Satamaito

Captions in English

Initial Situation

Satamaito is a Finnish dairy that prioritizes animal welfare, responsibility, and high-quality products.

Satamaito's group packing machines, dating back to the 1980s, were nearing the end of their lifecycle, and the availability of spare parts had significantly declined. As part of the packaging automation overhaul, it was also necessary to consider the diverse and evolving packaging requirements of Satamaito's clients' central warehouses.

"The previous group packing machines were old, and they couldn't form different box models. Before, we only packed products in trays, but now we needed the capability to form wrap-around boxes and shoulder-reinforced boxes as well,"

explained Jarmo Virtanen, Satamaito's Plant Manager, outlining the initial situation.

Orfer was selected as the automation partner to supply state-of-the-art secondary packing machines to Satamaito. Key criteria in the decision-making process included domestic origin, supplier reliability, and competitive pricing.

To meet the diverse packaging needs of its clients and their central warehouses, Satamaito has invested in two Orfer WA 30 Flex secondary packaging machines.

The Solution

Orfer supplied two group packaging machines, each capable of packing products of different sizes and product groups into three different box structures.

Jarmo praised Orfer for the smooth and even faster-than-expected installation and commissioning process. The new secondary packaging machines were installed and put into production within a few days. The training for the secondary packaging machines was also successful, enabling the production personnel to operate the machines efficiently and safely.

The rapid and smooth commissioning allowed production to continue without significant interruptions.

"The new group packaging machines have worked well. I would recommend Orfer; everything went perfectly,"

Jarmo stated with satisfaction.

Impacts

Social Impact

Replacing Satamaito's old machines – some of which were no longer supported by spare parts – with new technology improved workflow efficiency. Modern, reliable machines have also reduced downtime and disruptions, which enhances production efficiency.

Economic Impact

The efficiency of secondary packaging improved, and the flexible group packaging machines enabled diverse packaging options to meet the varying needs of central warehouses. This strengthened the dairy's competitiveness in a highly competitive market.

Environmental Impact

Secondary packaging is made entirely from biodegradable materials, supporting Satamaito's sustainability goals. Thanks to the new, shelf-ready box models, Satamaito's clients benefit from more efficient logistics, and the more protective packaging solutions help reduce waste in the distribution chain.

About Satamaito

Satamaito is a cooperative owned by 103 dairy farms, with roots dating back 120 years. At Satamaito’s dairy, over fifty million liters of milk, buttermilk, cream, and yogurts are produced annually.