Knowledge exchange during the Rototour 2024
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Marthijn Koorn
Commercial Director
The past two weeks were entirely focused on knowledge exchange and strengthening the rotational moulding industry. During the Rototour 2024 in Brazil, rotational moulders from around the world gathered to share ideas and visit local moulders. In this article, we share our key insights and experiences from this intensive and inspiring journey full of valuable encounters.
Table of contents
Rototour crew
A significant part of the Rototour 2024 was the time we spent with the other participants. Just as valuable as the company visits were the discussions and exchanges with rotational moulders from various parts of the world. We spent a lot of time together, which gave us the chance to get to know each other better, not only as professionals but also personally.
The tour offered the perfect opportunity to discuss insights and findings from the various company visits. These informal conversations were often just as valuable as the formal tours, as they allowed us to develop new ideas and learn from each other’s experiences. The collaboration and camaraderie within the group strengthened the network and led to new business connections.
Michelle Rose from Rotationalmoulding led the tour with great dedication, ensuring everything ran smoothly. The group was a diverse mix of participants from different countries. We had companies like Melro, Price Plastics, The Urban Group, QTank, and Flex R Solutions from Australia, Flexahopper from Canada, Miripoly from Malaysia, KSC Electronics and Rising Sun Rotomolding from China, KSC Plast from Kazakhstan, and Daiichi Electronics from the Philippines.
This diversity of backgrounds and cultures allowed for broad perspectives on the industry, creating a rich experience. The tour highlighted the importance of coming together as an international community to share knowledge and advance the rotational moulding industry collectively.
Culture
During our time in Brazil, we were struck not only by the vastness of the country but also by the unique culture in which the companies operate. Brazil is enormous, and this is evident not only in the distances between cities and factories but also in the scale on which companies operate. We were impressed by the size and efficiency of companies like Fortlev, which, despite the challenges of an expansive logistical network, successfully operate and distribute their products across the country.
We were also particularly taken with the Brazilian cuisine, especially the famous Brazilian BBQ. The abundance of delicious grilled meat, the rich flavors, and the relaxed atmosphere made every meal a feast. We could hardly get enough of it, and every opportunity to enjoy this culinary experience was eagerly embraced
While Brazil has much to offer, we noticed that safety is not always guaranteed. It was clear that companies needed to take extra measures to protect their employees and visitors, especially during factory visits. This was evident in the strict safety protocols in place at the factories. Nevertheless, the Brazilians were not deterred by these circumstances. On the contrary, the people we met were extremely friendly and cheerful. Their optimism and hospitality made us feel welcome at all times, and their openness impressed us, both inside and outside the workplace.
Company visits
During the Rototour 2024, we had the opportunity to visit several leading companies in the Brazilian rotational moulding industry. Each of these visits provided valuable insights into their unique working methods, innovative technologies, and how they tackle challenges such as sustainability and production efficiency. Below is an overview of the companies we visited:
In addition to the official program, we had the chance to visit the headquarters of Rotoline, a family-owned company that produces rotational moulding machines. We saw their machines in almost every factory we visited, underscoring their dominant position in the Brazilian rotational moulding industry. The visit gave us valuable insights into their commitment and the quality of their machines.
These company visits formed the core of our learning experience during the Rototour, where we were not only able to observe the latest developments and technologies in the rotational moulding industry but also build valuable relationships with the people behind these companies. Each visit had its own unique features, from impressive production scale to innovative solutions for challenges in the sector.
RotoPlas 2024
After our visits in Brazil, we continued our journey north to Chicago for RotoPlas 2024, the leading trade fair for the rotational moulding industry. During this event, we attended numerous seminars where the latest innovations and trends in the industry were discussed. It was a valuable opportunity to network and gain insights from experts worldwide.
One of the highlights was our own contribution to the program. Together with Sander Staal, I had the privilege of giving a presentation on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within Pentas, a topic that sparked a lot of interest among the participants. With as many as 350 people in the audience, it was a great success. During the presentation, Marthijn and Sander discussed how we at Pentas use AI to optimize our production processes, especially in the secondary department and in the consistent assembly of complex products such as AdBlue tanks. We also shared our experiences using AI vision models and ChatGPT to improve operational insights and increase efficiency.
Marthijn Koorn and Sander Staal during their presentation on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within Pentas.
Our presentation highlighted future plans in which AI will help us predict material usage, capacity planning, and further automation of our processes. This led to many positive responses and interesting discussions about the possibilities of AI in the rotational moulding industry.
We look back on a very successful Rototour and RotoPlas 2024. Our thanks go out to everyone who contributed to the inspiring conversations and warm company visits. We look forward to participating again next year and making even more progress in our industry!