Metal

The Dutch metal industry combines traditional craftmanship with the application of modern production techniques. It is known for its flexibility, knowledge and innovative power.

Our metal experts are specialised in metals as well as cast iron, steel and nonferrous materials. From processing raw materials to manufacturing of finished products and from design to maintenance and repair of machines.

Most experts are also experienced in process optimisation, efficiency and productivity, quality control, environmental and working conditions. And many of them have an additional managerial background making them able to advice on entrepreneurship, marketing, export and strategies.

The machine experts can assess whether machines are used and operated optimally, advise on the implementation of technological developments and on solutions to technical issues. Our experts will also bring related sustainability elements in their advice and recommendations.

Areas of expertise

• Processing

Using raw materials to process machine parts, spare parts, machines and equipment and surface treatments like galvanising, powder coating and metal spraying.

• Tool manufacturing

Design and manufacturing of moulds and dies, cutting tools, tools for the sheet metal industry, hand tools, production lines, assembly lines etcetera.

• Transport

Design and manufacturing of vehicles and vessels, trucks and coaches and agricultural equipment but also engine overhaul, repair and maintenance, production of spare parts and dealership management.

• Production

All kinds of production techniques such as welding (TIG/MIG), milling (CNC), cutting, turning, grinding, finishing and bending as well as the production of parts and equipment. Advice on the technical capability of machinery and the productions process for example regarding optimised routing and layout, environmental conditions, quality assurance, ergonomics and safety and material handling.

• Product design and development

Design and/or redesign of products based on current available manufacturing equipment and tools and advice and recommendations on new product opportunities including possible related investments.

Client examples

Production improvement

A manufacturer of open-end and ring spanners for top-class brands asked for PUM assistance. The product quality was good and the company was able to meet international quality standards. However, about 90% of the orders were shipped too late. It turned out that the management did not realise the actual production time of a batch of spanners. After an intensive investigation, the PUM expert introduced and implemented a detailed sequence of all the manufacturing steps in an overview. As a result, there is now a backward production planning procedure, starting from the agreed delivery date and taking into account ample allowance for uncertainties. In addition, suggestions were made to reduce lead times, shorten moving distances and improve material handling by changing the factory lay-out and increasing the number of parallel manufacturing steps.

Dried banana chips

A company producing and selling dried banana chips asked PUM to help with the development of a banana peeling machine. The expert started by doing some research in preparation for his visit. He got in touch with the Dutch Agricultural University and with some major suppliers of banana to find out whether such a machine was available on the market. He discovered that there were no banana peeling machines available, anywhere, worldwide. He therefore started drawing up a preliminary design. Once on site, he started with a final design to develop such a machine. Major problems arose due to the variations in the size and shape of bananas. During his visit, several tests were performed and the design was finalised. On his return, the expert arranged a business link with a Dutch company to build the machine. He also patented the design.

Maintenance and repair of agricultural equipment

Maintenance and repair is an important part of the annual turnover of this manufacturer of agricultural equipment. The Maintenance and Repair department is responsible for keeping all equipment in acceptable condition, renovation of second-hand machinery and maintenance and repair jobs for local customers. There were two problems: poor quality of work and too little turnover compared to cost. The PUM expert found that the level of craftsmanship was good but that communication/cooperation between the departments could be improved. Also in-depth knowledge about their customers lacked. Together with the management, the PUM expert proposed and implemented an organisation chart with clear task descriptions especially regarding monitoring quality, delivery times and budget. The expert made clear that to improve sales, a reliable insight into the particular needs of customers and potential customers was essential. The expert advised the management to establish a marketing/sales team to collect all information about (potential) customers in order to create a marketing strategy with clear targets for the next two years.

New calculation programme

A PUM expert collaborated with several foundries on the production of ductile iron castings for automotive and tractor OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). In these foundries, a simple Excel based calculation programme was introduced for the determination of dimensions for down sprue, runner bar, ingots, feeders and feeder necks. With this programme, several gating and feeding systems which were used for castings, and which had high rejection rates, were redesigned. As a result, shrinkage defects were virtually eliminated and mold-filing related defects were reduced by more than half. The same expert later gave a seminar for other foundries in the region.

Professional people for positive impact

Looking to grow your business or organisation sustainably and build a brighter future for your community? Contact one of our representatives in your country for criteria, more information and guidance on the application process.