It’s a problem most processors know well. Managing multiple technology vendors means managing competing service relationships, resolving integration failures, and making capital decisions without a complete picture of your own operation. The compounding costs of downtime, staff time, and missed efficiency, are rarely visible as a single line item, making them easy to underestimate and hard to defend against.
The customer experiences that follow demonstrate what that kind of partnership delivers in practice.
1. Faster scaling
When expanding capacity or adding facilities, deployment is faster and more predictable with proven, integrated solutions.
“When you enter into a partnership like this with JBT Marel, it’s a commitment that goes both ways. We are absolutely certain we will work well and work purposefully to develop the industry over the next ten years together,” said Børge Holm, General Manager, Holmøy.
“JBT Marel offered value to us long before the equipment was installed. They offered solutions and ideas throughout the planning process and were flexible in scaling the solutions to our needs,” says Kristian Almaas, founder and owner of Filetfabrikken.
2. Financial predictability
Bundling contracts with defined service levels make budgeting more straightforward and can improve EBITDA through operational efficiency gains.
“I would highly recommend JBT Marel for its quality, support, and measurable results. I’d advise other processors to see it as a strategic investment, not an expense. The efficiency, waste reduction, and quality improvements fully justify the decision. At Perú Frost we consider it an investment that pays off quickly due to the positive impact on productivity.” Marcos Yacher, General Manager, Perú Frost, seafood processor.
3. Data visibility
A unified provider can offer hardware sensors and controllers that feed data directly into software in native formats; this means your data is providing reliable insights.
“JBT Marel software's built-in ability to interface has provided us with a highly integrated system. Our finance, production, shipping and forward order systems, along with compliance requirements, are well served by the built-in functionality," Henry Hart, Executive Director of John Dee. "We've furthered our reputation for quality and reliability within the global beef market.”
4. Total cost of ownership and capital planning
Total cost of ownership is easier to calculate and often lower than multi-vendor scenarios. There are clearer depreciation schedules and upgrade paths, which means less surprise in capital expenditure from incompatibility issues.
“We had a return on investment within a year. We couldn’t be happier. Our previous software couldn’t integrate with anything. Regarding compatibility with our ERP system, JBT Marel Software has been a real game changer. We don’t have to stop for two days anymore to sort out the software. We now have a stable platform that always works and allows us to build other software infrastructure on top. JBT Marel software has never been a limiting factor for growth of our business.” François Smit, Head of Systems and Controls, Morgan Beef.
5. Time
You can’t get it back, but, with a single provider, you can save it in multiple areas. On the floor, installation is faster and more efficient with less time needed to troubleshoot and align multiple vendor systems. For production and IT teams, there is less time for training and firefighting integration issues. Downtime is reduced as troubleshooting is faster with one accountable vendor.
“Both our teams understand each other’s way of working. We’ve never had issues. Whether it be line changes, plant expansions or new machine installations, we’ve always started and completed projects on time. Having JBT Marel’s support team close to our operations makes a big difference,” affirms Carlos Augusto, Operations Director, Zanchetta Group, poultry processor, Brazil.
The processors gaining the most from their technology investments are not necessarily those with the most equipment, they are those with the most aligned partnerships. JBT Marel’s integrated approach means one provider who understands your operation end to end, one relationship to manage, and one team accountable for results. For business leaders planning the next phase of growth, that alignment has measurable value.
