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Report from Argentina and Chile
 DIGI in Argentina and Chile
Diosnel Galeano, Regional Sales Manager of Teraoka Seiko Co., Ltd. in Japan reports the latest progress in Argentina and Chile.
HASAR, quickly established as the solution provider among retailers in Argentina
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| On the left, Ricardo Sanjurjo (Chairman) and Pablo Armando (Product Manager) |
The Argentinean market is highly competitive in prices. This situation deepened after the financial crisis in Argentina in 2001.
Shortly after this crisis, COMPANIA HASAR S.A.I.C. (HASAR) was designated as an exclusive DIGI distributor.
In September 2004, HASAR appointed Pablo Armando as Product Manager with a clearly defined objective: to increase and consolidate the DIGI scale business.
Ricardo Sanjurjo, HASAR's Chairman, proudly says, "This work brought good results in 2005 and 2006, including over 600 units of SM-300 series scales with the new WLAN kit in their sales plan. HASAR would like to highlight that DIGI finally got the order from Carrefour after competing with other global brands long-established in Argentina. "
In 2006, HASAR's plans are to aggressively expand, including commercial and technical training for the renewed and specialized dealer network nationwide.
HASAR is now recognized as one of the most important "scale" solution providers in the retail market.
There's a famous song that says: "Don't cry for me Argentina", but nowadays HASAR and DIGI are singing a new song called "smile with me Argentina"
DIGI, hallmark of reliable and high quality products and service in Chile by ELCA
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| The ELCA's Sales Team at EXPOTRADE, one of the most important retail exhibition held n Santiago de Chile |
Our business relationship with INDUSTRIA ELECTRONICA ELCA S.A. (ELCA) dates back to the early 90's. ELCA has been very successful in their market and now has the role of market leadership in Chile, the best country positioned in Latin America, for its solid economy.
This flourishing economy also shows another competitive side when we observe the concentration of few retailers in the growing market. For example, the global retailer Carrefour started its operation in Chile, but soon decided to leave this market.
One of the most successful retailer groups is Cencosud, which owns brands such as Jumbo, Santa Isabel, Montserrat, Montecarlo and Las Brisas. We feel very proud to say, "DIGI/ELCA's proposal is very successful in those stores and recognized as having high quality products and service for many years."
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Diosnel Galeano joined Teraoka Seiko Co., Ltd. in 2003 with a background in the scale business in South America, and since then DIGI has steadily strengthened and grown in the complicated South American market. We hope that Diosnel will report DIGI progress in other Latin American nations in coming issues.
Diosnel Galeano, Regional Sales Manager of Global Business Development Div. of Teraoka Seiko Japan, resides in Argentina and flies from country to country in South America promoting DIGI and strengthening the business relationship between DIGI distributors and the Teraoka/DIGI production points in Singapore, Shanghai and Japan. |
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Report from Benelux
New European "General Food Law" sparked the installation of the new DIGI wrapper AW-4600
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| AW-4600SBP in full operation at C1000 Hamers Oirschot. |
Job Baars, Sales Manager of DIGI Benelux (DIGI Belgium nv and DIGI Nederland B.V.) is pleased to announce that DIGI has successfully installed DIGI AW-4600 wrappers at Schuitema group in the Netherlands and at Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium.
Job continues to highlight the key reasons for the sales.
"Due to the new European "General Food Law" concerning ingredients and nutrients, a multiple labelling function is necessary. Descriptions of 20 lines or more for ingredients and nutrients are now common.
"To avoid extremely long labels, the new DIGI AW-4600 wrapper offers the perfect solution for these demands with three integrated printers: the first printer for commodity labels, the second printer for POP labels and the third printer for bottom labels. Being able to print the barcode label on the bottom of the package is a big advantage. Also, the POP label is fully automatic - issued and attached on the package.
"Another advantage is the automatic detection of the food tray with its pre-programmed tare weight.
"The AW-4600 with three printers matches perfectly with the new food law and enables a high production rate for weigh/wrap/label packages."
