Automation masterclass Alvey Group

AUTOMATION MASTERCLASS

For over 50 years the Alvey Group has pioneered the way forward in industrial automation. Its systems increase plant efficiency through its unrivalled expertise in warehousing and distribution systems, palletising technology and industrial software and services. Recently the company was acquired by Scott technologies of New Zealand, thus opening up yet greater horizons for the group, as Philip Yorke reports.

For more than 50 years Alvey has developed a unique expertise in the design and installation of integrated industrial automation solutions. The Alvey Group is headquartered in Belgium with operations in France, the Czech Republic and the UK. The company’s broad product portfolio and skilled project management teams ensure that it delivers complete turnkey systems on time and within budget.

Alvey Group solutions include both hardware and advanced software to significantly improve warehousing efficiency and distribution. The group offers a variety of mini-load systems and is expert in the supply of horizontal and vertical transportation systems via various types of conveyers. The range of solutions on offer is infinite and always tailored to optimise the efficiency, productivity and profitability of its customers.

optimising functionality

Today Alvey offers the most advanced, flexible and reliable material handling systems available on the market. The company has been leading the field for more than 50 years with its specialised palletising and de-palletising systems, which range from single line palletisers to the most complex multi-line systems, and are specifically designed to optimise handling functionality.

Alvey told Industry Europe, “Palletisation requires a high level of diversity and flexibility and our specially designed solutions offer unrivalled versatility and applicability. Our systems perform faultlessly in the most demanding situations, for example in environments with extreme temperatures and dusty atmospheres. Furthermore, for each industrial sector we develop tailor-made solutions that are able to meet the most demanding production challenges.

“Many of our customers work in challenging overseas environments, therefore improving standards of quality, hygiene and safety are a higher priority for the company than ever before. We view palletisation as a logistics activity, which usually requires wooden pallets, as well as all kinds of other consumables such as plastic sheets, separators and stickers. Many of our customers would rather not see any of these items anywhere near a hygienic production hall. In our multi-line concept, several production lines are connected to one or more palletisation machines, which are not usually placed in the production hall itself.” New horizons

A major development announced recently by the Alvey Group is its recent acquisition by the Scott Group of New Zealand, a leading global automation systems company. This strategic move opens up new horizons for Alvey in many areas of its global operations. Alvey is closely aligned with Scott, which has products and services that perfectly compliment its own product portfolio. This key development adds significantly to the company’s overall value and automation capabilities, whilst helping to fulfil its strategic goal of global expansion, thus in turn accelerating its access to new overseas markets.

The Alvey Group brings to Scott an enviable European reputation, a high-calibre workforce and unrivalled expertise that will add much to Scott’s product range and new software capabilities, whilst allowing the company access to skills and technology at a faster rate than could have been developed in-house.

This milestone transaction has a value of more than €12 million and is expected to have a positive impact on group earnings following completion of the deal in the third quarter of 2018.

Systems of choice

For many of the world’s biggest manufacturing companies, such as Siemens, the Alvey Group is the supplier of choice for their advanced automation systems. The list of benefits to customers is endless and includes dedicated knowledge of the customer’s industry, low cost of ownership, complete turnkey solutions, the strategic location of production and service sites and, not least, the safety and wellbeing of customers, employees and sub-contractors.

As a leading specialist in automated palletising systems, installations can involve multi-line, or single-line layer palletisers and endless combinations of both, utilising either conventional or robotic units. For each industrial sector, Alvey develops a tailor-made solution that meets the most stringent international standards and the customer’s own individual specifications. The company’s challenge is to develop solutions that are a simple as possible, whilst resolving today’s extremely complex automation challenges.

When it comes to warehouse and distribution systems, the Alvey Group excels again with its specialised computer hardware and high-end software. This significantly improves warehousing efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The wide range of solutions on offer at Alvey is always tailored carefully to suit each client’s individual requirements. These are usually centred around the efficient receipt of goods, automated preparation of ‘Click & Collect’ orders, temporary and long-term storage and advanced order picking and preparation utilising ‘pick-by-list’, ‘pick-to-light’, or ‘pick-to-invoice’ criteria.

Focus on safety and service

Alvey is much more than a reliable partner dedicated to improving its customers’ bottom lines. Its service team is comprised of around 50 highly trained and experienced technicians and sales engineers. These are based in strategic locations throughout Europe. Their goal is to support Alvey’s clients, both large and small, 24 hours a day and all year round, in order to keep production equipment running efficiently, and with a view to eliminating expensive downtime. n

For further details of the Alvey Group’s innovative automation systems and services visit: www.alvey-group.com