Gpi's chocolate process equipment helps take the production of Menken Orlando's quality products to the next level

Gpi's chocolate processing equipment helps take the production of Menken Orlando's quality snacks to the next level

“Gpi De Gouwe is a solid party, delivers quality and thinks along about the desired process from start to finish”

The wish - production of chocolate-covered nuts and dried fruit in one location - from the growing company Menken Orlando from The Hague, recently came true in fulfillment. When purchasing a plot on the industrial estate on the outskirts of Boskoop, logistics and production could be brought closer together. A challenging project that required quick action, but with a fantastic end result!

Bee Menken Orlando, producer of chocolate-coated snacks, among other things, the challenge lay mainly in the fact that it was a comprehensive project; the construction of a new building, the purchase of new chocolate process equipment, working with new supply lines and new people. All this had to be brought together. For this reason, the entire process was carefully thought out in advance. “When we planned to realize a new building, it quickly became clear that we wanted to integrate the chocolate factory into the new building,” says Ad-Willem Slings, responsible for improvement and investment projects within Menken Orlando. “My colleague Laurens Bouwmeester, production manager of processing and engineering, has a lot of experience with chocolate. As a result, we were able to use his expertise to take the production of our chocolate-coated products in our new location to the next level.”

Together they were co-responsible for the entire project realization. Laurens took care of the technical side and Ad-Willem was the point of contact regarding construction. After a quotation process with several parties, the feeling at Gpi De Gouwe was immediately good, says Ad-Willem. “At the invitation of Gpi, we met the people within Gpi De Gouwe, we got impressions of the production hall and we received advice to hire Starcker for the piping. All this, in addition to the fact that Gpi is close to our location in Hazerswoude-Dorp if rapid switching was required, completed the total solution offered. This made us choose Gpi De Gouwe,” says Ad-Willem. “Gpi De Gouwe thought along with us. She put us in touch with the parties we needed, which we found very valuable and which relieved us quite a bit,” the gentlemen say.

Gpi not only supplied several chocolate tanks of 15 and 25 m3, but also a number of buffer skids - storage tanks placed on a frame - of 200 liters. The double-walled insulated tanks are equipped with top-driven gate agitators that Gpi manufactures itself. According to Menken Orlando, the choice for riveted stainless steel plating was made because stainless steel is sturdier than aluminum, for example, and it gives a more luxurious appearance.

Customized stainless steel chocolate process equipment
Menken Orlando already owned stainless steel chocolate processing equipment. As a result, she already had knowledge of the good and bad points of the current chocolate machinery. “Together with Gpi we looked at what could be made more solid and better,” says Laurens. “We have also had to make concessions, but on the other hand, these concessions do not outweigh what we can now do with the equipment. Together with Gpi De Gouwe and a secondary party they installed, our equipment is now equipped with innovative and user-friendly improvements and the 'problems' we encountered with our old equipment no longer apply.”

“The new chocolate process equipment not only has a hygienic design (including cabling concealed in the frame) and is more reliable, but the ease of operation has also greatly improved compared to the old equipment,” says a more than satisfied Laurens.

Both gentlemen confirm a very pleasant collaboration with Gpi. “Gpi is a solid party, delivers quality and thinks along about the desired process from start to finish. Contact between them was good and smooth, which also contributes to a good understanding. The entire process from engineering to implementation and collaboration with third parties, including Gpi De Gouwe, has led to this beautiful production facility where quality products are made.”

About the customer
Menken Orlando is an internationally operating family business that develops and supplies innovative food concepts in the field of snacks, nuts, seeds, dried fruits and chocolate-coated products for retail and food service customers throughout Europe. Founded in 1952 to this day, Menken Orlando provides consumers with quality products under private labels or own brands that enrich their lives. The products are developed according to the highest standards, both tasty and safe, and continuously keep up with the latest trends and developments in the market.