Optimising internal logistics is often a challenge for panel builders, from grab stock management to getting a grip on delivery times. Especially when production is spread across multiple sites, like at Elektro Internationaal (EI) in Woerden. In 2016, the company already took a big step, together with itsme Connected Business, at their batch production site. This was related to the introduction of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) in the form of a 2BIN system. In the near future, EI expects to start the construction of new premises, whereby all activities will be brought under one roof. At that point, the logistics for the entire production will also be optimised.

Forcada Instalaciones has specialised in bespoke automation, for which they have sought a reliable supplier they could work with as a team to provide the most efficient solutions.

Although the provisioning of care homes is often well organised, on the flip side there is sometimes still room for improvement, especially where hygiene processes are concerned. With that in mind, Jop van Haaren, director and owner of Less2Care from Raalte, set out to work ten years ago. The result? The VacuSan: an automated solution for the safe vacuum sealing and disposal of used incontinence materials. The electronic parts of the operating system are delivered as a kit – a customer-specific package – by itsme. “As a customer you don’t need to worry about it anymore.”

Design and delivery of industrial turnkey projects, automation of operating systems; Mario Claes, owner of Etec Systems in Balen \(Belgium\), has been drawing on a continuously growing source of experience since fourteen years now. Each situation reveals unique challenges. Each solution contributes to an ever expanding range of knowledge

Every single day, both small and medium-sized companies are faced with the challenge of reasserting their position in value chains. They mostly accomplish this through customised solutions, produced by using special machinery. Against this background, it is vital to increase the flexibility and speed of maintenance performance, as demonstrated by a joint project between AL-KO DÄMPFUNGSTECHNIK GMBH and itsme Schultz+Erbse.

On the outskirts of Hengelo-Zuid tons of waste are given a new purpose each year. Through incineration, separation and composting, energy and raw materials are extracted and find their way back to society. With the heat that is released during incineration, Twence generates enough power to provide half of all households in the Twente \(region in the Eastern Netherlands\) with electricity. In order to guarantee the continuity of all the plants, operators carry out regular inspection rounds in the installations, so good visibility is important. In switching from fluorescent lighting to LED, Twence enlisted the help of itsme.

eReM provided complete electrical installation for new shipyard in Kenya Sometimes a project seems to have been arranged from front to back. But what if you are asked at the very last minute to show what your company is capable of? At eReM in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, they know all about it. In part thanks to a rock-solid offer they convinced their end customer – an internationally operating Dutch shipbuilder – to come on board with them. And in this case literally because, as it concerned the installation of the entire electrical system of a new shipyard in Kenya, the components were shipped by sea freight. Their main challenge? In the preliminary phase everything had to be 100% correct. This required thorough preparation in which eReM could count on support from itsme.

Improved visibility enhances safety and work comfort Precast concrete flooring systems for residential and non-residential construction. At Dycore they know all about it. Adequate lighting in both production and transferring of these floors is essential. Safety comes first, closely followed by the avoidance of damage. Jos de Laat, head of the Technical Department at Dycore Breda, explains that as a specialist they like to focus exclusively on concrete floors, with other affairs being regularly outsourced. “For our lighting, I rely on itsme’s specialism.”

TES Industrial Systems about innovating and collaborating At TES Industrial systems, all expertise in electrotechnical drive technology is gathered under one roof: from assembly, engineering and panel building to commissioning, service and after sales. But what drives the organisation itself? “We are forward-looking. But with respect for the past.” TES Industrial Systems and itsme about the strength of collaboration.

From fresh pineapple to bite-size portions of fruit in a resealable bucket. The Piñabar makes it possible in less than 20 seconds. For a customer in a supermarket it is just a matter of pressing a button. For Pierre van de Braak, director at Dutch International Manufacturing \(DIM\) and the inventor of the Piñabar, a complex process preceded it. Being a machine manufacturer, he got support from Schneider Electric, S2 and itsme for the electrotechnical section of the machine.

How does an organisation ensure the transition from start-up to scale-up to go smoothly? For fast-growing Kind Technologies the answer partly lay in scalability: not only growing fast, but above all efficiently and smartly. Together with Rittal and itsme they took a closer look at the production process of their enclosures. By partially outsourcing the assembly work, the lead time has been reduced from four weeks to just one week.

Headquartered in Sint-Truiden, Belgium, with production lines in Germany, Mexico, China and Romania, VCST is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers for the automotive industry. It is part of the Belgian BMT Group, with business in various industries, in all corners of the world.

itsme Technical Support is there for all your questions about industrial automation. Product specialists look into the problem along with the customer and share their thoughts with them; be it at the head office in the Netherlands or at the offices abroad. Feel free to call it a challenge in this rapidly changing world to have all the knowledge at the ready, but that’s what it is all about for his team, says itsme’s William van Heel.

A company that is one of the oldest in its sector must be able to prove its flexibility on an ongoing basis. In the example of Chemiewerk Bad Koestritz this is guaranteed through the interplay of research and development with flexible plant engineering and automation, as well as through the consistent use of professional development opportunities.

A few years ago, CSi decided to make the switch to stockless production in order to increase its Return on Investment. CSi can realise this with the help of the Integrated Logistic Supplier project, which consists of four focus areas: • appoint a Key Supplier; • apply product alignment; • automate data traffic; • set up a VMI system.

itsme Industrial Automation has been around for 30 years. Where it once started with just support, the team of application engineers and product specialists now offers much more than that. Webinars, e-learning and training courses: itsme Industrial Automation specifically supports every customer with targeted information. And that from an international perspective, crossing over national borders.

VCST’s philosophy is to be as close to the end user as possible, so it can best meet the needs of the local customer: Global Presence, Local Excellence. This is why VCST started building a new production location in Romania in 2012. In order to guarantee quality and production efficiency, VCST wishes to receive the same service– and knowledge level in Romania as it does in Belgium.