“Procons is a reliable partner that manufactures high-quality products”

Fluid-Bag is a Finnish company specializing in flexible packaging solutions for handling and transporting various liquids to customers worldwide. The company headquarters are located in Pietarsaari, Finland, but has subsidiaries in Thailand and a sales office in the USA. The focus is on product quality and sustainability, as well as streamlining operations. An impressive 97% of sales are for export.

Fluid-Bag’s packaging systems are used for handling demanding liquids, ranging from cosmetic products, oils, and printing inks to food items – including the mint cream in a popular chocolate confection. The packaging, which resembles large bags made from flexible material, must withstand all conditions, even during transportation to the other side of the globe, explains Robert Nyberg, CEO of Fluid-Bag.

"The packaging must preserve the liquid’s quality to meet customer expectations. We perform individual leakage tests on each inner container to ensure its durability. The tests involve applying controlled overpressure to the container."

The weight and pressure – a single container can hold up to 1,000 liters – place high demands on the stacking frame. These frames are mounted on filled Fluid-Bag FLEXI containers and are used to stack them during sea transport and internal storage. Since 2018, Procons has been manufacturing components for the FLEXI stacking frames. Nyberg notes that the FLEXI containers are particularly used for longer sea transports, such as shipping printing ink to Australia.

"We needed to simplify the frames and their manufacturing process. We assemble the frame parts ourselves, and the most important thing for us is that assembly can be done as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The previous frame design involved too much manual handling, making the process both inefficient and expensive."

The quality of the components and materials is critical for durability. The frame must support the weight of the packaging, and strict regulations govern its design due to transportation requirements. The frame is made from steel sheet metal and consists of four separate parts that are assembled. Procons also manufactures bent sheet metal brackets for the Fluid-Bag FLEXI model.

"We had the drawings, but Procons assisted us with material selection. We benefited greatly from Klas West’s input and immediately came to an agreement. He understands the importance of optimizing processes as much as possible. Klas has a forward-thinking approach that is productive, unafraid of taking risks, and instills confidence. We trust him, which is important in a partnership like ours."

Fluid-Bag’s strategy is to ensure as much of the manufacturing as possible takes place in Finland. Production of the components is centralized at Procons, with regular orders being placed.

"The greatest benefit we’ve gained from the partnership is more cost-effective production. The parts are faster to produce and lighter, and we can quickly obtain new components without any extra shipments."

Nyberg also highlights the effective communication as a key factor in the successful collaboration.

"With a supplier, communication should be straightforward. We get immediate responses, and they’re not afraid to reach out as soon as something deviates from the plan, such as if deliveries are affected by a machine issue or human error. Even when something has gone wrong, it has always been resolved thanks to good communication. Klas, as a person, is humorous and energetic, with a positive outlook, which suits us well."

Fluid-Bag is pleased with the collaboration and is happy to recommend Procons to others, says Nyberg.

"Our collaboration is promising, and Procons is a strong partner for our future needs as well. If you need processed sheet metal components and want a reliable partner that delivers high-quality products, Procons is a safe choice."