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| Michel Westerveldwith (right), Key Account Manager of DIGI Nederland B.V., together with the manager of the meat department at C1000 Jansen Hulst. |
Job Baars, Sales Manager of DIGI Benelux, together with the supermarket owner of C1000 Jansen Hulst. Mrs. Erica Jansen and Store Manager Boudewijn Jansen showing Top, Bottom and POP labelling results. |
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Report from Ukraine
SM-100 receives good reputation from Ukrainian retailers
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| The SM-100 launched well in all of the regions of the Ukraine. |
Datecs Ukraine has aggressively developed their marketing strategy since it was launched in September 2005, including technical and informational support and advertising in mass media. Sergey Chernyushok, Marketing Director of Datecs Ukraine reports their recent progress of the SM-100.
"S. Vovna, Director of Inter-Service, a DIGI dealer, is sure that the SM-100 is the best solution for small and middle size retailers who operate modern shops and wish to install "their first up-to-date scales" at their shops.
"The SM -100 was evaluated highly and marketed first with shops in the regional area where ordinary advertising is not effective, but the main source of information is the "neighbor's opinion". One such region is Ternopolskaya, in the western part of the Ukraine. S. Vovna feels confident that the high-quality product, strong support and professional staff provided by Inter-Service, all will lead to marketing success even in regional areas. Inter-Service did this with the SM-100.
"DIGI dealer Inter-Service has changed customer's opinions in the Ternopol region and has replaced conventional scales with the DIGI SM-100. I am sure that the all-in-one design SM-100 will expand among retailers nationwide in the Ukraine."
S. Vovna, Director of Inter-Service mentions their motto for marketing
The market accepts new models guardedly. Our company's objective is maximum satisfaction for every client. That is why our service department tests new equipment over 3-5 weeks. We have launched only the products to the market that passed our tests completely. And this is our principle. Our region isn't very rich . we have 90% price-sensitive clients. But all of them need upscale scales. And we have solutions for them. I'm sure that SM 100 is the best solution for small and middle trade outlets, for village's shops and small shops in towns. And now the SM-100 as the leader in these segments sets up a new standard in the market.
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Report from Poland
DIGI: strong in a wide range of Polish industry markets
Yakudo Plus Sp. z o.o. celebrated their 12th anniversary in January 2006.
DIGI has been well established in a short time thanks to Yakudo's commitment and dedication including reliable partnerships with customers. Here are reports from Mariusz Jamro, Vice President of Yakudo Plus Sp. z o.o. Yakudo has penetrated the Polish market with a wide range of DIGI products.
Polish Ministry of Education and Science selected DIGI DS-788B-RS
Last July, the Polish Ministry of Education and Science invited tenders for scales, fiscal cash registers and managing software for a training program to be used in over 130 Vocational Schools and Further Education Centers. Yakudo Plus Sp. z o.o. took part in the tender together with Elzab company, one of the biggest Polish producers of fiscal ECRs. Yakudo presented the DS-788B-RS model as it fulfilled all technical requirements including connection to a fiscal ECR.
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717 units of the DS-788B-RS (Bench type with RS interface for cash registers) purchased by the Ministry of Education and Science.
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The tender was decided only last November, and in December Yakudo delivered and successfully installed 717 units of DS-788B-RS on time.
DIGI showed again the fast delivery is possible with the cooperation of Shanghai Teraoka, a Teraoka/DIGI group.
Sales breakthrough to Jeronimo Martins, with 700 units of DIGI Checkout Scale DS-980
Portuguese Jeronimo Martins, operating in Poland for more than 10 years, is the owner of the biggest chain of retailers in Poland. This chain includes BIEDRONKA (Ladybird in English) operating more than 800 shops both in big and small cities nationwide.
Jeronimo Martins decided to install checkout scales at their storefront operation for each shop already existing or newly opened ones. During the one and a half year negotiation, Jeronimo requested several modifications of the scale and Yakudo implemented them very quickly with the cooperation and expertise of Shanghai Teraoka R&D. Also strongly supported by another business partner Forcom, DIGI dealer, the order was finalized at the end of 2005, and resulted in two orders for 700 units of DS-980FS in total. Yakudo expects future orders from Jeronimo Martins in this and the next few years for up to 2000 units of DS-980FS and PS.
