VOA has invested in building a production system unique in France: the FLEX LINE. Since November 2009, this precise equipment has been producing small series of between 10,000 and 60,000 bottles in white, extra-white or otherwise lightly-colored.
Flex Line, as the name indicates, allows for an exceptional level of flexibility at VOA.
A technological advance
Effectively, Flex Line technology can produce 1 or 3 different articles on the same line. This system is based upon two innovations:
- A variable weight feeder that allows for the delivery of variable weights of glass gobs for different bottles produced on the same line
- A recognition sorter that uses a camera to identify the different types and forms of bottles and sort them as they come off the line
Responding to client needs
With this innovation, VOA’s clients will benefit from a unique service for small series: product launches, limited editions, upscale products, special events. The Flex Line solution optimizes costs, notably those concerning tools and stocking.
Interview with Vincent Grimaldi, Head of Domaine Fabre, one of the first companies to have benefited from the Flex Line innovation for its vintage Marie-Christine, Château de l’Aumèrade, in 37,5cl.
Why go to Flex Line for this vintage?
Basically, because we didn’t need as many bottles as for others. We wanted to resume using the 37.5 cl bottle that we had stopped producing in favor of the 75 cl.
Concerning the number of bottles, precisely how many have you ordered?
So far, 60,000 bottles for 2010.
How would you have done things if the Flex Line hadn’t been available?
Good question....Honestly, I haven’t got the least idea. We would have had to come up with a solution for ourselves, or order a large quantity. But it would have been necessary to stock the bottles and that would have been a bit of a bind.
