StarCui­sine invests in a complete packaging line from Sismatec

StarCuisine produces more than 160,000 ready-made meals every week. Crafted with an artisanal taste, produced on an industrial scale. When the company moved to a larger facility in 2022, a new challenge emerged: how do you automate a production process without compromising the quality and authenticity that make StarCuisine stand out?

StarCuisine operates based on daily orders, meaning the production process is different every single day. Small batches, rapid changeovers, and a wide variety of meals are the standard. On top of that, the company works with three different tray types: aluminum, plastic, and cardboard. The new production line therefore had to meet two requirements: high capacity and extreme flexibility. In addition, the line needed to be future-proof to support a more automated process.

The solution from Sismatec

Sismatec supplied a complete, integrated production and packaging line that perfectly matches the needs of StarCuisine. The line is fully prepared for future expansions, such as directly connecting automatic filling machines. Everything can be operated from one central control screen.
The complete line includes:

• A denester for the three different tray types.
• A servo-driven conveyor system with fixed tray positions, fully prepared for the automatic integration of filling machines and recipe-controlled via the Proseal tray sealer display.
• A Proseal GT1e tray sealer for vacuum/gas packaging of aluminum, plastic, and cardboard trays.
• A tooling system where only the bottom tool needs to be changed when switching tray types.
• A Marel C-labeler.
• Two cooking kettles for the industrial kitchen.

© Fotografie Mike Rikken_Bedrijfsfotograaf

The result

The production line operates at full capacity: 58 trays per minute, fully synchronized from filling to sealing. Changeover time when switching trays is just one minute. This allows StarCuisine to combine production speed with the flexibility the company needs for small batches and a varied meal assortment. The total cost of ownership remains low.

Operations Manager Ronald Jansen was already familiar with Sismatec from previous positive experiences. Choosing Sismatec proved to be the right decision. Ronald: “The delivery of the line went flawlessly. We’re extremely pleased with the complete solution. And if something does happen, Sismatec is quick to respond and provide support. In a production environment where every minute counts, that makes all the difference.”

www.starcuisine.nl
www.sismatec.nl