en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 21st, After two years of construction, GF has completed the modernization of its plant in Seewis, Switzerland. The plant has specialized in the production of plastic valves and actuators for over 50 years. This upgrade introduced automated storage systems and a new ball valve assembly line, aiming to improve production efficiency and sustainability.
The new high-bay storage system utilizes automation technology, including a small parts warehouse with nearly 60,000 storage locations and an automated pallet warehouse capable of holding 2,390 pallets, enhancing logistics efficiency. By expanding storage capacity and optimizing warehouse management systems, customers will benefit from higher product availability and faster order processing. Simultaneously, a new assembly line for the 542 and 546 Pro ball valves has been put into operation. This series of plastic valves offers various material options such as PVC-U, PVC-C, and PP-H, ensuring a more efficient production process. The new system improves product quality by precisely controlling assembly steps and automatically adjusting when optimization is needed. Furthermore, it enables faster and more flexible changeovers, allowing products to be remanufactured at shorter intervals, thereby reducing inventory, increasing availability, and shortening delivery times.
Commenting on the modernization, Oliver Hilbrand, Plant Manager of GF Seewis, stated: "Seewis has shaped the plastic valve industry with groundbreaking innovations. Therefore, our goal was to significantly increase efficiency in all areas—from production to logistics to energy use. Higher availability, shorter delivery times, and greater sustainability are key factors that truly add value for our customers." This modernization will further solidify the plant's expertise in the field of plastic valve manufacturing.
These technological upgrades are accompanied by investments in sustainability. The Seewis plant has switched to 100% renewable electricity, including its own solar power generation. At the same time, GF has reduced overall energy demand through more energy-efficient injection molding machines and lighting systems, as well as via heat recovery and improved insulation measures. The plant now operates in a CO2-neutral manner, and the plastic valves it produces will benefit from a more sustainable manufacturing process.
