Ferlin

What Ferlin does

Ferlin Plastics Automation, headquartered in Nijverdal, Netherlands, is a private industrial equipment manufacturer founded in 1980 that specializes in automation systems for the plastics processing industry. The company designs, manufactures, and services machinery across three core verticals: dosing, conveying, and drying of plastic granules, serving blow molding, injection molding, and extrusion processors globally. Its flagship products include GRAVIMIX, a gravimetric dosing and mixing system launched in 1988 that achieves a 0.01% standard deviation and is sold with a typical 3-month additive-savings payback; Ferlin ONE, a patented belt-based dosing system that eliminates pulsing effects; the MOVAC central conveying system with reverse-jet filter cleaning; and the EasyDry honeycomb dryer that performs regeneration, cooling, and moisture absorption simultaneously. The 10,000+ GRAVIMIX units deployed globally evidence a substantial installed base, supported by a backwards-compatible design philosophy under which machines installed in 1992 still operate with current technology.

Ferlin operates a hybrid go-to-market combining direct enterprise sales through Sales Engineers in dedicated territories (notably Germany and Austria via wholly-owned Ferlin B.V. and Ferlin Baltics) with a global reseller network spanning 30+ countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales across dosing, conveying, and drying equipment lines, complemented by three service programs: the Ferlin Lease Program (FLP) for capital-light equipment access, the Ferlin Inspection Program (FIP) for annual audits covering 100+ inspection points, and the Ferlin Circular Program (FCP) for guaranteed buyback and refurbishment of used machines. Self-service demand generation occurs through a webshop with online configurators for GRAVIMIX and EasyDry.

The firm operates with a headcount of 11-50 and reports no external institutional investors or funding rounds, indicating long-standing independent ownership. Strategic positioning emphasizes accuracy (gravimetric precision), energy efficiency (EasyDry honeycomb technology), operational uptime (reverse-jet filter cleaning), and long product lifecycles (35+ years of demonstrated machine longevity), with co-development engagements cited as a differentiating working method. Recent strategic moves include the 2022 in-house dryer launch and the expansion of service-based recurring revenue programs.

Name

Ferlin

Legal name

Ferlin Plastics Automation

Website

https://ferlinplastics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ferlin Plastics Automation is a Netherlands-based industrial machinery manufacturer founded in 1980 that designs and builds dosing, conveying, and drying automation systems for plastics processors in blow molding, injection molding, and extrusion applications worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastics Processing Automation Equipment

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermoforming Machinery & Automation (IMANAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF), Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK)

Keywords

• Gravimetric dosing systems
• Plastic granule conveying
• Honeycomb drying equipment
• Plastics automation machinery
• Industrial material handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Nijverdal

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Dosing Equipment: Sale of proprietary dosing machines including GRAVIMIX and Ferlin ONE. Machines are sold directly and through resellers globally. Payback period is typically 3 months due to additive savings.
2. Hardware Sales - Conveying Systems: Sale of MOVAC conveying systems, central filters, hopper loaders, and the MOVAC Easy range for plastics automation.
3. Hardware Sales - Drying Equipment: Sale of EasyDry honeycomb dryers and HotDry hot air dryers for plastic granules.
4. Ferlin Lease Program (FLP): Leasing program allowing customers to access the latest Ferlin machines without high upfront investment. Provides flexible payments and upgrade opportunities.
5. Ferlin Inspection Program (FIP): Annual inspection service for GRAVIMIX machines covering over 100 inspection points, safety checks, and calibration. Documented in an FIP management report.
6. Ferlin Circular Program (FCP): Guaranteed buyback program where Ferlin repurchases used machines, overhauls them, and resells reconditioned units.
7. Aftersales Service: On-site repairs, workshop repairs, new machine installation, and maintenance services for Ferlin equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ferlin manufactures and sells industrial automation equipment for plastics processors, focused on three product categories: gravimetric and belt-based dosing systems (GRAVIMIX, Ferlin ONE) for precise additive and masterbatch handling, central conveying systems (MOVAC, MOVAC Easy) with reverse-jet filter cleaning for moving granules to processing machines, and drying systems (EasyDry honeycomb dryer, HotDry hot air dryer) for preparing hygroscopic and non-hygroscopic materials. Equipment is built at the Nijverdal facility and supported by aftersales services, an annual inspection program (FIP), a guaranteed buyback circular program (FCP), and a leasing program (FLP) for plastics processors running blow molding, injection molding, and extrusion operations.

