Three consecutive trade fairs that not only exceeded expectations but also set new benchmarks for our success. Thanks to our highly motivated team, we were able to nurture existing contacts and forge new partnerships. Numerous positive discussions and the interest shown in our solutions confirm that we are remaining innovative, strengthening our position in the market and set to achieve great things.

Many thanks to everyone who visited us at our stands at the three trade fairs: Fachpack, Fakuma and solids 2024!

If you missed out or have any further questions, please feel free to contact our team at any time here:

We are already looking forward with great anticipation to the upcoming events in 2025 and can’t wait to take part again. Naturally, we’ll be there once more when it’s time for Fachpack, Solids and Fakuma – three highlights we won’t miss for anything!

In times of a shortage of skilled labour, automation technologies offer companies the opportunity to compensate for bottlenecks in personnel. In particular physically demanding or highly standardised tasks can be taken over by using machines, robots and intelligent software solutions.  

Technical requirements must be observed: With new directives on machine safety and explosion protection, the European Union (EU) has issued important guidelines that are of key importance for numerous industries. Companies must ensure that their machines and systems comply with the new requirements, which often requires investment in new technologies or the retrofitting of existing systems. Quality requirements for packaged products play an important role in all industries. Packaging and processing machines must be designed, manufactured and handled in such a way that they guarantee the safety and quality of the products they contain. In addition, government regulations on the traceability of production data play a key role in ensuring quality, safety and transparency in the manufacture of products, particularly in the food and animal feed sectors.  These regulations make it possible to trace products in the supply chain and to react quickly and effectively in the event of quality defects or sources of danger.  

Modern systems

For more than 33 years, SSB Wägetechnik GmbH from Buchholz has stood for precision, reliability and the highest quality in packaging systems as well as customised solutions in bagging, weighing and control technology. SSB develops and designs filling systems according to the above criteria, from silo discharge to the finished pallet. The modern bagging systems consist of an overall concept of bagging, bag transport, palletising and final packaging.  
Well-known companies in the field of flour production and animal feed production, which operate both nationally and internationally, are among our long-standing customers. 

Bagging

Different products require different bagging concepts. Flours or powdery products are usually bagged in valve bags using pneumatic packers. Granular products are usually bagged using FFS bagging machines. The bagging logs are recorded electronically and are available in a central database for transfer/quality assurance. Criteria relevant to calibration are of course fulfilled here.

Bag transport

For palletising the bags, it is necessary to prepare the bags optimally, i.e. to shape the bag in order to achieve a clean and stable palletising result. Furthermore, important quality checks such as bag labelling, foreign objects, metal detection or checkweighers can be integrated into the transport route.  

Bag palletising 

SSB offers a compact robot palletising system for various performance requirements.  The filled bag is fed to the robot on a special conveyor belt. The robot palletises the bagged goods reliably and efficiently. Depending on the output, several bagging machines can work with just one robot.

Flour Bagging with Robotic Assistance

The robot is available in different versions up to a capacity of 1200 bags per hour. For higher bagging capacities, several robots can carry out palletising at the same time.  This means that outputs of up to 2,300 bags with 2 robots are realistic. The 4-axis robot model enables precise and fast operation and can be used in a wide range of applications and therefore for a variety of products. The robot can be programmed using integrated software, making it capable of learning and can be used quickly and flexibly. The robot also offers the fastest cycle time in the robot class. There is also a large selection of accessories for the bag gripper hand. Pallet modules and soft sheet applicators can be integrated into the hand. 

Pallet conveyor system/pallet packaging 

The finished palletised pallet can be transported away automatically via roller conveyors.  It is advisable to integrate a corresponding packaging machine into the conveyor line. Stretch wrapping machines or stretch bonnet systems are available.  These protect the pallets and at the same time serve as certified Load securing. Finally, before the pallet is stored, it is labelled with the current production data. The finished product can then be transported directly to the warehouse. 

Centralised control system 

The focus is on the total integration of all machine components and individual machines in a central control system.  This allows processes to be controlled and monitored centrally. Connections to the customer’s order or logistics systems are easy to realise. Production monitoring, product tracking and data recording are programmed on a customer-specific basis. Remote access is also possible at any time. 

Our experienced sales team is at your disposal at any time for your projects. Please feel free to contact us!

The plastics industry in the Middle East has been a major global player for more than a decade and continues to show remarkable growth. This momentum is favoured by several factors, including geographical location, availability of raw materials and increased investment in modern technologies.

Investment and technological progress

Governments and companies in the Middle East are investing heavily in the development of the plastics industry. New technologies and upgrades to existing production facilities are being introduced to increase efficiency and improve product quality. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), one of the largest petrochemical companies in the world, is playing a leading role in this development. SABIC is driving the industry forward with innovations and extensive research and development programmes. With continuous investment in infrastructure, research and development and an increased focus on sustainability, the region has the potential to play a leading role in the global plastics industry.

