Peka Kroef
The ambition
Cultivation Manager Jos Vossen has been working for Peka Kroef for more than twenty years: “For as long as I have been working here our most important ambition has been to optimally respond to the wishes of our retail and food service customers. Delivery reliability and optimal quality are crucial. We offer optimal service to all our customers.”
The challenge
“The challenges we face are not unique to our region. The nitrogen issue is a key theme, and at the same time availability of sufficient good soil for cultivation is no longer always a given. Due to climate change, we’re seeing are longer periods without precipitation, affecting the growth and development of potatoes. Of course, everyone needs to deal with this.”
“As a result of our company’s growth we now have some 50,000 tonnes of our own potato storage. Additional batches are supplied by the growers from their own storage. To improve quality and limit weight loss as much as possible, we switched from bulk storage to storage in crates a few years ago. After we some less-than-great experiences with rental machines from another supplier, we opted for VHM machinery.”
“Sanding in and out now goes at 120 tons per hour. Unprecedented!”
About Peka Kroef
Originally a small farm in Odiliapeel, the firm has now grown into a reputable international company. The foundation of today’s enterprise was laid in the 1970s by Gerard Kroef who, together with his son Bart, is still closely involved in the company. With approximately 350 employees, Peka Kroef is currently a leading producer of chilled potatoes and potato products, which are available throughout Western Europe. Every year, Peka Kroef invests in new production technologies, aimed at further improving quality and combating food waste.
The solution
“We now work with two buffer lanes, two stackers/destackers, an emptying device and a bunker filler from VHM. And that works very well. I really like these machines; they are easy to use, solidly designed, and do exactly what they are supposed to do. You don’t need to read a huge manual beforehand, everything is self-evident.”
“We have been working with the VHM machines for a few years now. Conversion is easy, too. We use fixed setups, so we don’t really need to do all that much. Working with buffer lanes gives peace of mind. Thanks to the VHM machines, far fewer forklift movements are required and loading in and out of the sheds is done at 120 tons per hour. That’s unprecedented! The boxes also last much longer and there’s less dust.”
The Result
“The investment in the VHM machines brings us daily benefits. We work more efficiently, have fewer forklift movements, and can also use the machines more widely within our production process. For example, we recently invested in a weight sorter so we can also sort potatoes by weight for specialty products, including Hasselback potatoes and products with the skin on. We can connect this to the VHM crate conveyor with a “emptying device lane.”
“Together with VHM, we’ve made our production process even more efficient. The collaboration is excellent; they’re great people who are genuinely interested and will go above and beyond for us. They’re also very innovative, and if any problems ever arise, they’re resolved quickly and properly. Right now, they’re working on a track-and-trace solution, which I’m really interested in.”
“We look to the future of our company with great confidence. That said, it’s important to keep moving with the times. After all, responding optimally to future demand simply requires meeting new challenges. That means reducing CO2 emissions, using sustainable energy, switching to disease-resistant crops, and automating our processes. And as far as I’m concerned, VHM is a pleasant and reliable partner in this endeavor.”
We use the following machines:
