Consulting partner for laser cutter acquisition

Benier (Netherlands)

This spring, Benier Nederland moved from its location in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to an ultra-modern location at the Het Hoog industrial estate in Nieuwkuijk. Its sister company, DrieM, which specialises in dough sheeting technology, is also located there. The company currently has approximately 170 employees, but this is due to increase to 250. ‘Benier is part of the Kaak Group in Terborg’, says production manager Joost Wevers. ‘We have been designing and building systems for the production and processing of all kinds of dough for more than 120 years. We facilitate industrial and traditional bakeries worldwide and supply all necessary equipment. Benier is a family-run business that offers customers total solutions for everything from silos to boxes. We manufacture machines for mixing, measuring, rounding, proofing and kneading dough.
The machines are almost exclusively made from stainless steel. ‘That is essential, because machines are used for processing dough. Our customers want to be able to produce honest and healthy bread. We therefore pay a lot of attention to the various cleaning options and how to keep machines clean. Benier is characterised by quality and service. We produce sound machinery and deliver total solutions.’
Benier's products – from individual bread machines to entire production lines – are delivered worldwide. ‘We look after sales, work preparation, mechanical, electrical and software engineering. We are, in fact, an old-fashioned machine factory with our own product range. Our complex on the Looier spans 15,500 square metres. The Kaak Group's Customer Experience Centre, a test bakery where customers can gain experience, is also housed here. We have our own bakers.’

The Benier specialists did extensive research into what was available on the market. ‘SafanDarley's sales force provided us with excellent support in this’, says Wevers. ‘We have always had SafanDarley machines, such as a CNCL-K 150-3100 brake press. We also have an H-Brake 230T. We have always been very satisfied with this machinery and the maintenance too. However, we had to start looking for a different product solution. SafanDarley played a consulting role, which they did so fairly and independently. This allowed us to see which cutting tests were the best. It is great to be able to participate in a process such as this.’ ‘We can now work with 0.8 to 20 mm thick stainless steel’, continues Wevers. ‘A simple mechanical solution for storing cut sheets enables us to reuse remnant sheet. We also wanted to be able to unload and sort without scratching. This is, in fact, hidden capital, which would otherwise be disposed of. We can now cut a lot of remnant sheet several times.’
‘The resoluteness during the project is characteristic of Benier’, says the manager. ‘We stepped on the gas with such a project; it was important to us. Without our own laser we had a vehicle but could only drive and steer. With the Mitsubishi laser, we now have our own accelerator. We have a broader product range and can deliver more quickly. If you know that your customer is at a standstill, you have to deliver quickly. Quick Response Manufacturing is therefore vital. There is certainly much more work to be done and we are working on digitising the process further.’