DIGI/Yakudo receiving orders from Carrefour Polska
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| Mariusz Jamro (left) together with Boguslawa Kaminska - Senior Manager of Carrefour Katowice, and a sales assistant of the meat and poultry department in front of the SM-300H. |
At the end of 2005, Yakudo Plus received orders from Carrefour Polska.
Satisfied with cooperation with Yakudo and DIGI products, Carrefour decided to change their scales to DIGI in eight of their biggest hypermarkets including Warsaw (3 shops), Krakow and Katowice. It resulted in orders for more than 211 units of SM-300Jr, 7 units of SM-300, single units of DPS-90 and DS-160 and also 8 licensees for Yakudo's store managing software Balance System Plus.
All these scales were installed in December 2005 and in January 2006.
Mariusz Jamro, proudly concluded about the mutual business relationship with Carrefour Polska, "Now there are 26 Carrefour Hypermarkets with DIGI products and Yakudo's software Balance"
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| The SM-300's in operation at the same Carrefour Katowice hypermarket, one of eight Carrefour hypermarkets where Yakudo installed DIGI scales in January. |
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Report from Russia
MOSMART selected DIGI for their first regional area hypermarket
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| The SM-100 lined-up on the cheese sales counter |
This February, MOSMART, one of the largest Russian retailers, opened a hypermarket in the city of Krasnodar located in the southern part of Russia. Until now, they had managed three 14000 square meter shops in Moscow so this is the first hypermarket that MOSMART set up in a regional area.
Mikhael Zhbankov, Managing Director of DIGI Technologies Co., Ltd., reports their successful installation of DIGI products to the MOSMART Krasnodar.
"DIGI products in operation at the store include AW-3600CPR and SM-100 series. The AW-3600CPR, the integrated In-line automatic weigh/wrap/label system, is used for in-store packaging of meat in the backroom. 18 units of SM-100, DIGI's new economy class model of service scale printer, are in operation at vegetable, fruit, cheese, and gastronomic department packing sites as well as in other areas of the hypermarket. The DIGI SM-100H hanging type of service scale printer is used for weighing fish and seafood.
"We feel very proud to say, DIGI products are key in the successful automation of weighing and packing in MOSMART's newly opened regional hypermarket. In 2006 MOSMART plans to open new hypermarkets in Nizhny Novgorod, Moscow and St-Peterburg. The successful installation at MOSART benefits DIGI, as a trademark of the reliable business partner with high quality products and service network in Russia and in CIS."
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| The SM-100H at the fish and seafood counters |
The entrance of MOSMART hypermarket opened in Krasnodar. |
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DIGI Technologies' booth was designed nicely with DIGI green at AgroProdMash 2005.
The AW-4600AT was in the center at the booth, at the 11th International Trade Exhibition for Food Processing Technologies and Packaging, which was held in Moscow last October. |
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Report from U.A.E.
Triveni Trading Co., Ltd, successfully presented DIGI wrappers, AW-3600CPR and W-3600CPR at Gulf Food Exhibition held in Dubai on Feb 19 to 22.
Triveni Trading, an expert in the food plants industry in the gulf area with their headquarters in U.A.E., has expanded their business in Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar with their direct branches.
Ashok J. Galgotia, President & CEO of Triveni Trading, feels confident about the marketing of DIGI Wrappers, especially the integrated In-line automatic weigh/wrap/label system targeted for chicken processing plants.
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| Manoharan K., Sales Manager of Triveni Trading, received much attention from visitors when he demonstrated the wrapping of an apple tray with the AW-3600CPR. |
W-3600CPR, Integrated in-line automatic wrapper was also the center of attention. |
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Report from Germany
SM-880EV EL (transparent display type) with its world-first, unique see-through display design gathers new DIGI friends among retailers who have not previously used DIGI products.
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| The message on the high contrast seethrough display of the SM-880EV EL catches customers' eyes. |
Rewe Nau, franchise store of REWE, located in Wetter installed 2 units of SM-880EV EL at the butcher counter together with a FX-3600XLC in the backroom operation. Their data is managed centrally with the WinDigi application software developed by DIGI.
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| SM-880EV EL matches the modern atmosphere at the butcher/hams/delicatessen sales counter. |
Edeka Winkler, franchise store of EDEKA, now operates three stores in Weiterstadt. An Edeka Winkler store installed 6 units of SM-880EV EL, a SM-880B and a FX-3600XLC, all in operation at their butcher/fish/cheese counters, and connected with the WinDigi.