Product overview

Ferlin Plastics Automation is a manufacturer of industrial automation machines for the plastics processing industry, specializing in three core product categories: dosing (GRAVIMIX and Ferlin ONE), conveying (MOVAC systems and MOVAC Easy range), and drying (EasyDry and HotDry). The GRAVIMIX is the company's flagship gravimetric dosing/mixing system developed in 1992, while the Ferlin ONE represents an innovative belt-based dosing alternative. The MOVAC conveying system features proprietary reverse-jet filter technology, complemented by the simpler MOVAC Easy hopper loaders. EasyDry honeycomb dryers handle hygroscopic materials with energy-efficient simultaneous regeneration/cooling, while HotDry serves non-hygroscopic materials. An Automatic Coupling Station enables fully automated material changes. Supporting services include the Ferlin Inspection Program (annual GRAVIMIX audits), Ferlin Circular Program (machine buyback/recycling), and Ferlin Lease Program (equipment leasing). The company operates across blow molding, injection molding, and extrusion processing methods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GRAVIMIX: Gravimetric dosing and mixing systems for plastic granules
• EasyDry
• HotDry
• MOVAC
• MOVAC Easy
• Ferlin ONE
• Ferlin Inspection Program (FIP)
• Ferlin Circular Program (FCP)
• Ferlin Lease Program (FLP)

Products and services

• GRAVIMIX Gravimetric (weight-based) dosing and mixing system for plastic granules, built for batches from 0.5 kg to 25 kg with a standard deviation of only 0.01%. Designed for plastics processors running blow molding, injection molding, and extrusion lines to save raw materials and additives, with typical 3-month payback through additive savings.
• Ferlin ONE Belt-based dosing system for masterbatch or additives that uses a conveyor belt instead of a screw, eliminating pulsing effects. Patented metering range from 0.1 kg/hour to 25 kg/hour with a 3 kg load cell and an Easy Clean System for quick material changes. Claimed to weigh more than 6x more accurately than market standards.
• MOVAC Conveying System Central conveying system for plastic granules featuring an innovative central filter with reverse-jet cleaning technology. Uses filter bags with spiral design for self-cleaning at 500 mbar negative pressure, minimizing downtime and eliminating manual filter cleaning.
• MOVAC Easy Range Hopper loaders for fast, simple, and affordable automation, available in single-phase and three-phase configurations with capacity range from 60 kg/hour to 500 kg/hour. Designed for easy integration without complicated installations.
• EasyDry Honeycomb dry air dryer for hygroscopic materials such as PA, PET, and PC. Uses innovative honeycomb principle where regeneration, cooling, and moisture absorption occur simultaneously, achieving a constant dew point at lower regeneration temperatures with independent drying units per hopper to prevent contamination.
• HotDry Hot air dryer for quick drying of non-hygroscopic materials such as PE and PP. Features high airflow for rapid water removal and is suitable for wet materials from outdoor storage or recycling, with fire protection safety systems.
• Automatic Coupling Station Automatically changes granule types without human intervention, featuring 20 connections for material and hopper loaders. Reduces manual handling and errors for higher efficiency and reliability in plastics processing.
• Ferlin Inspection Program (FIP) Annual inspection service for GRAVIMIX machines covering over 100 inspection points including safety checks and calibration, documented in an FIP management report to prevent unexpected downtime.
• Ferlin Lease Program (FLP) Leasing program providing access to latest Ferlin machines including GRAVIMIX, EasyDry, and Automatic Coupling Station without high upfront investment, with flexible monthly payments and upgrade opportunities.
• Ferlin Circular Program (FCP) Guaranteed buyback program where Ferlin repurchases used machines regardless of age or condition, overhauls them, and resells reconditioned units, contributing to circular economy.

Quantifiable outcome

• GRAVIMIX machines typically pay for themselves within 3 months through additive savings
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered regional.

• BanburyregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth African reseller for Ferlin automation solutions. Provides local sales and support for plastics processing companies in South Africa.
• AerodryregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndian reseller for Ferlin products. Supports customers in India with Ferlin automation equipment.
• ItsJPregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese reseller representing Ferlin in Japan market.
• Teknik Part Plastik MakineregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTurkish reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• AJ SolutionsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelgian reseller for Ferlin products.
• MouldshopregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDanish reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• Ferlin B.V.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDirect sales channel for Germany and Austria, operating as a Ferlin entity.
• Ferlin BalticsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional partner covering Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
• MTC FlextekregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinnish reseller for Ferlin products.
• MAT TechnologicregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• Prim-Plast Kft.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHungarian reseller for Ferlin products.
• JHL Engineering LtdregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIrish reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• Simatec PlasticsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian reseller for Ferlin products.
• KMP PlasticsregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPolish reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• InautomregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortuguese reseller for Ferlin products.
• SGM TechregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSlovenian reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• GS TecnicregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpanish reseller for Ferlin products.
• Gorilla MachinesregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCzech reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• Labotek GBregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK reseller for Ferlin products.
• IcevaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• Plast ServiceregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss reseller for Ferlin products.
• SYCSAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMexican reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• PBE RoboplasregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian reseller for Ferlin products.
• Machinetech LtdregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew Zealand reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• Alpha TechnologiesregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChilean reseller for Ferlin products.
• SinemcoregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColombian and Peruvian reseller for Ferlin automation solutions.
• SGInPLASTregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCosta Rican reseller for Ferlin products.
• Said Kamal, AgentregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEgyptian agent for Ferlin automation solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maguire Products: US-based pioneer of gravimetric blenders and dosing equipment for plastics processors — highly comparable to Ferlin's GRAVIMIX dosing/mixing products and a benchmark for accuracy and blender category positioning.
• Piovan Group: Italian-listed manufacturer of plastics processing auxiliaries covering dosing, conveying, drying, and granulation. Closely overlaps Ferlin across dosing, conveying and drying product categories serving injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding customers.
• Conair Group: US producer of plastics auxiliary equipment including hopper loaders, central conveying systems, dryers, and blenders — closely comparable to Ferlin's MOVAC conveying, EasyDry, and GRAVIMIX dosing offerings.
• Motan Group (Motan-Colortronic): German plastics auxiliaries specialist delivering gravimetric and volumetric dosing, conveying, and drying equipment directly competitive with Ferlin's GRAVIMIX, MOVAC, and EasyDry lines.
• Wittmann Group: Austrian-based global supplier of plastics auxiliaries including material handling (conveying, drying, dosing/mixing), robots, and downstream equipment — the most direct competitor to Ferlin across dosing, conveying, and drying for plastics processing.

Broad incumbents

• Coperion (Hillenbrand): Global producer of compounding and extrusion systems including feeding technology and bulk material handling. Overlaps with Ferlin's conveying and dosing lines for plastics processors, but Coperion focuses upstream on compounding versus Ferlin's downstream dosing/conveying/drying.
• Schenck Process: Large industrial group specializing in weighing, feeding, and dosing technologies across multiple industries including plastics. Overlaps with Ferlin in dosing and conveying but serves a much broader industrial customer base.
• Bühler Group: Swiss industrial conglomerate with process engineering and dosing/handling equipment across food, plastics, and chemicals. Comparable in dosing, drying, and conveying technologies but operates at far greater scale across multiple end markets.
• Brabender (Brabender GmbH & Co. KG): German manufacturer of measuring and dosing equipment for raw material preparation across plastics, food, and chemicals. Comparable gravimetric/volume dosing technology to Ferlin GRAVIMIX but with a wider application footprint.

Emerging players

• Pelletron Corporation: Manufacturer of pneumatic conveying and dedusting equipment for plastics and other bulk material handling. Directly comparable to Ferlin's MOVAC conveying systems, but with narrower product scope focused specifically on pneumatic conveying.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FerlinPlastics
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ferlinplastics?si=jihb98vBcQSCXAPy
• Facebookfacebook.com/ferlinplastics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ferlin-plastics-automation-bv
• Instagraminstagram.com/ferlinplastics?igsh=MWkwbjkyNGg5M2FsYw==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ferlin