Captions on · Transcript below · Watch on YouTube (2:16)
How Long Should a Packaging Machine Last?
Christoph Recher, Sales Manager, and Thomas Czioska, Head of Sales & Marketing, of LoeschPack discuss machine longevity. LoeschPack was founded in 1919 and is backed by Piepenbrock, a family-owned company in its fourth generation. Czioska says LoeschPack equipment is still running after 40 or even 50 years, with electronics typically replaced after about 10 years. Recher adds that new size parts let machines adapt to new products.
Key takeaways
- LoeschPack was founded in 1919, and Thomas Czioska says the family-owned Piepenbrock company, now in its fourth generation, supports LoeschPack and thinks in generations.
- Thomas Czioska says LoeschPack equipment is still running after 40 or even 50 years; mechanical parts normally don't break down, while electronics typically need replacing after 10 years.
- Christoph Recher explains that LoeschPack usually sells product range machines, which adapt to new products with the same folding principle through new size parts.
Common questions
- How long should a LoeschPack packaging machine last?
- According to Thomas Czioska of LoeschPack, a machine should never be thrown away; LoeschPack has equipment in the market that is still running after 40 or even 50 years. The mechanical parts normally don't break down, while electronic components typically need replacing after about 10 years as spare parts become unavailable.
- Can an older packaging machine be upgraded with new electronics?
- Yes. Thomas Czioska of LoeschPack explains that because electronic spare parts become harder to get over time, LoeschPack can take out all the electronic components and bring in new ones, bringing the machine up to a new level. The mechanical parts normally do not break down.
- Can a packaging machine be adapted when the product changes?
- Christoph Recher of LoeschPack says it is easy for their machines to adapt to other products when the folding principle is the same, because LoeschPack usually sells product range machines. New products are accommodated by supplying new size parts.
Transcript
Tom Rougeux, President, Piepenbrock Packaging
Okay, so how long has LoeschPack been wrapping products?
Christoph Recher, Sales Manager, LoeschPack
LoeschPack has been founded in 1919, so we've been around for more than 100 years, and we bring that experience to the table.
Tom Rougeux
Can you tell us a little bit about the Piepenbrock companies? Who are they owned by, and have they been traded 14 times? What's the current status of Piepenbrock?
Thomas Czioska, Head of Sales & Marketing, LoeschPack
So, Piepenbrock is a family-owned company. It's the fourth generation, meanwhile, running that business, and they always really stay behind Loesch, and they support us in every way.
Tom Rougeux
It sounds great. That sounds highly unusual in this industry, is that right?
Thomas Czioska
It is absolutely unusual, meanwhile, and I think it's one of the biggest advantages we have, because we do not think in machines, or we also do not think in years, we always think in generations.
Tom Rougeux
Okay, and typically, how long should a Loesch machine last? Is this a throwaway commodity item?
Christoph Recher
Absolutely not.
Thomas Czioska
You never should throw it away. We have equipment in the market that's still running in 40 or even 50 years.
Tom Rougeux
So, certainly, that machine has been upgraded, or tell us about that.
Thomas Czioska
It is possible to make upgrades. Nowadays, of course, you get more and more problems with the electronic components. So, normally, typically, we say after 10 years, you have to make replacements, because if you don't get the spare parts anymore...
Tom Rougeux
For the electronic side of it.
Thomas Czioska
...for the electronic parts, and then we can make upgrades on the machines. Take out all the electronic components and bring in new ones, bring it up to a new level, because the mechanical parts, normally, they don't break down.
Tom Rougeux
Okay, and then what happens if the product itself changes?
Christoph Recher
Well, it's easy for our machines to adapt to other products when the folding principle is the same, because we usually sell product range machines. So, we can adapt to new products easily by supplying new size parts.