The SM-880EV EL was selected due to its high quality image, nice design and unique see-through display, with the advanced technology of the PC base scale.
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Report from UK
Grampian chooses DIGI food industry products and DIGI Europe's ability for developing tailor-made software
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| Peter Lydford, Deputy Managing Director of DIGI Europe Ltd. |
Peter Lydford, Deputy Managing Director of DIGI Europe Ltd, is very pleased to announce that Grampian has chosen DIGI as supplier of high speed weigh/price labelers and checkweighers for their chicken processing plants.
"Grampian Country Food Group, established in 1980, is now one of the UK's leading food processors supplying all of the major multiples with chicken, pork, beef, lamb and turkey products. Grampian Country Food Group currently employs over 25,000 and has a turnover in excess of '1.8bn ($3bn).
"This initial order was for 37 high speed weigh/price labeler HI-700, all linked to the Ravenwood linerless sleever. The 37 HI-700's have been installed at 5 different production sites and are in operation for a variety of labelling at production rates of 80 packs per min. and higher.
"Grampian chose the HI-700 and DIGI for our ability to adapt to their needs and react quickly to resolve any additional requirements. We are working closely with Grampian to develop a webbased program for data collection, central control of PLU data and label format information. This is known as 700.net and will be available to all users of the HI-700.
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| Grampian installed 37 lanes of HI-700's at their five production sites. |
"The introduction of the HI-700 into the marketplace has been very well received and this order from Grampian is testament to the product.
"We are very much looking forward to being Grampian's reliable business partner and supplier of weigh/price labelers and checkweighers, also to their beef, pork, lamb, and turkey businesses.
"Taking this opportunity, at last but not least, I would like to say many thanks to the combined efforts of our DIGI Europe's sales, service and software departments for making Grampian's sales deal a success."
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Report from Belgium
DIGI Belgium signs contract with the Renmans / H.Boucher group for 1000 units of SM-880EVPS
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| Leon van Besauw (left), Managing Director of DIGI Belgium signing with Richard Bovy, Managing Director of Renmans/ H.Boucher group, for the deal of 1000 units of SM-880EVPS, which records a new milestone for DIGI Belgium. |
Leon van Besauw, Managing Director of DIGI Belgium proudly announced the major sales success deal in Belgium, when the new calendar year was kicked off on January 2nd.
"Renmans/H.Boucher group (R/HB), an organization of over 300 butcheries in Belgium selected DIGI again for the replacement of DIGI SM-70 in their present operation. The 3 million EURO contract was signed at DIGI Belgium's office on November 29th in 2005 for the 1000 units of SM-880 EVPS.
"DIGI's newest generation scale printer is scheduled to be rolled out to 300 butcher shops this fall season for the replacement of the SM-70s, which have been used since early 1999.
"On the basis of a detailed RFP which we answered in September and was then followed by intensive constructive discussions, R/HB selected DIGI and SM-880EVPS. The key reasons why DIGI was selected: quality and performance of the SM-880EVPS including wireless operation and DIGI's software developing abilities customized for R/HB, and the close cooperation between DIGI Belgium's IT staff members and the excellent support from Teraoka Singapore R&D colleagues."
Leon van Besauw continued to mention, "R/HB's trust in DIGI and long years of collaboration have been a vital element of consideration and the reason for the decision to choose DIGI over other brand scale manufactures. DIGI Belgium feels grateful for the continuation of our relationship with R/HB, and we will strive to meet their expectation of DIGI."
Leon concluded his report by showing special thanks to Mr. R. Bovy, Mr. Chmielecki, Mr. P Debast, Mrs. C. Andries of the Renmans/H.Boucher group, and to colleagues of Teraoka Singapore and DIGI Belgium, who worked for the business collaboration.
