Eggs, eggs and more eggs

With solutions for the automated processing of eggs, both for consumption and for hatcheries, within no time Wim Kleijer's company grew into a global player,. As they say themselves: “We think it's too good to pass up” – egg processing becomes ‘a piece of cake’, to mix metaphors.

Kletec, as the company is called, started in 2009 and went international in 2014. Higher demands from different parts of the world meant that "we had to go higher up". As Kleijer explains: "We were using different brands until then and I didn't really have an image with Lenze. Our programmer had worked with them before and suggested we have a chat. We were looking for a brand that could deliver a complete range and preferably also worldwide."

Smart solutions

At Kletec, the aim is primarily to standardise quality. "We use high-quality techniques, with which we come up with smart solutions, and develop them further and further. However, the aim is always to move towards serial production, so we look for high-quality products at competitive prices. We also want to guarantee service and support, so it is nice if your supplier is also a reliable one," he adds. Because of the combination of further development and standardisation, the processes in the machines are modular.

"When we first came into contact with Lenze – that was in 2011, with Marcel Toonen – we soon had a familiar feeling. We got into conversation with another company that also always chose Lenze and that was also a good reference. At that time, we were developing a robot, of which some two hundred are already running in practice. This was a palletising robot that placed thirty trays on a pallet; seven hundred and twenty eggs in one go. In the meantime, we have built up a lot of experience with the drives and controls from Lenze. The quality is exceptional, but also the fact that they have a total concept for the control is very nice."

It all stacks up!

The most recently developed machine can stack cardboard boxes with eggs in different patterns, up to a height of two and a half metres. This machine has to move more than a thousand boxes a day, each weighing twenty-five kilos. "Our customer really wanted to automate that, because it is heavy work and it was all done manually. We developed that first palletising robot further and now we have a four-axis robot, in which the rotating head can rotate and stack in a pattern that ensures the sturdiness of the pallet."

Two boxes are picked up at the same time and the orientation of the boxes is an important issue. The labels on the boxes must always be read from the outside of the pallet. "We achieved this with linear guides and a belt drive – a simple technology, with high reliability, which also allows long distances to be covered at high speed. We used motion modules to position the cartons of eggs quickly and with as little additional movement as possible. An extra advantage is that the belt drive, in combination with ball chain rails, gives our machines very quiet operation.

High accuracy with 120Hz

Several years ago, Kleijer and his team decided to opt for 120Hz technology. "We use controllers from the 8400 and i500 series. The 120 Hz technique offers us enormous possibilities and a great deal of accuracy. You get much more torque from a cabinet over a wide speed range. In addition, we are very flexible with the B500 series of gearboxes.

“We use the P300 for the control. In fact, you could say that, when it comes to pure drive technology, we use Lenze. We really use the P300 panel to perfection. I think we do things with it that Lenze doesn't even know it can do." In the same breath, he praises Lenze's knowledge. "We have agreed a timetable with Lenze for the future, so that we can always keep up with the latest technology.

You can tell that Kleijer is happy with innovations. "It is our goal to deliver 80% standard and 20% customer-oriented, and, in doing so, we are constantly innovating. Because we work in modules, we can continuously optimise individual components. And so innovations grow into a new standard. Also, we must always be able to connect to the customer's standard components. And everything has to communicate with each other.

“That is also an important advantage: we do not work with a do-it-yourself supplier, but with the manufacturer itself, because it's nicest to have everything ‘in one hand'. Lenze has shown itself to be a strong partner; not only in service, but also in the range of products. You can look at the total offer as a kind of platform where the drive and control are attuned to each other, and everything can talk to each other."

The same language

But in addition to the components, Kleijer is also pleased with the cooperation with the people. "Because there is a big strong club in our own country, we have short lines. It is very nice to have people with a high level of knowledge, thinking along with you during development. We get very accessible and fast support from Den Bosch and the engineers talk to the engineer; for example, when they talk about the motion. They understand with half a word what it is about and, as companies, we find each other in the high technology.

“The drives, in particular, really have a consistent high quality that I have not seen bettered. Yes, the price/quality ratio is just right. We are working together on innovative developments for the future. As far as service is concerned, we never really need them, but they should be there anyway. The people have a mentality that suits us. If I call, even with a small question, it is always handled quickly and well." And not unpleasantly either, he chuckles: "If we send in enough orders, sometimes Bossche bollen just come our way."

Wish list

Kletec is clearly passionate about what it does, so aspirations for the future must figure in their plans? "Yes, indeed, we are working on some nice things,” Kleijer confirms. “We want to do more in the food sector. For that, we need to take a step forward on the hygiene side. We want to see what the drive can do in that respect. Hygiene is also an important step for machines for the hatchery. In addition, we have already gone a long way with the remote monitoring of the installations.

“At the moment, we have 120 machines online that we can monitor. We log messages for preventive maintenance, for example, and can carry out software updates and help with settings remotely. But it is also very pleasant that we can now watch the installations directly, without having to be on site."