FACE TO FACE
Voortman develops its own software to control machines remotely .
Machine operations include drilling ; welding ; sawing ; cutting ; marking and milling .
The company has grown significantly in recent years to around 700 employees worldwide and invested in its business , establishing new bases in Germany and France . To offer employees an inspiring working environment and receive visitors properly , the Dutch machine builder recently created an ultra-modern campus in Rijssen , The Netherlands . In addition to the long-established Voortman Experience Centre , a new Voortman Engineering Centre was opened last year .
ISMR sat down with Voortman ’ s Head of Commerce , Rutger Voortman , to discover how Voortman ’ s philosophy , investments and scope of operations have evolved to fit changing market and customer requirements .
Innovate to accumulate
Voortman focuses on six key market sectors for its machinery , software and services . These are steel / metal fabrication ; plate processing ; steel distribution ; machinery and equipment ; offshore / energy and process equipment . Forging strong relationships with customers has always been a key focus for the company . “ We identify common customer needs and invest and develop in a targeted way to fulfil as many of those needs as possible ,” Rutger Voortman told ISMR . “ In doing so , we aim for the long term . For example , where is the market going ? Are bolted structures becoming increasingly important with an eye on circularity and sustainability ? We translate these findings into business cases , which we then develop .”
In the steel / metal fabrication industry , finding skilled labour is increasingly challenging . Therefore , to remain competitive and ensure long-term success , it is crucial to prioritise automation , maximize output and maintain flexibility . Rutger Voortman highlighted
Voortman ’ s headquarters in The Netherlands .
automation as one of the common needs in European markets and “ the need to be independent of people ’ s knowledge and skills .” “ We want to minimise any operation where human interaction is required . That means high levels of automation in steel processing . We have invested very heavily in that philosophy ,” he explained .
“ In the steel fabrication market , it is all about costs and being in control of your margin and your entire production process in
Voortman offers remote and local service . an environment of labour shortages . So , we help our customers by offering a high-output , optimal production process with embedded control software that can help them to predict their costs and increase their productivity ,” he elaborated . In today ’ s rapidly evolving plate processing market , positioning as a comprehensive one-stop shop for customers has become more important than ever .
The offshore and energy market has been a growing market for the company . Its customers are processing more high-strength steels , thicker materials and larger pipe sizes . For pressure vessel manufacturing and piping , manufacturers are primarily concerned about the quality of welding and cutting operations . Voortman ’ s solutions for these industries include profile , pipe and plate processing systems as well as automated welding , supported by software .
“ Our philosophy is to do as much as we can in-house i . e . R & D ; design ; production ; software ; installation and servicing . Our vision is to deliver software , machine and service solutions to customers worldwide ,” explained Rutger Voortman .
Widening its scope
The Dutch machine builder is going through a transition , focusing not only on its machines but also on the development of its own software and the continuous expansion of its service activities . “ We aim to ensure that our customers ’ machines are performing at their maximum throughout their lifecycle and processes are automated . We know the different markets that we serve , understand our customers ’ needs and can respond to them in a targeted way . Our focus is on developing and building fast , sturdy and stable machines ,” said Rutger Voortman .
ISMR October 2024 | ismr . net | 59