Several years ago, I had steered a glance into the future at a symposium and explained how much the global demand for logistics would grow in the next 25 years.- I reminded the audience of the growing world population, the development of the emerging markets and the increasing use of the Internet and e-commerce. I demonstrated that in future billions of boxes have to be transported and distributed worldwide every day. - Now it is already reality.

While analyzing the existing powered conveyor systems, which are easily to find in the image-search section of Google, I felt a necessity for a change. Most of the shown conveyor constructions were ugly, old fashioned, complicated, full of cables - like spaghetti -, with big motors mounted outside and visible control boxes sticking out, - a remnant of the last century with perforated steel profiles. – It is hard to believe that these are still produced and sold today! -

With these impressions in my mind I was sitting some years ago on the balcony of a charming hotel in Gstaad in the Swiss Bernese Alps looking to the scenic mountain landscape of 3000 meters and higher, where I used to spend my vacation.

While I admired the beautiful landscape and dreamed, I suddenly saw the solution to the future right in front of my inner eyes very clearly. There it was, the conveyor system with a modern and streamlined aluminum frame, completely closed. The drive systems and the electronic control systems as well as all cables would be installed inside, but invisible from the outside. This design would fit in with today's architecture and machine centers.

Of course, everything is much better designed today than in the past. Just look at the modern railways or modern sports cars or smartphones and so on. - Yes, today everything looks better, more beautiful, streamlined, elegant and aesthetic. It is the Design where companies stand out from their peers and Design is what functions best.

How is it possible – I thought – that the drive-belts of a powered roller conveyor are visible outside on top of the conveyor? – 

Then I started to list all the requirements of a modern conveyor system. A lot of new ideas came into my mind. Often in the middle of the night I woke up with a new idea for a modification or some other way to improve the construction. Similarly, I was intrigued by the new OTU (Omni-directional Transfer Unit), that had hit my brain, a modular product, which is indispensable in any conveyor system.

When I was looking for a name for this very modern, extraordinary and futuristic design that was different from all existing ones and that was never seen before. - I found that "avant-garde" was the right definition. The combination of the two words “Avant-garde” and “Conveyor” made "Avancon", the name of our new company.

Together with some young people I founded Avancon SA in Ticino / Switzerland in 2015 - And now, after big investments in development, machinery, moulds, a new factory- and office-building and some marketing, we see the result: - Our customers love it! -

We have already produced and delivered several systems for e-commerce companies, warehousing, a distribution center of a major global freight forwarding company, and two X-ray manufacturer who will install our system in many airports around the world for checkpoints in airport security.

Now I see the success and - because of the many projects already offered - we will have to expand our building soon.

For my whole life I have worked with great enthusiasm for the conveyor industry with a good feeling to have created and modernized new and particular products, which offered solutions for the materials handling and logistics industry on this planet.

Dieter Specht