One of Romania's top companies, Bacau-based Facility Distrib, is a significant supplier of solutions in the industrial equipment and consumables sector for the food industry and other fields. Demonstrating exceptional professionalism and a continuous desire to provide clients and business partners with the latest and most efficient products, equipment, and services, Facility Distrib has established itself in the specific market, now representing a trusted brand. Furthermore, in recent times, Facility Distrib has emphasized its interest in sustainable solutions, being a dedicated advocate of this concept. Mr. Ciprian Bălău, General Manager, spoke to us about this, as well as the company's activities and its latest completed projects.

Two Lines of Business

Meat.Milk: Mr. Ciprian Bălău, when was Facility Distrib established, and what are its main areas of activity?

Ciprian Bălău: Facility Distrib is a private company with entirely Romanian capital, founded in December 2012 in response to the hygiene needs of the food industry. At present, we have two main lines of business: hygiene in the food industry and the sale of equipment and consumables for it.

MM: What were the main stages of development?

CB: Initially, we started with an industrial cleaning company operating in this field since 2008 and continuing to the present. In many of its projects, we identified the need for a reliable supplier to provide customers with comprehensive hygiene solutions.

In essence, we created a new company that, based on this know-how, optimizes the entire sanitization process by implementing measures, procedures, and products so that quality departments achieve compliant results.

Certainly, we later learned and implemented new technological flows, resulting in the second division, the sale and maintenance of equipment for the food industry. We initially faced challenges in the meat industry (farms, slaughter, and processing), intending to address the dairy, beverage, vegetable, fruit, and bakery industries shortly thereafter.

MM: How did you select your personnel, and how do you ensure their continuous training?

CB: The beginning, obviously, was challenging, but we have come to have a young and motivated team with extensive experience in the field. Regarding our training, starting in 2016, we organize an annual event, Meat Experts, where topics such as biosecurity, work procedures, traceability, etc., are discussed.

This event is aimed at the meat industry, both in slaughter and processing, and is not a commercial one but is solely for the training of the quality managers of our clients and the Facility Distrib team.

We work on a "forecast with buffer stock" system

MM: What are your sources of supply for materials, parts, equipment, and technologies that you offer to your clients?

CB: Initially, we collaborated with suppliers approved by our industrial cleaning company. After a few years of development and the growth of Facility Distrib's brand awareness, we engaged in projects with major international manufacturers in this field.

At this moment, we have the capacity to develop products and procedures tailored to the individual needs of each client.

Regarding the supply, in my opinion, the most important aspect is that we work on a forecast with buffer stock for all our clients, according to the contracts concluded, excluding the possibility of going "out of stock," which has helped us a lot.

For example, in 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, none of our clients ran out of sanitization products at any time throughout the year, although there were significant market problems.

We have completed a project with state-of-the-art equipment

MM: What were the latest projects you have carried out recently?

CB: Facility Distrib undertakes many projects, some larger, others smaller, completed or ongoing. In recent years, we have completed multiple projects, including centralized sanitization systems, pasteurization lines, and bag-in-box packaging for dairy products, bag-in-box packaging lines for egg mix, and a mobile abattoir for sheep slaughter.

The most recent project implemented is at one of the largest poultry breeders and processors in Romania, where we commissioned two rotary incinerators, significantly increasing their incineration capacity.

The equipment is fully automated, from loading with the product to be incinerated to unloading and ash evacuation. State-of-the-art equipment, an integral part of this project, differs from static hearth incinerators by reduced fuel consumption, and thanks to the gas cleaning system, it ensures compliance with current standards imposed by the European Union.

Another significant advantage for the client is the minimal maintenance and operating costs of the incinerators.

MM: How do you ensure the maintenance of the systems supplied and their warranty?

CB: We provide warranty and service to all clients with personnel trained by equipment and machinery manufacturers. Maintenance is carried out by dedicated staff who act based on contracts according to a predefined schedule or, if necessary, in an emergency.

We aim to strengthen the brand

MM: What role does the sustainability concept play in your company's activities?

CB: Facility Distrib constantly makes efforts to increase sustainability on all levels that define it.

As we know, the only successful strategy for companies in the future is based on the concept of sustainability, so we are obliged to be extremely attentive to achieving and respecting the standards imposed by current regulations.

Therefore, we promote products and technologies that align with these trends, such as ecological and biodegradable products, environmentally friendly technologies, and those using renewable energy.

MM: What are the future projects?

CB: Our main project is to consolidate this Romanian brand, Facility Distrib, and the company's vision is to add value to the quality of food products on the market by making producers aware of the importance of the sanitization process for food intended for human consumption.

For us, the future looks bright because in the last ten years, we have managed to implement innovative solutions and technologies that have led to the efficiency of processes in the food industry, and we have built a trustworthy relationship with our partners, which obliges us to continue our development.

MM: Thank you, and we wish you continued success.