It is being touted as 'the world's largest carrot polisher'. Its size, though, was not the aspect of the new MT Polisher with which it should win over the market. Its innovative design is. Following the termination of its partnership with Haith in the UK, Dutch company Murre Technologies decided that to keep growing in the vegetable processing industry, it needed to launch a polisher of its own.
"It was developed from two angles: W. De Boer & Zn's desire to realize the largest machine, but far more importantly, the desire for all drive components to function in a dry environment. We think we've developed something revolutionary," Roy Haerkens and Huibert-Jan Zweemer of Murre Technologies tell us.
This carrot polisher's tale started with a collaboration between this machine manufacturer and carrot processor, Willem de Boer, of the Dutch family business of the same name. "Part of why this happened is our experience in the different sectors in which we operate," Roy begins. Murre Technologies was founded in 1987 in the Netherlands and was originally mainly active in the potato processing industry. Over the years, the focus increasingly shifted to products like (pickling) onions and mushrooms, after which seafood was added.
"We're also looking at new markets there that match our product range. For example, we recently added the seaweed sector as a new target group in our customer base. That overlaps with the vegetable and seafood industry, making it a nice addition for us. All these sectors also ensure we have a whole bucket load of experience in-house, which we use to apply the different sectors' knowledge to each other."
And that, say Roy and Huibert-Jan, is what sets the new MT Polisher - that can be used for carrots as well as any other root vegetables - apart. "We worked from two focal points. We wanted to build a single large machine," Roy continues.
"What you see a lot on the market now is that people place two small polishers next to or behind each other to achieve a larger capacity. A large polisher on one line wasn't yet available. With this realization, we think we can meet the market demand for a single machine with a larger capacity of up to 35 tons per hour."
Dry drive compartments
"Then there was maintenance minimization. That's where our shellfish sector experience comes into play. Those conditions are even slightly harsher than the vegetable processing industry is used to. For us, it was vital to ensure that all the drive components operate in a dry environment. If water continuously runs over, for instance, the machine's belts, parts break down. We wanted to eliminate that, and I think we definitely managed that," says Roy.
"Also, should work still be needed, the machine was to be extremely maintenance friendly. The chosen materials reflect that as does the possibility of easy parts disassembly. The sectional doors give easy access to the brushes and belts, and the motors are set up on a floor, making them easily accessible. You simply remove the cover from the top, on the walkway. That allows any company quick maintenance."
Project-based
It seems Murre Technologies succeeded in its goal. The 'world's largest carrot polisher' is running satisfactorily at W. De Boer & Zn. "We're in constant contact with them," Huibert-Jan continues. "That's also how we provide customer service. We're set up to work on a project basis. We consider what suits a client's needs and meet those. But we don't reinvent the wheel. If a supplier or third party has a suitable machine, we'll use it for a line. Then, we deliver a turnkey solution. Working in this project-based way suits us and has already brought us a global customer base in various sectors."
Next step
They want to eventually move in that direction with their new polisher. "We have long been limited to the Benelux in the vegetable processing industry. However, we're already active worldwide in other sectors and have a sales office in Canada. With the polisher, the goal remains to have everything perfectly in order here first. You shouldn't want to get ahead of yourself. For now, the MT polisher is only at Willem de Boer, but we'll gradually start looking at subsequent placements in the Benelux or beyond," says Huibert-Jan.
"We have the facilities. With 3,000+ m2 of workshop space, we have everything in-house, so we can go in any direction. That's where we stand out: with our service. It's also why we moved away from the fries sector. That became more and more of a competitive market, with no more room for customer relations. We don't fit in there. We want client relationships we can build on; quality over quantity. That obviously comes with a price tag. You must be honest about that, but it does mean you must be ready to solve every problem together. The MT polisher at De Boer & Zn. means we've made a first renewed step in the vegetable processing industry. But many more will follow," the men conclude
For more information:
Roy Haerkens
Murre Technologies
T: +31 (0)113 503080
M: +31 (0)6 27 21 46 41
[email protected]
www.murre.nl
W. de Boer & Zn
Oudijk 26
1617 KR Westwoud
Mob: +31 (0)6 12 438 991
[email protected]
www.deboerwestwoud.nl