A partner in productivity

Founded in 1907, Flexco has been in business for more than 100 years as a privately-held company. The company has been serving various industries including food packaging and plastic products manufacturing. In Asia, the Singapore branch supports customers in Southeast Asia and East Asia.

As an industry leader,  Flexco understands that belt conveyors play a critical role in a plant's productivity. Thus, the company has been manufacturing products that enhance belt conveyor's operations including mechanical belt fastening systems, belt cleaners and plows, pulley lagging, belt cleats, transfer-point systems, as well as belt maintenance and installation tools. Flexco's Manager in Asia, Mr. Jerry Loh, provides International Plastics for Asia (IRNA) with an overview on Flexco's products and their benefits to their growing market in Asia.

IRNA: Please provide an overview of Flexco's main products and their target applications.
Mr. Loh: At Flexco, we understand that belt conveyors play a critical role in maximizing your productivity.  We started off with manufacturing mechanical belt fasteners 109 years ago followed by other belt conveyor products.  Mechanical belt fasteners are joined with either an installation tool or hammer to each belt end and later connected with a hinged pin. A hinged splice design allows users to remove the hinge pin for easy belt cleaning or installation onto the conveyor system with minimal dismantling.  Our products can be used at food processing, package handling, pharmaceutical and operations with metal detectors or X-ray equipment.  

For example: The Alligator® Plastic Rivet fastener system has the unique ability of being mechanically applied with a portable installation tool, in addition to other non-metallic features such as: non-scratching, non-magnetic, and a quiet splice as it operates over conveyor components.  

Flexco also offers a blue plastic fastener that is FDA-accepted material with the same resistance as the white fastener, but is colored blue to match blue belts used in many food applications. Other colors choices include black (UV-resistant for extended life in outdoor applications) and white (with an FDA-accepted material that resists weak acids, alkali, hydrocarbons, ester solvents, and alcohols).   

IRNA: What market trend does Flexco intend to meet with its product range and services?   
Mr. Loh: Our products ease of use promotes flexibility, reduces downtime and increase productivity. Flexco is recognized as the world leader in conveyor belt splicing and belt conveyor system maintenance due to our extensive product portfolio of mechanical belt fasteners, including both metallic and non-metallic splices under the Flexco®, Alligator®, Clipper®, Anker® and Novitool® brands.  

IRNA: What emerging trends would affect Flexco's operations and the products supplied?
Mr. Loh: We see a heightened demand in food safety.  This includes food packaging, transporting process, cross contamination and sanitation procedures.  Contamination is a serious concern in any food processing plant, hence meeting food safety regulations is important in today’s food industry facility.  Also, having products that make sanitation easier is the key to food processing and packaging maintenance, as well as inspection process.

Flexco has mechanical belt fasteners that are FDA-approved and our recent introduction of FGP Food Grade Precleaner is designed to meet strict sanitary guidelines certified by the USDA for use in meat, poultry, and dairy operations.

We aim to work together with our customers to achieve optimal conveyor system performance - from belt preparation to splicing and optimization through our top-notch service and ongoing innovative products while focusing on quality and safety.

IRNA: Please discuss Flexco's operation? How would you describe the company's manufacturing facilities?
Mr. Loh: Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, USA, Flexco has state-of-the-art facilities in Illinois and Michigan.  With 109 years of engineering and manufacturing expertise, Flexco leads the way with belt conveyor products and make products that address the entire conveyor systems for various industries including plastics production.

Flexco is now also manufacturing urethane belt cleaner blades at the Grand Rapids, Michigan location.  The investment in the equipment and resources gives Flexco the opportunity to generate new, innovative products.  Flexco also recently invested in two new side-by-side incline conveyors to expand the testing and R&D capabilities on heavy-duty Flexco products at the Michigan location.  This latest addition to the internal test units Flexco has at its disposal features a 36” wide belt and a 750 foot-per-minute top speed, along with an integrated belt scale and a tons-per-hour meter. The new conveyor loop gives Flexco engineers the chance to conduct internal testing that mirrors realistic conditions in the field and augments current laboratory, field, and other conveyor testing performed on Flexco products.

IRNA: What specific measures have been initiated by Flexco to achieve operational efficiency?
Mr. Loh: With subsidiaries in Singapore, Australia, Chile, China, England, Germany, India, Mexico and South Africa and a distribution network spanning more than 100 countries, we are able to reach out and support our customers worldwide in addressing their everyday conveyor issues.

The sales and marketing office in Singapore has a training center that occupies over 1800 square feet to support the Southeast Asia and East Asia regions.  We also offer hands-on training onsite at customer’s facility and web-based training.

IRNA: Does Flexco have plans to expand or launch new products? 
Mr. Loh: In 2016, we look forward to more upcoming product solutions. Flexco Singapore office has plans to expand sales in Indonesia and Japan. IRNA
 

Flexco
Tel: +65 6484-1533 ext 114
E-mail: cli@flexco.com
Website: www.flexco.com