FLEXIBLE PACKAGING PRINTING
Multisac is a dynamic and innovative company operating in the flexible packaging area. Murilo Fassoni Alves, Deputy CEO, reveals that the robustness of the company is due to the growth of the packaging market and also to the performance and successful partnership with SISTRADE. Speaking of the factors underlying the growth of Multisac, Deputy CEO Murilo Fassoni Alves mentions a combination of factors, highlighting the determination and youth of the leadership as well as the experience and know-how of the founder. Present on several markets directly, the company from Vouzela exports a large part of its production focused on flexible packaging for the food segment.
INTERVIEW Multisac - Magazine IG - Intergráficas [PDF Version]
We have a very strong partnership with SISTRADE
Multisac is a dynamic and innovative company operating in the flexible packaging area. Murilo Fassoni Alves, Deputy CEO, reveals that the robustness of the company is due to the growth of the packaging market and also to the performance and successful partnership with SISTRADE. Speaking of the factors underlying the growth of Multisac, Deputy CEO Murilo Fassoni Alves mentions a combination of factors, highlighting the determination and youth of the leadership as well as the experience and know-how of the founder. Present on several markets directly, the company from Vouzela exports a large part of its production focused on flexible packaging for the food segment.
During its journey of more than two decades Multisac has invested in constant innovation, choosing its suppliers carefully. Is SISTRADE one of those partners benefitting from an absolute trust?
Multisac develops its activity in one of the fastest growing areas - the packaging production - and it is fair to say that a big part of its robustness is due to the successful partnership with SISTRADE.
I am currently the deputy CEO responsible for managing the company and I can speak of the passion that everyone at Multisac has for this area of activity. In my case, among my favourite hobbies are regular visits to supermarkets and department stores, just to follow trends in the packaging area.
I like to follow the market trends and technologies that allow us to give a prompt response to our clients. Whenever I can, I go out and walk the aisles of any supermarket, anywhere in the world.
I look for everything that is new and meets the needs of the end consumer. The question of sustainability and ease of use of flexible packaging is the focus of what we are looking for, trying, if possible, to pass on the results of my fieldwork to the whole team, so that every detail is analysed and can make a difference to clients and end consumers.
What was your experience until you joined Multisac?
Multisac is a Portuguese company that has been working in the area of flexible packaging production for 25 years and is proud to have a Portuguese vision and a Brazilian one, which I brought over a few years ago. When I came from Brazil to work in Portugal, I fell in love with the area and the Portuguese way of life. I have a very broad knowledge of flexible packaging, gained in a large market such as Brazil, and I have a background in food engineering, which adds value to the vision the company is currently following.
How is Multisac positioned on the national and international packaging market?
Multisac with its factory in Vouzela is one of the most prominent market players in the production of flexible packaging for the food. The company’s main markets are the food sector, representing around 95 percent, the remaining 5 percent represent smaller segments. Multisac supplies the biggest players in the market, such as the supermarkets, and it is precisely for this reason that I believe that attention to what the market demands and what the consumer prefers is essential in order to outline a successful strategy. That is why I am very happy among the supermarket shelves because in addition to the enormous pride I feel when I see products made in our company, I am also fascinated when I look at different packaging, large or small packets, analyse materials, pre-made bags, closures, printing, etc. Some may find this strange but while others prefer to stroll in a park, garden or museum, I prefer to see what is being consumed. I look at automatic packaging reels, pre-made bags for snacks, pasta, cakes, rice, beans or sugar; I test automatic closures and touch the material...
The food area is undoubtedly your main focus...
Multisac is the strongest in food area but we also have some representation in the pharmaceutical industry, where the company has been growing. The pharmaceutical area is still small, but we are investing heavily because we know it continues to grow, with the appearance of new packaging solutions that are replacing plastic packaging. In fact, this is a big challenge as the market demands and wants to eliminate as much plastic as possible. The world is determined to reduce plastic, and that is why we have been looking for new solutions such as compostable films or 100% recyclable films, aiming at the circular economy. This is a path with no return, therefore, we have been developing since 2018, solutions for products that are now a reality and necessity. The right decision involves producing what in fact the world is asking for. We all talk about sustainability, more eco-friendly products and solutions, and we already have several options available to offer the market.
The topic of the moment is sustainability and the offer of eco-friendly products, especially in the food area. This challenge involves the replacement of packaging and Multisac is betting on raffia for plastic packaging, in the line of products such as mortars and cement, quick setting mortars, which was something we did not do. The challenge was launched by a recent client from the construction sector who sells products such as mortar and cement. Without any doubt, this is something new that we decided to take on. We realised that we are facing a big new business area, which can be interesting for the company, for the market and for the plastic industry.
Did the pandemic bring challenges to the company or was this situation relatively easy to manage, with food being one of the areas that suffered the least and even grew and boosted the companies that produce packaging?
It was especially difficult to manage people because we all went through a complicated time, especially in terms of management of human resource. In terms of production and invoicing, there were no problems, but we felt, for example, the lack of staff due to sick leave. The factory always has a lot to produce and the fact that we were faced at certain moments with fewer staff members available to work implied a very careful management.
