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End User Interview
Erik Smit is Senior Maintenance Engineer at Heineken Zoutewoude.
a resolution. We then update our preventive maintenance schedule to mitigate the risk of recurrence.” In support of this strategy, Heineken adopted Maximo, a Computerised Maintenance Management System( CMMS), across its global network last year.“ Now that all our sites are using the same platform, we can share insights more effectively,” Erik explains.“ We’ re
Picture is the strativication tank for the heat pump( heat recovery) project
dealing with the same raw materials and processes, so it makes sense to learn from each other’ s experiences.” In recent years, Heineken has introduced the concept of brewing hubs, a strategic initiative designed to promote cross-border collaboration between production sites. Within this framework, regional breweries— such as the two in the Netherlands— now operate more cohesively with their counterparts in England and Ireland. This collaborative model allows teams to exchange technical knowledge and adopt best practices across borders.
Tank infrastructure As we walk through the expansive Heineken site, one of the most striking features is the sheer number of tanks- more than 160 spread across the facility.“ When the brewery was originally built in 1975, all tanks were constructed from painted or coated carbon steel,” explains Erik.“ Over time, as expected, many of the older tanks have developed corrosion issues.” To address this, the brewery has implemented a phased upgrade program.“ We’ re gradually replacing the ageing carbon steel tanks with stainless steel alternatives. Due to the large number of tanks and the associated time and capital investment, it’ s not feasible to replace everything at once. However, we’ re making steady progress, and all new tanks are constructed from grade 304 stainless steel.” As part of this modernisation effort, new tanks are being installed indoors where possible to protect them from environmental exposure and further extend their service life. Erik notes that Heineken’ s second Dutch www. heat-exchanger-world. com Heat Exchanger World July 2025
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