How Vion Food Group continuously strives for improvement and innovation
Vion Food Group strives for continuous improvement and innovation. A recent example of this is the extensive project to relocate and upgrade the existing water treatment plant at the Groenlo site. Tom Papen, Manager of Projects & Engineering, enthusiastically talks about this challenging task where thorough planning and close collaboration with Colubris Cleantech lead to efficient and sustainable solutions, even when working under great time pressure.
‘As the Manager of Projects & Engineering at Vion Food Group, I am responsible for all our locations in the Benelux. This brings many technical challenges and a lot of dynamism. One moment you are working on a cooling system, and the next moment on a water treatment plant. It's precisely this variety that makes the job so enjoyable.’
‘Changes in the slaughtering process at the Groenlo location (the Netherlands) required the water treatment plant to be relocated. We took the opportunity to upgrade the water treatment, including a new pump pit and replacement of valves, pumps, and pipes. Together with Colubris, we created a plan for this extensive project. The biggest challenge was the time pressure, as we had to complete the relocation in one weekend to avoid any production delays. Good preparation was essential in this.’
'Thanks to the upgrade of the treatment system,
it now works better.'
Tom Papen | Vion Food Group
‘At the location, as much as possible was already prepared, such as the new electrical control system, the flocculator, and SmartDose. Ultimately, we only had to install and connect the DAF unit (Dissolved Air Flotation). We then tested the system, which naturally brought some tension. In the event of an emergency, we had trucks and big bags ready to hold the water if needed. Fortunately, we did not need them, and everything went according to plan.’
‘Thanks to the upgrade of the treatment system, it now works better. For example, we now have a small buffer that responds quickly to fluctuations. The SmartDose system also works well. We have much more control over chemical usage and less sludge. This results in fewer pollution units, which contributes to our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy and is cost-saving. In this way, we are always working on optimizing existing processes within the organization.’
More than a supplier-customer relationship
‘At Vion, we always like to look ahead, and water reuse is the goal on the horizon. We want to close the loop and are exploring the best ways to achieve this. Colubris is helping us with this.’
'Water reuse is the goal on the horizon'
Tom Papen | Vion Food Group
‘Colubris is a great company to work with. Planning can sometimes be a challenge for us. We are a meat processor, and the process must always continue, that's the most important thing. It's reassuring to have Colubris by our side. They are knowledgeable, pragmatic, and always flexible.’
‘Our relationship with Colubris goes beyond the traditional supplier-customer relationship. It is more of a partnership where Colubris genuinely wants to help us rather than just sell a system. Of course, things occasionally go wrong, but then we put our heads together and solve it. That's how you improve. They think along with us and keep us informed about developments and innovations in the treatment world. Ultimately, you achieve more together than alone.’
About Vion
Vion is an international producer of meat, meat products, and plant-based alternatives, with production locations in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. The company's revenue amounts to 5.3 billion euros. Vion employs more than 11,000 people.