Vezet Group delivers Bauma-Stone added value

To cope with the growing demand for decorative gravel, the company invested in its own bagging line.
The used plant was examined, reconditioned, moved and rebuilt by Vezet Group.

Vezet Group

Vezet Group's newly installed packaging line at Bauma-Stone

Bauma-Stone is known in Benelux, France, Germany and Switzerland for its range of natural stone. To cope with the growing demand for decorative gravel, the company has invested in its own bagging line. The used installation was examined, overhauled, moved and rebuilt by Vezet Group. With the installation, Bauma-Stone increases its market share and offers customers additional added value. Over the past year, Bauma-Stone has significantly strengthened its position in the gravel and ornamental stone market. To this end, the natural stone supplier from Oupeye (near Liège, Belgium) has brought production in-house. “We used to outsource the bagging process,” says Jean Paul Haesen, technical & quality manager at Bauma-Stone. “But to keep up with growing demand, it became necessary to bag the decorative pebbles and gravel ourselves. We now have our own bagging plant in our hall. We have also equipped one hectare on our 5-hectare site with boxes for storing raw materials. With in-house production, we work much more efficiently and quickly. This is how we create added value for our 400 customers. This has strengthened our competitive position and increased our market share.”

Occasion

Not only is natural stone an environmentally friendly product, but the purchase of the bagging plant illustrates Bauma-Stone’s sustainability.
Instead of going for a new machine, the choice fell on a used one.
“At a fellow company that was closing its books at the end of 2018, we were able to pick up a used bagging installation,” says Jean Paul Haesen.
“And thus also capture an additional piece of the market.”

Research

To make sure the machine was still in good condition, the wholesaler enlisted the expert help of Vezet Group from Eersel. “The former owner used the bagging machine intensively,” said Niels Claassen, director of Vezet Group. “However, our investigation showed that the machine is in core health. The installation is 9 years old and has only run at 30 to 40 percent of its potential. However, some maintenance was required. With some simple interventions, we renewed the machine. If the plant had been in poor condition, we would have been honest about that too and would not have started.”

Decommissioning

Bauma-Stone dared to make the investment and decided to move the bagging plant to its own site.
That too is a specialty of Vezet Group, which completed the job in a week and a half.
“The dismantling requires the most work,” explains Niels Claassen.
“The machine has to be carefully dismantled. All parts are numbered to facilitate assembly later. Coding and unplugging the cables must be done correctly, without cutting them. Special tools are required for moving the large feed conveyors. It is important to anchor the weighing bunkers correctly so that the load cells are not damaged.”

Construction

Using special transport and under escort, the installation was transported to Oupeye on a flatbed trailer; a distance of 85 kilometers. Vezet Group then provided on-site assembly. “The cabling was reinstalled and the packaging line was checked both mechanically and electrically,” says Niels Claassen. “We tuned the bagging installation to the product Bauma-Stone wants to package, namely decorative pebbles. To this end, the necessary test runs were carried out. We replaced certain components and fine-tuned the installation. Thanks to this process optimization, the packaging line can last at least another 10 years.”

Training

Bauma-Stone has taken over the old company’s machine operators.
“Those know the bagging line inside out,” Jean Paul Haesen explains.
“In addition, Vezet Group trained our employees in operating the equipment.”
Niels Claassen: “This also includes teaching them to solve minor malfunctions. In the beginning, we keep monitoring the production process for a while to make sure the machine is running satisfactorily. Furthermore, we are responsible for the annual maintenance of the packaging line.”
Haesen is impressed with the entire operation: “The Vezet Group not only dismantled the installation neatly, transported it without problems and assembled it correctly, but also set up the packaging line excellently for our product. In addition, the Vezet Group works efficiently and quickly; the technicians are skilled and knowledgeable in all fields.”

About Vezet Group

Eersel-based Vezet Group optimizes existing packaging lines for the non-food, food and feed sectors.
The company also trades in used machines that they first overhaul.
In addition, the Vezet Group provides various services such as (preventive) maintenance, optimization, automation, guidance in the purchase of used and new packaging lines and machines, certification and calibration.

About Bauma Stone

Bauma was founded in 1976 as a family business in building materials. Natural stone was not an issue at that time. In 2002, Horst Cohnen, the current managing director, took over his two brothers’ shares and greatly expanded the business. Starting in 2005, Bauma began to focus on natural stone. This was a hit that resulted in the establishment of Bauma-Stone. This wholesaler grew into an international company. Bauma-Stone supplies part of Europe and buys worldwide, especially in Europe. The company carries a range of products and can supply them from stock.