GENERAL

(This article was published in the 'Algemeen Dagblad' in April 2006,

a local newspaper in the region of Rotterdam)

'Trots op wat we wereldwijd doen'

Honderden belangstellenden namen eerder dit jaar de gelegenheid te baat om een kijkje te nemen in de keuken van Systemate Numafa, dat toen een banenmarkt annex open huis hield. Uit de circa honderdvijftig serieuze gegadigden zijn inmiddels tien nieuwe medewerkers gerecruteerd.

,,We hebben zeker te weten mensen over de vloer gehad die niet gereageerd zouden hebben op een advertentie in de krant,’’ aldus human resource manager Catharina Monster. Onbekend maakt immers onbemind, bedoelt zij te zeggen. Systemate Numafa is één van de grootste werkgevers in de Hoeksche Waard, maar geniet waarschijnlijk geen evenredige bekendheid bij het publiek. ,,We opereren een beetje in de luwte,’’ geeft directeur A. van der Steen toe. ,,Je kunt ons niet vergelijken met bekende merken zoals Koni. Wie voor de deur staat heeft vaak geen idee van wat zich binnen allemaal afspeelt.’’ Boven alles wordt er volgens hem keihard gewerkt. ,,Zo hebben we de afgelopen 35 jaar in elk geval wereldwijd onze sporen verdiend in een unieke branche. We roepen het misschien niet van de daken, maar daar zijn we natuurlijk hartstikke trots op.’’

Ondanks de succesvolle banenmarkt, volgens Monster voor herhaling vatbaar, zoekt Systemate Numafa nog kandidaten voor een aantal specifieke, technische functies, waaronder die van constructeur/tekenaar. ,,Het valt met name niet mee om de jeugd te interesseren,’’ stelt Van der Steen. ,,Terwijl jonge mensen met belangstelling voor techniek zich bij ons toch echt kunnen uitleven. De mogelijkheden zijn legio. Van plaatwerker tot servicemonteur in Amerika, of zelfs uitvinder: je kunt hier werkelijk alle kanten op. Wij ontwikkelen en maken complete hightech-systemen. Innovatieve totaaloplossingen met veel aandacht voor design. Op kantoor kijk je immers ook liever tegen een MacIntosh-computer met een leuk kleurtje aan. Waarom zou het er in een fabriek dan niet mooi uit mogen zien.’’

Ook klantgerichtheid staat zeer hoog in het vaandel van de Numansdorpse onderneming. Van der Steen: ,,Doordat we alles in eigen huis hebben, kunnen we snel inspelen op vragen vanuit de markt.’Nee’ zeggen gebeurt dus niet zo gauw .’’

De uitdaging zit ’m dikwijls in de ’gebruiksaanwijzing’ van de alsmaar groeiende hoeveelheid exportlanden waar Systemate Numafa zich manifesteert. ,,Grenzen bestaan haast niet meer en overal wordt voedsel verwerkt, want iedereen eet. En dat gaat veel verder dan wij Nederlanders gewend zijn.

Soms kom je op het gebied van hygiëne en milieu dingen tegen dat je weleens denkt: waar maken wij ons nou druk over? Tegelijkertijd is het fijn om te constateren dat wij met onze machines bijdragen aan een betere, schonere, veiligere wereld.’’

Met vernuftige systemen op veel markten thuis

Systemate Numafa bestaat, los van logistiek en ’finance’ uit drie afdelingen.
1. Productie van machines voor de pluimveeverwerkende industrie, tot en met complete slachterijen waarin zo’n tachtig procent van de kip versneden wordt voor consumptie. Deze apparatuur vindt zijn weg met name naar Amerika, Azië en Rusland.

2. Industriële reinigingssystemen, bedoeld om alle mogelijke ’dragers’ van voedsel schoon te maken. Kratten, jerrycans, pallets en containers, compleet met technisch vernuftig toebehoren. De afzet hiervan moet vooral in Europa, Amerika en de rest van de wereld worden gezocht.

3. De geavanceerde spiraaltorens van Systemate Numafa werden tot voor kort hoofdzakelijk toegepast in de bakkerijbranche. Inmiddels richt het bedrijf zich wereldwijd echter op alle voedingsmiddelen die moeten rijzen, danwel gekoeld of ingevroren dienen te worden.