Partnerships in the Middle East

Our long-standing partner HPPT in Dubai is further expanding its sales organisation in the Middle East. HPPT has expanded its team to include additional sales and technical staff with industry experience in the area and is on hand to assist customers with any questions they may have.
In countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and major cities such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, there is enormous potential and growth for the plastics and fertiliser industry in the area of packaging machines and solutions.
To this end, we are cooperating with SSB Wägetechnik GmbH in Germany in order to be able to serve the market comprehensively. Our products and machines offer a reliable basis, “Made in Germany”, stable partnerships and many years of expertise and the international orientation of SSB make us an interesting partner for the industry in the United Arab Emirates. Another important step was the signing of the contract between SSB and HPPT for the co-operation for the production of equipment in the United Arab Emirates in order to better serve the national requirements such as ICV (In Country Value and Local Content).

HPPT-High Performance Products Trading DMCC is a free zone company under the regulations of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority. Trading, EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and comprehensive consultancy are their areas of expertise. Extensive experience in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry has led HPPT to extend its expertise to the packaging industry in terms of equipment and machinery, advanced technologies and process improvement as a whole.

SSB is proud to have such a strong local partner in the region. This represents great potential for the further development of our products and projects with an international focus. We will continue to expand and strengthen our co-operation with HPPT.

Our experienced sales team is always at your disposal for your international projects. Please feel free to contact us!

Working as a student trainee at SSB Wägetechnik is a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience during your studies, to orientate yourself professionally and to make contacts for the future. This offers the ideal balance between studies and professional practice and is a win-win situation for both sides. We support young people in their professional careers in order to develop innovations and new products. At the same time, we secure the talent and commitment of the next generation, which contributes to our own long-term success and growth.

Our working student Ramona Gevenich successfully completed her final thesis in our “Industrial Engineering and Manufacturing (B.Eng.)” degree programme. Her topic and the project she worked on at our company: “Bag depalletising using robots”. (Title BA: “Automation of the depalletising of bagged goods in the chemical and plastics industry”).

She was already familiar with project work from her time at BMW Manufacturing USA. At SSB, she was able to get to know a medium-sized family business in which all areas work hand in hand and solution-orientation takes centre stage. The short decision-making processes, combined with the hands-on mentality of all employees, as well as their implementation strength, practical orientation, initiative and commitment, lead to rapid results in which all areas contribute their expertise and thus achieve an optimum result more quickly. The high quality standards that every employee at SSB Wägetechnik sets for themselves and the pleasure they take in their work are therefore reflected in all projects.

About the project:

The project involved the depalletising of bagged goods, which was to be implemented using the Okura Ai1800 robot. The 25 kg plastic granulate sacks pose an enormous challenge if they are to be moved automatically and without damage. It was therefore necessary to find experts in sensor technology and pneumatics to combine the components with the expertise of SSB, the aim was to develop a stable, reliable process, particularly in terms of control technology and programming.

To this end, a suitable sensor system was identified to detect the layer pattern and the height of the palletised bagged goods. Two pneumatic grippers were then developed to reliably pick up the goods. These were assembled and tested, but it quickly became apparent that only one of the grippers was really suitable for holding the goods at the enormous acceleration of the robot. The process, programming and connection between the gripper and robot were then fine-tuned and optimised until a reliable, stable process could be created. All possible error patterns in the practical implementation in customer systems also had to be considered. Finally, a calculation was carried out so that the new depalletising hand could be included in the SSB range.

Questions for Ramona Gevenich, working student at SSB

What exactly did you do at SSB?

My work focussed on coordinating an interdisciplinary project. Internal and external departments had to be coordinated in order to optimise the use of resources. This meant finding external suppliers, comparing offers and finding the optimum components, while at the same time incorporating internal expertise and experience and never losing sight of the requirements for the system to be developed.

What have you learnt from this?

For me, the tried and tested saying has been confirmed – “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. No matter how big a project may seem at the beginning and how unattainable a goal may seem, with the right connections (almost) anything can be achieved. It is important to build a bridge between innovation and experience and to find a common goal as motivation.

Click here for job offers at SSB:
https://ssb-waagen.de/en/career/

Our customer in Switzerland is a well-established logistics provider specialising in agricultural products, as well as a manufacturer of high-quality specialised road salt. The defining characteristic of this product is its outstanding performance: the salt remains fully effective even at temperatures below -8°C, ensuring reliable road safety under demanding winter conditions.

Within the installed system, two raw materials are precisely dosed, blended and subsequently bagged. Thanks to an intelligent and custom-developed control solution, SSB has successfully integrated the existing silo discharge screws in such a way that the finished product can be produced directly from the conveying process itself—eliminating the need for additional mixing or intermediate silos.

The required system modification on the customer’s side was kept to an absolute minimum. It involved only the retrofitting of the component silos with load cells for accurate weight measurement, combined with the implementation of SSB’s intelligent control technology.

The result is a highly efficient and cost-effective plant solution. By removing the need for separate mixing and discharge silos, both investment and operating costs are significantly reduced. At the same time, the customer benefits from streamlined processes, reduced system complexity, and increased operational reliability.

The finished product is then stored in silos and filled flexibly into 25 kg bags or big bags, depending on operational requirements.

Efficient processes, intelligent control technology, and tailor-made solutions – this is what SSB Wägetechnik stands for.