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Report from USA
Alberston's Chooses DIGI/NBI Advanced networking, proven service and a cost effective proposal win the day
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| Totally more than 4500 units of SM-500TEB's now in operation at Albertson's stores in 29 states. |
NBI, DIGI distributor in the US, has started the year off right by closing a contract with Albertson's, the second largest retail chain in the US, for the purchase of 500 SM-500TEB's (Bench type with Touch Panel function). This will add to over 4000 SM-500TEB's now operating in Albertson's stores in 29 states. All units are connected to the Albertson's scale network using wireless Ethernet and special DIGI Plug & Weigh software developed by Teraoka Singapore and NBI. This software utilizes DHCP to automatically connect to the network. Once connected all scale data can be controlled remotely including loading a totally new operating program. This feature saved Albertson's over $300,000 in service cost in December of 2005 when new labeling rules were put into effect concerning nutritional labeling of transfats in prepared foods. This requires that each scale had to be flashed with a new program and data reloaded. Normally this would require a service technician to go to each scale and to flash the new operating program from a computer. In the Albertson's case this was done overnight in all scales in 29 states. The cost to Albertson's was about $3,000 for the new operating software and binary files.
Albertson's has been very happy with the performance of the SM500TEB scales already installed and with the outstanding service and support provided by NBI. NBI fields over 30 service calls per day from various stores and dispatches service personnel to handle each call. Store locations vary from Florida in the south to Seattle in the far northwest. The really difficult calls come from Montana, North Dakota and Idaho in the winter. The area is still considered the Wild West and providing responsive service is almost impossible without a strong organization.
Albertson's, NBI and DIGI have now been strong partners for the last 4 years and we continue to provide them with the most cost effective scale equipment available today.
(Reported by John Baumann, President of NBI)
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Report from Denmark
Danish traditional butchers choose DIGI advanced technology - SM-700
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| Chr. Vollstedt has been operating in the same building since it was founded in 1862. The logo is well known for the butcher shop with excellent high quality products and tradition-bound workmanship. |
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| DIGI System's Technical Supervisor Ulrik Kahler (left) whose face is partially hidden behind the large LCD display packed with information, together with the butcher Jacob Vollstedt, the fifth generation of Chr. Vollstedt, and his son proudly seen in the center as the sixth generation owner in the future. |
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| The SM-700's operator smiles in the cozy shop full of sausage and salami, which received many national and international gold awards for their excellent quality. |
Klaus Kokholm Pedersen, Director of DIGI-System A/S reports their latest success with traditional butcher shops.
"In Denmark, there are many brilliant private butcher stores who compete with supermarkets and discount stores based on their excellent quality and proud, tradition-bound Danish workmanship.
"These tradition-bound butcher stores are attracted by the concept of the DIGI SM-700: the easy operation using the touch panel and the outstanding feature to show video or images on the customer color display, which can highlight the workmanship of their own production or from a meat supplier with products from outdoor cattle breeding. In addition, the ability to print a recipe or cooking information is very helpful for shoppers who want to buy good quality meat and want to have the best possible cooking.
"The private butcher store Chr. Vollsted in Hadeslev, an old town in the southern part of Denmark, is a very good example of tradition-bound workmanship and high quality products. Chr. Vollstedt was founded in 1862 and is still owned by the fifth generation of the same family, and well managed with 35 employees. Chr. Vollstedt, operating in the same building for more than 140 years, has created high quality products like sausage and salami and received many national and international gold awards for excellent quality and workmanship.
"Jacob Vollstedt, the 5th generation manager, has decided to buy new scales from DIGI and 4 units of SM-710 - PC based scale printer, a modular version in stainless steel. Jacob Vollstedt likes very much the modular concept, which makes it possible to do a special design setup in the shop with scale part, printer, customer and operator display separate. They have created their own video running on the customer display, including individual product pictures as well as daily and weekly advertisement information.
"In February, DIGI-System A/S completed similar installations in 6 more private butcher stores based on the same modular concept and DIGI SM-710. In most cases, the SM-710's are linked to PC's in offices, with the application developed by DIGI-System A/S."
DIGI feels very proud to know that the traditional butchers who never compromise their workmanship have selected DIGI and the SM-710.
| FoodExpo 2006, in Herning, Denmark on March 25 - 28 |
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DIGI-System presented all DIGI's new products : AW-4600AT, DPS-4600, SM-710, SM-700 and SM-880 as the No. 1 solution provider leading the retail industry. |
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