‘Wereld verandert razendsnel, je moet wel meegroeien’
Als zelfstandige dochter van de Meyn Holding moet Systemate Numafa volgens directeur A. van der Steen ’gewoon keihard blijven werken om het elke dag weer waar te maken en de continuïteit te waarborgen’. ,,Ik hoop dat we dit jaar net zo positief kunnen afsluiten als het vorige, dan doen we het goed. De wereld om ons heen verandert razendsnel, in alle opzichten. Klanten worden, door fusies en overnames, ook steeds groter. Daar kun je als leverancier niet bij achterblijven. Het wordt steeds lastiger om goede, technische vakmensen te vinden. Samen sta je sterker. Beschik je over meer knowhow om in de onvoorspelbare toekomst te overleven. Ik zou best wel eens willen weten waar we over 35 jaar staan…, aldus A. van der Steen.

‘Agreement Systemate Group B.V.

and Meyn Holding B.V.’

New combination enables improved offering

to the poultry processing industry

Meyn Holding B.V. (“Meyn”) has come to an agreement with Systemate Holding B.V. to acquire all the activities of Systemate Group B.V. (“Systemate”). The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close within a few weeks.

Meyn offers its customers processing solutions throughout the entire process. Systemate has a clear focus on a number of markets and specific processing areas. Systemate’s subsidiary Dapec is well recognised for its cut up lines and associated systems. The combination of the two companies will be able to offer its growing number of customers worldwide a very competitive and complete product portfolio supported by a strong local presence.

Han van der Broek, CEO Meyn: “Meyn and Systemate are complementing each other excellently, in terms of geography, innovative capability, product portfolio and customer base. We are very pleased to join forces with Systemate. We share the ambition to take professionalism and customer support to the next level in our industry. We have known Systemate for many years as a respected and professional party.”

Over the last years, Meyn and Systemate have both shown a strong development of the top line, driven by product development and a strong customer focus. The Meyn/Systemate combination operates an extensive after sales network in the industry, supported by subsidiaries in all major markets.

POULTRY PROCESSING SYSTEMS

Systemate Numafa cut up systems
'superior by comparison'

Although the Systemate Numafa cut up systems are recognized to be the best available in the poultry processing market today, we constantly try to convert demands of the ever changing poultry market into
new developments or features on existing modules.
The flexlines are designed to enhance processor's yield and to provide maximum flexibility, product flow and ease of use in combination with low maintenance cost and minimum down time.
Upgrades include latest version of computer control system, simplified  shackle guiding, improved by-pass system, enhanced weighing system and the possibility to have your flexline on 8" center to produce breast and leg quarters

at speeds up to 170 birds per minute!!

Flexlines can be equipped with vision grading system:
- proven record of 99,8% accuracy;
- works on air chilled and water chilled birds;
- eliminates human errors;
- reduces double-handling because of misgrading;

- accumulates a database of history on product quality.

In the USA alone 6,800 birds per minute are being cut on

Systemate Numafa cut up systems; sold, delivered and installed

by our U.S. company Dapec!

Our cut up lines can cut broilers into 2 up to 24 pieces according to specifications of most fast food brands, including fat pulling and parts collection systems, as well as automatic bagging.
Transporting the products to breast deboners, thigh/drum deboners and whole leg deboner is done by our heavy duty belt conveyors available in different widths, with or without trimming board.

So, when you are looking for a flexible cut up system cutting retail, fast food or big birds in combination with
weighing and grading Systemate Numafa is your source for cutting edge solutions!

How to anticipate within the poultry market

In the poultry processing sector we are constantly affected by influences with we cannot predict or control. For instance the outbreak of avian influenza in Holland early 2003 and the same in Asia in 2004 which causes a lot of our clients to close down by either force or from a financial point of view. Also local politics or financial problems of a country can cause a stop of investment. At the same time in other parts of the world other situations can create a market and/or opportunity like the joining of 8 new countries to the EU increasing the total consumers by 74 million and in these countries the HACCP regulations will be implemented as well as the poultry processing regulations thus creating a big chance for Systemate Numafa to supply processing machines to these countries.

                                    Spin off was in 2003 already with the supply of plants in Romania and Poland and still going on at this moment. Another factor is the ever changing of food demands as some countries go from a traditional prepared meal to ready meals and fast food or a demand for new products especially in the snack sector. So whatever happens worldwide opportunities are there when you are open to them and this has always been an important driving factor for Systemate Numafa. To cope with this ever-changing market we have been always a trendsetter in the market and constantly develop new machines and improve existing machines.