At Multisac, we have chosen to “always play it safe”, not taking risks and always protecting everyone’s health and well-being. Multisac has always been growing, 2021 was a very good year and we know it will continue to grow, our employees are very important to us and it starts with everyone’s health.
What made Multisac choose Sistrade software?
What led Mutisac to opt for Sistrade® software was mainly the issue of the database and the vertical integration that has the complete process, from estimating to shipping, financial and accounting area. We use the complete ERP and recently we also carried out the automation process and our machines are now fully connected to Sistrade®, with the production data collection, “on time” automation, the flexibility and availability of all areas in one system was crucial to our choice.
In fact, the possibility of Sistrade® ERP allowing the management of all areas together was what caught our attention and motivated the acquisition.
Do you think that the fact that Sistrade® software allows connecting management to production directly is fundamental?
Yes, without a doubt. Nowadays, in my opinion, it is very difficult to manage a company without this kind of resources. I work with the SISTRADE system every day and this cross-referencing of data, involving people, indicators about customers and the company, is much easier and allows having an immediate and relevant response.
I believe this the system brings continuous improvements and this hard work done by SISTRADE puts into practice items that aim to make life easier for those who manage the companies. Nowadays, as a customer, what I want is not to waste time, to buy fast, to have access to a system that works both for managing the people who are in the company, who produce and give their best, as well as for managing the company with aim at the interaction and “man-machine” relations and that allows speed, ease and dynamism in the work process.
Is the SISTRADE event on digital transformation and the future of companies is a topic that is of particular interest to Multisac?
I am very interested in technology, I am an engineer in the food technology area, and I am expectant about everything related to artificial intelligence. I often ask SISTRADE when we will have a virtual assistant so that we do not have to wait for a technician who comes from the other side of the world to help us, for example in terms of training. Multisac is very interested in learning about all these SISTRADE solutions, as we have already installed machines aligned with the Industry 4.0, with Google items, glasses for preventive maintenance, autonomous maintenance and remote control. The planned machines already have the Dashboard included inside the machine with all the accessories, this leads us to the growth and automation of the factory. Naturally, there is always the question regarding the future of the people who work with us, what is the way forward. The idea is not to dismiss anyone, on the contrary, what we are looking for is to have more time, to get more out of work and to guarantee a better balance for everyone. I came from Brazil with the aim of having a better balance in the 24 hours of every day, between work, family and friends.
Is SISTRADE able to adjust to offer everything you need?
Yes, we have a very strong connection, we communicate many times a week and that is why I was at the event. I was at the SISTRADE event to congratulate them and watch the presentations, to see what is new and what we can do differently and grow. We have a strong partnership with SISTRADE and what the system gives us is a full connection of the machines and the production data collection, the next step will be artificial intelligence, augmented reality, etc. These complements are all essential and the production data collection, which refers to waste, machine production times, invoicing by regions, by countries, specific markets, vendors, etc., is part of “Business Intelligence”. SISTRADE allows Multisac to use these data what is of great importance for us. I do not see how we could be competitive on the market today without this fantastic help from the Sistrade software. That is why I recommend this software to companies that want to be competitive and want to grow.
How does Multisac see its presence perspectives on the market? Are there any new business areas planned?
Multisac has its facilities in Vouzela but we work directly for markets such as Spain, France, Morocco and indirectly for Brazil, India, China, etc.
The current focus of the company is to have all possible solutions in terms of packaging, whether it is compostable, one hundred per cent recyclable, incorporated with recycled products, etc. I am deputy to the CEO of Multisac, Dr. João Ricardo, who regularly states that we cannot stand still, and so we are making new products such as bags with valves for filling alcohol gel, FFP2 masks and others but this does not mean that we cannot migrate into other areas. Nevertheless, the focus will always be on the flexible packaging area.
What inspires Multisac to create new products?
There is a global trend for pre-made bags in the area of flexible packaging. This already existed in 2012 on the huge Brazilian market. In Portugal this has been true for four or five years. The current trend is for packaging that catches the consumer's attention, opens easily with a zip to open, close and store. Besides protecting the product, packaging has a very important marketing role. The trend is pre-made packaging and colour-printed packaging. We rarely produce transparent packaging to place the label on, 97% buy printed bags and films. The idea is to reuse, protect flavour, aroma, crunchiness and avoid putting in jars and bottles.
The packaging market continues to grow. Is Multisac in the right area?
Our company policy is based on trust and transparency. This is our way of being in the market. We want to work with serious, honest and transparent partners and SISTRADE is one of those partners, with whom we keep a close and excellent relations. We want to communicate more and better, we are investing in this process, which is evolving, with a young team that has been working on the brand.
The group includes four companies linked to packaging but Multisac alone has the turnover of around 10 million euros per year. Our goal is to grow 20% per year. At the moment we have a challenge posed by the “anti-plastic” concept, however, this is also an opportunity that forces us to be even more innovative and disruptive, presenting solutions increasingly adapted to the real market and consumer demands.
Website: www.multisac.pt
