Lantech Relys on Helu Cables High Supply Reliability for End-of-Line Packaging Machines

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For the electrical systems in its end-of-line packaging machines, Lantech relies on cables and wiring from Helu. The connection technology ensures reliable system operation even under challenging conditions. Thanks to international standards and certifications, suitable solutions for the machines are also available for various target markets worldwide.

Whether in e-commerce, the food and beverage industry, or freight logistics: wherever goods are prepared for shipment, fast and efficient processes are just as essential as safety and care. After all, at the end of the supply chain, the right packaging determines whether products arrive at the customer’s doorstep undamaged or not. The cost of shipping damage is estimated at several billion euros per year worldwide. Preventing this damage has been Lantech’s mission for more than 50 years. Founded by brothers Pat and Bill Lancaster in Louisville, Kentucky, the company specializes in end-of-line packaging solutions—that is, machines that erect and seal cartons, secure pallets with film, or process trays and lids. Lantech has already shipped more than 100,000 such systems all over the world. They are manufactured in the U.S. and the Netherlands.

Lantech: A Pioneer in End-of-Line Packaging Machinery

The newly founded family-owned company reached a true milestone in 1972 with the invention of the stretch wrapper, a process that continues to shape the packaging industry to this day. Every year, billions of pallets worldwide are wrapped in stretch film to ensure that the cargo remains undamaged during transport. Lantech has maintained its spirit of innovation ever since, along with a strong commitment to quality: The systems boast an availability rate of around 98 percent and perform reliably even under the most challenging conditions.

“Our machines operate in refrigerated and frozen storage areas, in warm and humid environments, and in some cases even outdoors,” explains Ron Jansen, a hardware developer at Lantech’s Malden, Netherlands, location. “In the food industry, they also frequently come into contact with harsh cleaning agents. Nevertheless, our customers expect safe and reliable operation—in many cases, around the clock.”

One factor that is often underestimated in making this possible is located in the control cabinet and runs throughout the entire system: electrical connection technology. For Lantech, it is one of the most important prerequisites for stable processes, high availability, and the company’s quality commitment. “That’s why we rely exclusively on high-quality components from reputable manufacturers,” emphasizes Jansen.

Hoses for Packaging Machines: Functional and Compliant with Standards

Modern packaging machines integrate numerous functions: drives, safety systems, sensors, HMIs, and communication—all of which must be reliably connected, often in the confined space of the control cabinet and with cables moving within the machine. The cables installed by Lantech are correspondingly diverse.

In addition, the company ships worldwide. Depending on the destination region, machines must comply with different standards and regulations—such as CE/UKCA in Europe or UL/CSA in North America. “While standardization is key to efficient manufacturing, it must not come at the expense of compliance,” Jansen is convinced. “Instead, we need solutions that meet both our functional and regulatory requirements.”

International Certifications for Worldwide Use of the Machine

For this reason, Lantech’s Dutch plant has relied exclusively on Helu. The comprehensive portfolio of this connection technology specialist covers all cable types required in complex systems—and does so with consistently high quality. The export-oriented company also sources everything from a single source for its various target regions: For example, Lantech relies on the proven JZ-500 control cable with VDE and UKCA approval for the European market, while the UL/CSA-certified counterpart, the JZ-602, is used in North America.

Fivenorm Simplifies Control Cabinet Wiring

When it comes to control cabinet wiring, the plant manufacturer relies on the single-conductor wires from the Fivenorm series. As the name suggests, these are certified according to five different international standards and can therefore be used virtually anywhere in the world. The advantage is clear: “We can streamline our bills of materials and need to stock fewer different types of cables. That saves space in the warehouse and reduces the workload in purchasing,” reports Ron Jansen. To ensure the safe routing of moving cables, the compact Heluchain Plastic Link 2-KL energy chains—which are specifically designed for light machinery manufacturing—are also used.

Kanban Supply System for High Delivery and Production Reliability

Lantech sources the cables from the Dutch wholesaler itsme as part of a Kanban system. All items regularly needed in production are automatically restocked weekly by the trading partner. “For us, this means minimal internal effort for inventory management while ensuring a high level of supply reliability,” explains Jansen. It was itsme that originally recommended Helu. “Three factors were particularly decisive: local availability, fast delivery, and short communication channels—including direct points of contact and technical support,” recalls the developer.

For Lantech, reliable delivery capability is a crucial factor—because if even a single cable is missing, an entire production line could come to a standstill. Helu has therefore established an additional buffer stock at its Dutch location in Budel, just a few kilometers away. The connection technology specialist is also represented worldwide through numerous subsidiaries. “This allows us to deliver replacement parts to our international customers more quickly and reduce costly downtime during maintenance and repairs—an important part of our service concept,” explains Jansen.

20 Years of Partnership Between Lantech and Helu

For Lantech, the partnership with Helu is a clear way to improve delivery capacity and machine availability. “The simple and reliable procurement process makes our work in production and logistics easier, and the high quality of the cables contributes to the safe and long-term operation of our equipment,” summarizes Ron Jansen.

“Thanks to the various standards and certifications, we have the right solutions for every part of the world—an advantage that we will capitalize on even more in the future, particularly with the Fivenorm single-loaders.” For the developer, one thing is clear: “We definitely want to maintain our successful collaboration and continue to build on it.”