Geostick | 31Geostick leads the way in automationDutch label and packaging converter Geostick is a cutting-edge company at the forefront of automation technology, sustainability and technical innovation that enhances its overall efciency. Chelsea McDougall reportshe Netherlands’ leading label producer and supplier is pushing boundaries by streamlining its processes and carrying a strong dedication to enhancing its overall Teffciency. The kind of blue-sky thinking at Geostick that has grabbed the attention of the world label industry.Geostick has been on a rapid growth trajectory since 2014, though the private, family-owned label converter can trace its roots back to 1924. The company has grown both by acquisitions – with Clever Etiketten, Labelform and Etiket BV – and more recently with the build of a new digital printing operation in Uithoorn, Netherlands, near Amsterdam, where its frst production facility sits across the street. Geostick has a third operation site in Heumen, Netherlands.Cees and Tom Schouten in Geostick’s new digital production facilityRising starIt’s not often a label converter gets a blank slate on its production “Our industry is the perfect foor. But it’s particularly interesting when a personality like Tom Schouten is the company’s operations manager. Schouten, with playground for automation and a degree in international business, joined Geostick in 2019, frstly at the behest of his father, Cees Schouten, operational director at innovation – we already have Geostick, to assist with a few one-off projects. Tom quickly saw the possibilities of working in the labels and packaging space and joined high-tech machinery and software”Geostick full-time to help oversee the successful integration of the new digital printing facility that’s buoyed by HP Indigo, Bobst and technical innovation.AB Graphic technologies. ‘Our industry is the perfect playground for automation and At Geostick, Tom has been given the freedom to explore new innovation,’ Tom says. ‘We already have high-tech machinery opportunities for fnding process effciencies, a passion that earned and software.’him a nomination for, and eventual win, as the 2023 Global Label ‘In the upcoming years, I think we will see an even larger Awards Rising Star. The award recognizes emerging talent in the challenge to attract young talent,’ he continues. ‘Especially young label and packaging industry representing the next generation of talent behind our printing presses, so we need automation and leaders. Schouten was honored at Labelexpo Europe 2023. digitalization of manual processes to attract them and get more Tom Schouten truly is a rising star in the European label industry. out of that same operator. The supplier that realizes that will be the The 30-year-old only has four years in the industry, and already his winner and I think they are all already heavily investing in this.’impact is being felt, as the Global Label Award judging panel noted. ‘He’s managed to bring optimization to Geostick operations and Automationsupported the company’s growth by creating a workfow change An early project for Tom in his career at Geostick was to shape the management and successful integration of digital technologies,’ design for the new digital printing facility. Ahead of opening the the Global Label Award judges said. facility in 2020, Geostick purchased four HP Indigo 6K presses, the Tom is also actively engaged in Finat, and passionate about frst units to be installed worldwide. Geostick paired its printing cultivating other young leaders in the label and packaging space, assets with fnishing equipment from AB Graphic.mostly by touting the industry’s boundless opportunities for ‘We were able to buy a lot of equipment in the middle of the Sustainability Geostick is leading the drive toward sustainable labels and Cycle4Green. The collected paper is de-siliconized and the packaging. It has installed LED lights in the new facility, and paper fber is used for the production of paper. It’s an option for reused the metal and concrete from the demolished building. Its customers instead of incinerating or landflling, and Geostick roof is equipped with 3,214 solar panels, and the company even provides customers who participate with a certifcate that maintains bee ‘hotels’ to cultivate native insects. All of that was proves recycled volume and CO2 savings. awarded with a BREAMM Outstanding certifcate. The company doesn’t stop there. Geostick places a high Furthermore, Geostick has a program with its customers priority on social responsibility as well. Geostick is in the to collect label liner waste. Customers can return pallets of pre-auditing phase for the ISO 26000 certifcation and hope to spent release paper liner back to Geostick for recycling at receive the certifcate in 2024.Oct - Dec 2023