Structure, order, cleanliness, and safety
Weighing and mixing spices releases dust, which creates challenges regarding employee well-being, safety, and compliance with allergen guidelines. Klaas Jonkman, Operations Manager, explains: "My focus is on achieving structure, order, cleanliness, and safety. Prior to a recent renovation, we conducted a risk assessment and evaluation (RI&E). It highlighted the need for an advanced dust extraction system. We took these recommendations into account during the renovation. Furthermore, after the renovation, we wanted to equip every new workstation with appropriate extraction, with extra attention paid to the separation of allergens and non-allergens and to preventing cross-contamination of allergens via dust." After discussions with various dust extraction system suppliers, he chose Kiekens. "We had the most confidence in Kiekens. Account manager Albert Dorenbos was open to my ideas but did not compromise on the performance and reliability of his machines. That’s something I can work with."
The solution: custom dust extraction
Kiekens implemented a complete dust extraction solution that met all requirements. The chosen solution included:
- 13 mobile stainless steel extraction hoods, flexibly deployable behind the scales
- Extraction arms for product mixing.
- Two Dustmasters: a DM10.000 Compact (4,000 m3/hour) and a DM Dynamic (6,000 m3/hour)
The systems comply with the ATEX directive, which is crucial in a production environment with fine dust and strict safety standards. "This has given us a state-of-the-art production environment in Steenwijk," says Klaas.
Shaped by our
unique approach
Technical challenges solved through collaboration
During the implementation process, De Weerd encountered an unexpected technical challenge: the dust extraction pipes ran directly through fire-resistant walls. Klaas: "We had already started when we realized this. Albert immediately helped us think through the problem, put us in touch with a fire damper supplier, and it was sorted in no time. Now, if a fire alarm goes off, the dampers close automatically, and the walls are 100% fire-resistant again."
And the impact? Energy savings, safety, and well-being
There is no comparison to the situation before the Kiekens dust extraction system was installed. Even so, a few things are already noticeable:
- Energy savings: "When the filters are clean, there is less resistance, and the system automatically dials down the power. Other systems are just on or off, but this system works efficiently and intelligently."
- Improved employee well-being: "If we don't turn the extraction on now, employees go straight over to switch it on themselves. That says enough about the comfort and effectiveness of the system. And the less dust that settles, the safer the working environment is."
- The department stays cleaner due to less settling dust.
Install, implement, and done
"The moment I thought: yes, this is right? That was quite early on, when Albert showed his calculations. I could see that real thought had gone into this," Klaas recalls. "No experiments, just a solution that actually works. That suits us: we want to install, implement, and be done with it." The Kiekens technicians also left a good impression. "They were flexible enough to work on Fridays and sometimes Saturdays so as not to disrupt production. Furthermore, they strictly adhered to all hygiene regulations, such as wearing beard nets and hairnets. Everything went very smoothly."
Central dust extraction for every industry
Kiekens provides central dust extraction as a total system. From source extraction and ducting to filtration and ventilation: we design, install and maintain a fully integrated solution. This is how we create a clean, safe working environment that grows with your production.
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