FrozenFoodsBiz is saddened to learn of the passing of Pieter Aquarius, co-founder of Case Packing Systems (CPS), who died on December 23 at the age of 72. Assuming the helm of a seven-year-old business from his father in 1995, along with sister Marie Louise, he worked hard to expand the Stramproy, Holland-headquartered company into a globally successful enterprise known for top quality end-of-line machines, flexibility and exceptional service. In May of 2021, CPS was acquired by Sweden’s XANO Group.
From the beginning, Case Packing Systems was especially active in the frozen food sector. Its first machine was installed at Westfro, a Staden, Belgium producer of frozen vegetables. Quickly thereafter the client list broadened to include additional vegetable, fruit, potato and herb processing companies in the Benelux as well as elsewhere in Europe, North America and further afield.
The highly efficient offerings from CPS today range from case packers to pack flexible, semi flexible or solid products (bags or trays), horizontal as well as vertical, into corrugated trays, reusable plastic trays and corrugated American cases.
Pieter Aquarius was regarded as an innovative problem-solving engineer with a sense of humor enjoyed by colleagues, customers and many others who were fortunate to have crossed his path. This included members of the FrozenFoodsBiz team who always looked forward to meeting with him on the factory floor in Stramproy. It was not unusual for shop talk to carry on into the evening and nighttime hours at local restaurants and bars.
Words from CPS associates and employees, among them Sales Director Henri Veltmans, describe the dearly departed with reverence: “Pieter was the best engineer in the packaging industry. He had the ability to ‘read’ a factory and advise the best solutions to customers. ‘The best is not good enough,’ he used to say, meaning that a new development is good for today, outdated tomorrow. His brain was continuously busy with developments and improvements.”
In remembrance of Pieter, fondly recalling his voice, Frans Augustijn stated: “Three things are important at CPS: Service, Service and Service. I loved it when he said that!”
Another saying he will long be remembered for is this: “I have seen a lot in the past, but especially how not to do it.”
Rest in Peace Pieter, as Team CPS proudly carries on your legacy.
