Alsystems’ journey began in San Casciano Val di Pesa (Florence – Italy) in 1991, when the company started to develop automation systems for various types of machinery as a pure third-party supplier. The Florentine company offered a wide range of solutions for many different industrial sectors, from filling and closing lines for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries to other sectors. «For over 25 years – CEO Goffredo Ruffini told us – our machines have handled a wide range of products: gels, creams, granules, powders for exams and diagnostics, infusion and ophthalmic liquids, syrups, nasal and oral sprays, homeopathic products and disinfectants. We offer filling and capping machines or complete turnkey systems specifically for the pharmaceutical, biomedical and parapharmaceutical sectors. We have about ten models that differ in terms of characteristics, operating speed and type of bottles and our strong point is that we carry out every phase internally, from design to testing, so as to guarantee our machines for 24 months. Customisation is a key word. Our strong point is the ability to design and build each machine around the real needs of the customer, right from the first contact. This approach allows us to provide solutions that perfectly match production needs and to establish an ongoing relationship with users, before the sale and throughout all the subsequent phases up to after-sales, which is an integral part of our way of working». Having an in-house technical department allows the company to follow every detail of the project, guaranteeing full control over quality. The company can therefore offer a 24-month warranty on all its machines. A clear sign of trust and reliability that for Alsystems is a natural choice, the result of in-depth knowledge of the components produced and how they work.
The advantage of versatility
From the 90s to the present day, Alsystems has grown to a workforce of 20 and a production capacity that varies according to the type and size of the machines, on average 15-18 units every year. If customisation and quality are among the company’s outstanding prerogatives, versatility and reliability are what allow its models to stand out and «effectively cover a wide variety of sectors», Ruffini observed. «If I had to identify a star of the Alsystems portfolio, I would choose the Pegasus capping and filling machine. It’s aimed at the chemical-pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical industries, but can be adapted to a wide range of applications and has been developed to handle bottles with capacities ranging from the smallest to volumes of one litre. In the single index version it can produce up to 3,000 pieces per hour; in the double index version it can produce up to 6,000 pieces per hour. Therefore it is suitable for different types of job, to meet a wide range of production requirements». The company also operates in the field of high-speed rotary presses for small formats with an output of up to 240 pieces per minute with the Hercules model. This is highly appreciated in the food supplement sector because it is equipped with sensors, volumetric dosing systems and, on request, cameras for quality control. It can handle bottles, test tubes, small bottles, with closures ranging from screw caps to droppers and pipettes, and competes well with the competition by focusing on technological quality. «With its multiple filling system – explained the CEO – Hercules has won acclaim in Italy and abroad».
The robot to come
Alsystems is also an export success, given that its machines can be found all over Europe, as well as in Mediterranean countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and some Asian countries, thanks to a network of dedicated agents and representatives. At the same time, investments in R&D continue. «Currently – the interviewee said – the idea is to introduce a new generation of robots for movement management and machine enslavement. A series of targeted tests are underway with the aim of helping us understand how they can be used in practice. The fine tuning should be completed by the end of the year and from then on we will try to study the needs of customers to understand which ones might be interested in it. Innovation could find a place among the producers of parapharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals that together represent more than half of Alsystems’ total turnover. Another significant slice of sales is in the chemical sector, where the Auriga series for large formats has proven its worth. Together with the products, the supplier is also very keen to offer services, which are also made possible thanks to the push towards digitalisation. «All our machines – explains Ruffini – can be connected to a network for remote assistance directly from our headquarters. For on-site maintenance technicians and end users, remote support is an advantage and we guarantee it by default at no additional cost. In addition, all machines can be equipped with specific modules for interconnection to ERPs to monitor batches and orders together with the progress of work for reporting purposes or to receive indications of work batches directly from the management system». Finally, a certain amount of attention is paid to reducing consumption. «We are conducting studies and analyses – concludes Ruffini – although further reducing energy requirements on engines that do not exceed 2 kW is not easy. Although Alsystems machines are by nature energy efficient, we always try to integrate them with engines with the highest possible performance».
Pegasus and Hercules
Pegasus is a versatile rotary machine for filling and capping. It can handle containers from 1 to 1,000 ml, with an hourly production of 500 to 6,000 pieces. It can handle containers with a maximum diameter of 82 mm and a maximum output of 100 pieces per minute. It has a stainless steel frame and is highly customisable from a technical point of view. The high-performance Hercules rotary machine, on the other hand, has a production speed of 240 pieces per minute with advanced volumetric dosing and quality control functions. It adapts to a wide variety of bottles and capping systems and is equipped with different types of sensors to ensure high-quality production in every area or phase of work.