What can we package for you? Further information about our services can be found here:
Products

For a major customer in the petrochemical industry based in South Carolina, USA, we have manufactured two granulate blowers (GWS 2000) for the most efficient and effective loading of plastic granules into containers.

The USA has a number of specific regulations and standards that must be met. To serve customers in the United States, SSB Wägetechnik has obtained machine certifications in accordance with UL standards.

Thorough preparation and compliance with all relevant regulations, including those relating to transportation, are second nature to SSB. Our many years of experience help ensure the reliable international shipment of machinery.

In approximately two months, the next granulate blowers will be delivered to another customer in North Carolina, USA.

Do you have a similar project and would like to entrust it to us?
Do you require expert advice? Further information about our contacts and machinery can be found here:

GWS 2000 Granule spreader

Read the full project report here:

Granulate thrower GWS 2000: Filling tests of a 53’ container for a USA customer

SSB Wägetechnik has expanded its sales structure for the USA and acquired machine certifications in accordance with the UL standard.

The USA offers enormous economic potential and a wide range of industries in which machines and devices are used. In order to gain a foothold in this demanding market, careful planning and compliance with the relevant regulations are of the utmost importance.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification is of great importance in the USA, particularly in the mechanical engineering and electronics sectors. UL is an independent organisation that tests and certifies products for safety and compliance with US regulations. In order to sell machines and devices in the USA, they must pass UL certification.

Expanding the sales structure and obtaining UL certifications are interrelated challenges and therefore important steps to gain customer confidence in the safety of your products and facilitate market access.

You may also be interested in: GWS 2000 granulate loader: filling trials of a 53-foot container for a US customer

In the USA there are other vehicle lengths and container dimensions to consider.

Extra-long freight containers in 53-foot dimensions are widespread in the USA and Canada and offer considerably more space than the 20, 30, 40-foot sea containers standardised in Germany, which can also be filled here without any problems and are suitable for European terminals and transhipment stations.

We set up and simulated a test with our granulate thrower in our halls for a customer from the USA. The 53’ container posed a challenge.

The aim is to fill a 53’ container evenly with granulate. The inliner has a total length of 16.2 metres and is to be inflated and then filled very quickly by our GWS 2000 granulate thrower. However, the known throwing distances are below the new targets.

The tests in our company are to determine how realistically the new requirements can be implemented.

Here you can find more information about our machine: GWS2000 pellet thrower

SMS group GmbH approached SSB Wägetechnik GmbH with the following requirements: A solution was sought for the filling and weighing of high-quality metal powders, which are used, among other things, for further additive manufacturing in 3D printing. The solution: The BE 50 from SSB is a semi-automatic scale (gross scale) for filling metal powders into designated containers with insert bags. In accordance with the German calibration law and in compliance with the relevant safety standards, we have developed, manufactured, tested and documented a weighing system that meets the highest accuracy requirements.

Thus, the customer has received a suitable filling and weighing solution from SSB and can now fill the metal powder pure and clean into the suitable drums and store it temporarily.

The SMS group is a group of internationally active companies in plant and mechanical engineering for the steel and non-ferrous metals industry. The SMS group has produced a large number of components from plastic or metal using 3D printing. This innovative solution is not only significantly more cost-effective for plant operators, it enables fast and tool-free production as well as optimized design of individual components and prototypes. In additive manufacturing (AF) – or additive manufacturing (AM) – components are created using a 3D printer based on digital design data through a layer-by-layer material buildup. The materials currently used in the 3D printer are metals, special plastics and synthetic resins, and ceramics.

SSB Wägetechnik has been involved in bagging, weighing and control technology for over 30 years, implementing a wide variety of projects for different industries and customers and is an absolutely reliable partner to these requirements.

You can find further information here

Intelligent robots perform a wide range of tasks in warehouse logistics and have been firmly established in this field for many years. In warehouse operations, for example, they are used for stacking, loading and unloading pallets, integrated into sorting systems, and transporting goods on conveyor lines. SSB Wägetechnik offers the fastest palletising robot in its class, featuring ultra-high-speed performance in bag and carton palletising applications.

• Our Ai1800 robot simplifies your palletising processes by palletising reliably and efficiently while ensuring products are packed safely and compactly for onward transportation.
• The Ai1800 achieves a maximum output of 1,200 bags per hour with a bag weight of 25 kg.
• In pallet handling applications, it can serve up to three production lines, eliminating the risk of palletising errors.
• Integrated software: an intuitive user interface allows layer patterns and pallet layouts to be created and modified independently. The system is self-learning, fast and flexible.
• Low energy consumption combined with a high load capacity, low noise emissions and environmentally friendly operation.
• Our in-house testing facility enables customers to trial their specific requirements and performance criteria in advance.
• Complete silo management line: bagging, weighing, filling, palletising, end-of-line packaging, wrapping and stretch wrapping.
• Optional equipment: infeed roller conveyor, bag press conveyor, pallet conveyor, pallet discharge station, safety systems, light curtain system, empty pallet magazine, pick-up station and full-pallet buffer conveyor.

Please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be pleased to provide comprehensive advice and tailor our solutions to your individual requirements.

Watch our Ai1800 video here.