Quality and the processor

The success of a processor depends upon full consumer satisfaction. If the consumer is not pleased, sooner or later the firm will be out of business. The processor is responsible for the quality of the products. The processor decides which attributes are of importance, sets out the policy and develops specifications, procedures and standards to achieve the desired quality. The decisions, the policy and the outcome, i.e. the planned quality, have to be based on information gathered concerning:

a) the consumers whom the enterprise wants to serve

b) the demands, needs, wishes and expectations of these consumers

c) factors determining the consumers choice

d) the purpose for which the product is intended

e) the circumstances under which the product will be consumed

Nowadays agricultural practices and the manufacturing, packaging and sale of for are increasingly more complex. Complications have arisen, such as environmental contamination, the need for refrigeration and storage and the maintenance of proper time-temperature controls. Most food poisoning incidents have been attributed to contaminated ingredients, poor environmental sanitation in the processing plant, and improper processing and/or mishandling of the product, either in transportation on the retail shelf or by the consumer. In addition, the food chain is further complicated by demands from regulatory authorities for improved sanitation, as well as the demand for foods that are safe and free from toxic materials. On the other hand, the manufacturer has to produce and uniform product of the highest possible quality and at least cost.

In order to keep unit costs low, food manufacturers and processors have tended towards larger plants and more automated and high-speed equipment. To increase product palatability and acceptance, there has been a trend toward minimum processing times and temperatures.

More than ever, quality control of the finished product is necessary to ensure that the planned quality is being attained, i.e. end products meet the required specifications. However, this does not prevent the occurrence of defective end products; it merely sets them aside. Failure costs are high. Undetected defects enter trade channels and result in indirect costs due to customer compensation, loss of confidence and loss of goodwill.

The processor has to prevent errors and he needs a system that ensures a high probability of avoiding hazards and errors, thus minimizing the incidence of defective products. Systemate Numafa manufactures this system.

Breast de-boner for half fillets

Breast deboner for half fillets

Systemate Numafa's constant search for improvement in deboning, resulted in a new breast deboner for breast caps producing half fillets.

The merit of this machine is that the inner fillet or tenderloin stays attached to the fillet and can be easily harvested.

The product leaving the machine is a smooth inner fillet which is extremely suitable as raw material for the production of chicken fingers, one of the most popular finger foods around!

This new breast deboner has a capacity of 1500 fillets per hour and has easy access for cleaning and maintenance. High yield can be obtained by using the Systemate Numafa 'high yield wing cutter' in the cut up line, which removes the wings from the breast cap without damaging the breast meat and this way obtaining an even higher yield at the breast de-boner.

Gizzard machine

Systemate Numafa has developed a new concept gizzard machine that opens and washes the gizzards. The gizzards have to be separated from the intestines manually on the eviscerating platform. They can be fed into the machine by trough running from the eviscerating platform or by manual loading into the machine.

A chain transports the gizzards towards a rotating cutting blade with

hardened diamond inserts. Prior cutting, the gizzards are being positioned by a spring loaded device in order to obtain a perfect opening. After opening the gizzards, the gizzard is being washed to remove remaining feed and grit and dropped onto a peeler section attached to the machine, which is optional.

This new gizzard machine is handy, accurate, has easy access for cleaning and maintenance and can run in excess of 4500 gizzards per hour. It is extremely suitable for areas in which the gizzards have a large deviation in size and or hardness.

Breast de-boner for half fillets

Systemate Numafa's constant search for improvement in de-boning, resulted in a new breast de-boner for breast caps producing half fillets.

The merit of this machine is that the inner-fillet or tenderloin stays attached to the fillet and can be easily harvested.

The product leaving the machine is a smooth inner fillet which is extremely suitable as raw material for the production of chicken fingers, one of the most popular finger foods around!

This new breast de-boner has a capacity of 1500 fillets per hour and has easy access for cleaning and maintenance. High yield can be obtained by using the Systemate Numafa 'high yield wing cutter' in the cut up line, which removes the wings from the breast cap without damaging the breast meat and this way obtaining an even higher yield at the breast de-boner.

INDUSTRIAL CLEANING SYSTEMS

Systemate Numafa introduces ‘€CO CLEAN MASTER´

Systemate Numafa has developed a new industrial cleaning system. A completely new concept, which will result in a price reduction of approximately 30%. All industrial cleaning departments such as sales, engineering and production, have worked closely together in creating and developing this advanced cleaning system.

The ECO CLEAN MASTER is a standardized industrial cleaning system, specifically for smaller capacities.The machine is designed to such an extent that it is possible to connect one or more modules together. It is for instance possible to utilise this machine as a stand-alone cleaning system, however the machine can also be produced in combination with a pre-washing system, a main-washing system, and an airblow drying system. Depending on the customers needs and demands, multiple modules can be linked to each other. Furthermore, this cleaning system can easily be adjusted to different types and sizes of crates.

