Poland-based Awex was founded by Tyc shortly after 1991. The company grew from import and frozen logistics to a modern processor of onions and potatoes. Today, it employs around 270 people, 180 of whom work in the Fresh division. Every year, Awex processes about 150,000 tonnes of raw material, sourced from some 300 carefully selected growers. Large retail customers such as Lidl and Kaufland demand predictable quality and fast delivery; orders up to 8pm are ready the next morning.

Reason and ambition

Awex is distinctly innovative. Many machines are developed or modified in-house. Yet manual quality assessment remained a bottleneck: changing attention and shifts caused variation. Tyc sought an optical solution that grades objectively, can run 24/7 and delivers consistent output to match retail requirements.

Choice of Flikweert Vision

At Fruit Logistica, Tyc saw the QualityGrader in action. The combination of accuracy, practical design and clear operation instilled confidence. Despite decades of experience with other providers, Awex chose Flikweert Vision because of its measurable consistency in quality control. The sales process also played a role in the process: Thijs translated the situation at Awex into a suitable solution, respecting the existing installations and experience. “We want the best result in production. The QualityGrader delivers the same result every minute, exactly what retail demands,” says Tyc, founder of Awex.

Solution and implementation

Awex installed two QualityGraders integrated into an Htech line. Htech is a system integrator for weighing and packaging lines. The project marked the first joint implementation between Flikweert Vision and Htech. The commissioning went according to plan. The setup was set up plug and play, with on-site start-up support. Via one control screen, settings per product can be quickly selected and saved. In the first weeks, the service department was immediately available; questions were quickly answered by phone and minor optimisations were easily coordinated via WhatsApp.

Results on the line

The QualityGraders run 24/7 when required, with consistent speed and quality. The machines replace the work of four people and deliver demonstrably tighter sorting. Employees can focus on higher-value tasks. With objective grading, outgoing quality is even across the day and across shifts. This gives peace of mind in planning and makes delivery more predictable for retail customers. “The results are always consistent. You don't achieve that with people, people have breaks or get distracted. The machine works through with the same result,” says Tyc.

Looking ahead

Awex continues to invest in further automation where it demonstrably adds value. Its experience with Flikweert Vision confirms its course: practical technology, quick support and constant quality control that matches the demands of Polish retail.