DS Smith Packaging. There is a monthly quality meeting. Packings are made from recycled carton and paper. "Virgin paper, new paper we hardly use. 99% is recycled paper," Van Raalte explains. Sustainability and recycling has always been very important with DS Smith Packaging. "The retail sometimes mentions that they want paper of FSC-certified timber. DS Smith only uses paper with FSC mark. The printing on the packing can be designed by DS Smith factories on the initiative of and following the wishes of the customer. Customer-oriented action is an important feature of the company. Clients know us from a long time ago as a reliable, large company. The last ten years we have worked more and more as a service provider. To promise is to do, when deliveries are concerned. Therefore when a client phones on Sunday afternoon, that he needs something on Monday, we are ready for him."
From stacking to storage
For more information:
Henk van Raalte
DS Smith Packaging
7, Amersgat
3151 ZJ
Hoek of Holland
Office: +31 174 526 450
www.dssmith-packaging.com
