‘How do they solve it in other markets?’ Bilfinger Tebodin uses experience from adjacent industries

04/05/2022

Combining techniques from different markets with those in the feed market. That is a challenge in the feed, in which Bilfinger Tebodin (further: BT) can play a role. For example, a technical solution developed for a client in the food or chemical industry can be perfectly applicable for a client in the feed industry.

BT is active in many markets, including the feed industry, where experience has been gained over more than 50 years. Themes such as safety, energy, sustainability, hygiene standards and permits are also very topical here. Producers do not always have this specialist knowledge themselves or there are not enough experts available internally to deal with these challenges. As an independent consultancy and engineering firm, BT can play a role in this.

Peter Coort and Ramond Kroesbergen in front of the office in Hengelo

Consulting

Consultancy Manager Peter Coort says that BT’s strength lies in the connection between consultancy work and engineering. “This allows us to support our clients throughout the life cycle of their plant. We carry out studies such as feasibility studies and lifetime analyses. The resulting recommendations can be converted directly by our engineers in the office into technical designs and implemented,” says Coort. “We operate completely independently and can therefore provide advice that is best for the client. In doing so, we rely on our knowledge of what is going on in different markets and on our experience in developing technical solutions. Within our team, we are always alert to achieve as much synergy as possible between the disciplines in individual markets. Freely available expertise is then shared with specialists in other markets.”

Engineering

Manager Mechanical Engineering Ramon Kroesbergen has experienced that BT in the field of engineering is usually approached by companies in the compound feed, pet food and premixes, who have plans for a new construction of expansion of their plant. “Based on the expertise we have gained in the numerous projects we realized for our clients at home and abroad, we work out the plans based on the program of requirements, which we draw up together with the client. Those plans can be worked out in a preliminary design/master plan and investment estimate, but also in a larger package with process diagrams, arrangement drawings and tender documents. Sometimes the assignment only requires engineering for a short period of time, but it also happens regularly that, for example, we help the client with the engineering of his project with a larger team for six months. The fact that we have several disciplines in house is a big advantage to our clients. This is because they keep one contact person for the entire project and we connect the disciplines internally.”

Permit process

“In the role of technical advisor, we are able to map existing situations very efficiently,” Coort adds. “We do this by performing a scan of the entire plant including the permit file. ‘What does our client have now?’ ‘Where can and do we want to go?’ We then use the results as a starting point for improvements or expansions in the factory or production line. We look at what is possible within the current permits and the environment of the plant. We can also take on the entire permit process for new requests for permits or the renewal of expired permits. Our consultants have knowledge of the laws and regulations and can carry out the necessary studies for our clients in the areas of odor, noise, nitrogen and fire safety, for example.” This support in the area of permits can take place in combination with engineering, but it does not have to.

Energy Savings

“Right now, the energy market is on the upswing worldwide,” Kroesbergen assesses. “Prices are rising dramatically and almost everyone is affected, including industrial companies. Making installations more energy-efficient is the best way to reduce energy consumption. The measures to be taken to improve energy efficiency can usually be implemented quickly without having to make major changes to the existing infrastructure. For example, through electrification or the use of residual heat. We have already gained the necessary experience in this.”

Through years of experience with countless energy efficiency projects, BT is able to demonstrate how large the savings potential is at almost any industrial plant. “Our consultants do this, for example, by drawing up an Energy Efficiency plan in which the energy balance of a site is inventoried. Also by identifying various energy-saving measures, which can then be examined for technical applicability and feasibility.”

Sustainability

Coort notes that almost everyone is talking about sustainability these days and everyone wants to do their part. “In every project we do, we are committed to making sustainable choices together with our clients. Therefore, at the beginning of a project, as part of our SDG scan we select the relevant sustainable development goals, for example with regard to climate change, CO2 emissions or water use, and the corresponding KPI. This way we can always offer our client the most sustainable choices.”

“According to the Climate Accord, the industry faces a major challenge,” states Coort. “CO2 emissions must be significantly reduced in order to meet the requirements by 2030. To support our clients in this, we have developed a step-by-step approach by drawing up a master plan for their path to CO2 reduction. By looking processes, the company’s ambitions and the environment in which it operates, we can often analyze the potential, risks and costs in just one day to create a roadmap for 2030 and beyond.”

Safety

Kroesbergen believes there is a strong safety culture within BT. “Not only in our offices, but also in the projects we carry out. We always include safety as an integral part of our projects and can support clients with the broad HSE (Health, Safety, Environment – ed.) scope during all phases of an engineering project and beyond. We do this by fulfilling the H&S (Health and Safety – ed.) coordinating obligation in the design and execution phase on behalf of the client. As part of this obligation, we are able to integrally include specialist studies in the area of safety.“ This includes issues such as ATEX, CE marking, pressure equipment, fire safety, occupational safety and technical safety. “This integrated way of thinking enables us to advise our clients to make the right choices and establish agreements on who takes what responsibility in the design process and in the construction phase.”

Overarching

During the implementation of projects in the animal feed industry, Coort and Kroesbergen became aware that in practice various aspects are important early on in the process in order to ultimately make the project a success. “Issues such as feasibility, permits, sustainability and safety can be of decisive importance. Before and during engineering, in addition to a thorough design, these issues must also be given sufficient attention.”