The opening of the new potato receiver at the factory in Kruiningen was celebrated with confetti canons and a theatre show by Lamb Weston / Meijer last Friday (18 September). The opening trade was done by the King's Commissioner in Zeeland, Sir Han Polman. He spoke praise for the Zeeuwse chip factory. "A family company well rooted in the local community can grow tall." Lamb Weston / Meijer is an example of this, according to the King's Commissioner.
View the photo report here.
With the new receiving facility, tare and sorting lines for the potatoes Lamb Weston has a state of the art facility, emphasised Rinco Boender, plant manager of the location in Kruiningen, Bas Albias, CEO of Lamb Weston / Meijer and John Blair, manufacturing manager.
A tour through the facility followed the opening trade.
The unloading hall consists of nineteen unloading plates, divided over four sorting lines. The first and second line can unload 80 tonnes per hour max. Line three and four have a maximum capacity of 40 tonnes per hour. Then the potatoes are tared, washed and stored in bunkers. From these bunkers the potatoes are transported further into the factory and processed. "We aim for a 'first time right' in which we process the once after sorting," says Rinco. "Before, small potatoes could be sorted multiple times before being processed into potato products."
The renewed process, in which ICT and automation play an important role, was visualised in a theatre show at the unloading place. Whereas the work was hard labour before, the process is now being further automated.
The opening was well attended by contacts
"Anyone can buy a sports car, but not everyone can win the race," says Rinco Boender. He indicated the importance of well educated employees to make the machines run at its best. The chip factory in Kruiningen is the biggest in Western Europe. "For now, as my colleague from Bergen of Zoom would say," continues Rinco. There is also strong expansion at the location in Bergen op Zoom. The opening is planned for next year.
The opening was well attended by contacts
"Anyone can buy a sports car, but not everyone can win the race," says Rinco Boender. He indicated the importance of well educated employees to make the machines run at its best. The chip factory in Kruiningen is the biggest in Western Europe. "For now, as my colleague from Bergen of Zoom would say," continues Rinco. There is also strong expansion at the location in Bergen op Zoom. The opening is planned for next year.
Read more about Lamb Weston's new lay out and the back ground of the new location in the October Primeur (magazine is published in Dutch). Don't want to miss this edition? Click here to subscribe