This unique concept offers many advantages. The machine is standardized, which facilitates serial production and results in a fast delivery from stock. All sections have the same measurements. Systemate Numafa is able to offer a low-priced cleaning system, whilst naturally maintaining the high quality level. During the development of this concept, all economical conditions were mapped out which resulted in a unique combination of economical, thorough and powerful cleaning. This machine is the absolute ‘master’ amongst the smaller washing installations. Besides the low price, the ECO CLEAN MASTER owes her name to her special qualities, such as the low use of energy, easy cleaning and easy access to the machine. This robust and solid built cleaning system is a standard product; it is easily installed within any company.

For more specific cleaning systems however, Systemate Numafa offers custom made solutions. Systemate Numafa has the disposal of a wide range of industrial cleaning systems. Because of our experience we are capable of meeting all hygiene regulations, which our customers require and then translate them into the best technical and cost effective solution. By combining extensive experience in manufacturing and continued investment in research and development, to ensure our customers are equipped for the ever changing regulations, Systemate Numafa has become one of the largest players in the world for industrial cleaning systems.

New drum filter

Recently, Systemate Numafa has developed a new drum filter, a piece of equipment that can be added to any industrial cleaning system.

One of the advantages of this improved drum filter is that it is suitable for various industries. The drum filter has been tested extensively with trays, crates and pallets with a wide variety of pollution. The new drum filter is perfectly suitable for companies who are dealing with extreme pollution such as companies handling fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. By using the drum filter, as part of an industrial cleaning system, the quality of the washing water becomes extremely better. Filtration is possible up to 40 Micron. Capacities up to 150 m3 per hour can be handled!

Another great advantage is that by using the new drum filter the water can last up to 20 times longer. When using a standard drum filter, the water needs to be refreshed for instance every 8 hours. The new drum filter filtrates the dirt out of the water without having to interrupt the production process. The water is being filtrated during the production process, which makes this specific drum filter an unique piece of equipment for companies who want to speed up their production and reduce costs of waste water.
As the water only needs to be refreshed once a week, the drum filter is an environment saving product as well, mainly with regard to the use of water, chemicals and energy. Since there are only a small number of moving parts, maintenance is very simple. One system can handle more than one cleaning task, alternatively at the same time.

Concluding we may state that the drum filter is a cost saving piece of equipment; it will reduce costs and increase the production capacity. Moreover, this machine is also applicable on cleaning systems from any supplier.

New developments within industrial cleaning systems

As we dedicate ourselves to achieve custom made solutions we always focus on improving our concepts. A new de-stacker and stacker were developed to increase efficiency in our washing processing lines. Crucial to an effective wash is the way you position and feed your crates to the washer. To avoid space consuming turning mechanisms we have developed a new, high-speed de-stacker. After positioning a stack of crates (sorted or unsorted) in front of the new de-stacker the total stack is tipped. After tipping the speed to de-stack can be much higher than conventional de-stackers. Also our stackers have been improved. Many new crates don't have the necessary lip or space to hold crates on its sides when stacked. Now instead we push the crates between special pneumatic holders. No space is required in between crates. New space saving folding crates are being used in several industries. Therefore Systemate Numafa has developed an automatic folding and unfolding system. Stacks of folded crates are fed into the line. For a good cleaning result you will need to unfold these crates before washing. A special unit unfolds and locks all sides. An inspection mechanism will determine if the crates are safely unfolded before going to the washer. An integrated dirt removal system is part of this unit. After washing and drying, the crates have to be folded again before stacking. With special mechanical arms the crates are unlocked and folded. The whole system brings a new era to the total handling solutions of Systemate Numafa and brings more efficiency to your handling matters.

Systemate Numafa introduces new 'crate erector'.

In recent years there has been a clear shift from using rigid crates to folding crates in the food processing industry. The main reason for this is simply space. By using folding crates instead of rigid crates, a huge amount of storage space can be saved; however, with these newly developed crates a different way of palletising and de-palletising is required. Following a long period of developing and testing, Systemate Numafa B.V. have emerged with a revolutionary new system known as the 'crate erector', a typical piece of high quality Systemate Numafa equipment.

The crate erector can easily and completely erect all folding crates with a measurement of 300 x 400 and 400 x 600, regardless of its height. By implementing the new '6 phase principle' giving a capacity of 1800 crates per hour, Systemate Numafa is the only supplier of this kind of crate erector.

The operation of the crate erector is as follows:

The crates are loaded from the bottom up onto an assembly line. The crate erector then operates 6 phases during which the crate is completely erected.

Phase 1: Long sides open

Phase 2: Clock long sides into erected position

Phase 3: Short sides open

Phase 4: Clock short sides into erected position

Phase 5: Check / false detection