PARTNERSHIP FOR BULK
MATERIAL HANDLING
FoodCap Ltd and Simpro Handling Equipment have
announced a strategic partnership to expand the local
reach of FoodCap’s unique bulk material handling system.
By combining FoodCap’s capsule
technology with Simpro’s established
relationships across the New
Zealand food processing industry,
the new partnership will introduce
the innovative handling solution to a wider
local audience and help reduce the economic
and environmental impact of feeding people.
FoodCap was established more than a decade
ago with the vision of developing a better system
for handling and storing fresh and chilled meat,
taking cost and waste out of the supply chain.
However, the company realised its technology
could be repurposed to solve materials handling
issues across the wider processed food industry,
which is where Simpro’s expertise comes in. The
Auckland-based handling equipment manufacturer
has been supplying solutions to New Zealand
food processors since 1986, and has established
relationships across the industry. FoodCap chief
executive Julian Beavis says the partnership
made good business sense. “Simpro can focus
on selling capsules and handling equipment to
New Zealand domestic food companies, which is
its specialty, and FoodCap can focus on offshore
expansion and the R&D of specialised solutions.
For Simpro - originally contracted by FoodCap
to develop specialised handling equipment for
the capsules - the partnership closes the loop on
its food-grade product offering. Simpro general
manager Daniel Currie says many domestic food
processors still use concerning practices for
hygiene-critical handling, such as wheelie bins, and
others use European-standard bins or Eurobins.
“The FoodCap capsules offer advantages over
both – in terms of ergonomics, food safety and
cost – and the whole system has been developed
in New Zealand by our two companies.” Since
both companies have received support from
Callaghan Innovation, the FoodCap system could
be considered something of a national champion
in the field of hygiene-critical materials handling;
a field traditionally dominated by large European
companies, Currie says. “We certainly think it’s
a solution that ticks all the boxes, in a way that
no overseas products do. There’s nothing else
like it out there.” FoodCap is a New Zealandbased
technology company offering a range of
services and technologies to food processors and
retailers, helping companies improve their meat
and food ingredient handling, storage and transfer
to optimise product quality, security, safety,
shelf life and cost. The FoodCap Food Handling
system is a reusable, chilled handling system for
buffering, storage and transfer of food ingredients
prior to manufacturing. Additionally, it is used for
storage, ageing and transport of red and white
meat, either within production facilities or between
primary and secondary processing. Simpro is
an OEM manufacturer of specialised materials
INNOVATION
handling equipment and has been manufacturing
equipment for more than 30 years. The company
has grown to become a leading global supplier of
handling equipment for niche applications, such
as bin lifters and tippers, pallet stackers, crate
trucks and goods elevators. Simpro products play
an essential role for thousands of companies
around the world, in industries as diverse as waste
management, food processing, resource extraction
and pharmaceutical manufacturing. They are
available through a network of dealers and service
agents, and are backed by a sophisticated in-house
design and fabrication capability.
Simpro will be exhibiting the FoodCap system
at Foodtech Packtech (site 3168). See pages
38 to 65 for more information on FoodTech
PackTech.
www.foodtechnology.co.nz 5
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