Fit for the future
 

TES Industrial Systems about innovating and collaborating

 

At TES Industrial systems, all expertise in electrotechnical drive technology is gathered under one roof: from assembly, engineering and panel building to commissioning, service and after sales. But what drives the organisation itself? “We are forward-looking. But with respect for the past.” TES Industrial Systems and itsme about the strength of collaboration.

For the TES teams in Oosterhout and Beverwijk, work is in fact top-class sport. Take, for example, the dynamic process of an electrotechnical drive unit in combination with a remotely controlled crane at a container terminal: an annoying delay in what an operator sees on his computer screen and what happens real-time could cause serious problems. “Our software engineers sink their teeth into the challenge of reducing this latency to a minimum. They love it”, says Rolf Bakker, managing director at TES Industrial Systems.

“We are forward-looking. But with respect for the past.”

The applications of the drive systems and the industrial automation solutions developed and engineered by TES, are very diverse. Worldwide, operators use them to drive industrial cranes, container cranes, conveyor systems, power plants, and maritime installations. Since a few years, amusement parks have been on that list too. Rolf points to a picture of a pendulum-shaped amusement park ride. “It looks quite different, but there are many similarities to an industrial crane as for movement. And you are again dealing with safety. In industry this is of crucial importance, because we work in high-risk conditions. Consider, for example, steelworks, container terminals or bulk transport systems. With this type of ride, it is all about people’s safety, which makes it all the more important.”  

Make it quantifiable

 

At TES Industrial Systems, they are always thinking about the future. “For example, we develop (semi) hybrid drive systems that give sustainability an extra dimension. The result? Lower emissions without compromising productivity. Good for the return on investment, better for the environment. We see that as our social responsibility”, says Rolf.

On top of that, data and remote control play an ever more prominent role. The company invests a lot in developing systems that are capable of storing and interpreting data independently. “In the Port of Rotterdam we are working on remote systems. They enable the operator to no longer sit in a cabin high up in the crane, but in an office that might even be miles away, surrounded by a number of computer screens he uses to control his crane. Compare it to a video game if you like.” But how do you deal with the lack of physical perception?  That same crane driver no longer feels through his stick that something doesn’t go the way it should. “We’ve got that covered”, says Rolf. “You see to it that readings are taken in essential parts where you can expect malfunctions. The vibrations previously felt by the crane operator thus become apparent in a different way as discrepancies in the data. This enables advance anticipation and prevents downtime.” TES Industrial Systems orders the larger part of the components for their projects from its technical partner itsme.

“Within these unpredictable dynamics you need partners who are just as flexible”

That relationship goes all the way back to the early years of TES Industrial Systems. “Our projects are hard to plan and very unpredictable. Within these dynamics you need partners who have the same flexibility that our customers demand from us”, says Rolf. The company has an around-the-clock maintenance and breakdown service.  And in the sector in which it operates, downtime is not only expensive, but can also cause unsafe situations. itsme has a similar 24/7 service that fits in nicely. Niels Cornelissen, branch manager at itsme, remembers a recent situation. “You called us one Friday evening for a component that you needed urgently. We arranged special transport so that the component was delivered to your technical service department within a few hours.” Rolf adds: “It is great that we managed to do that in such a short time frame, isn’t it?” TES Industrial Systems calls on itsme for a considerable part of their technical components. Rolf mentions that he finds it a pleasure to work this way and that both organisations are independent in their thinking and their corporate philosophies. This creates a relationship that forms the basis of an optimal collaboration. Thinking along always produces tailor-made solutions. And that matches perfectly with their own way of working, in which each drive system delivered is unique and customer-specific.

TES Industrial Systems may have been active since 1983, according to Rolf they are far from having finished developing, innovating and engineering. For while corona holds a large part of the economy in its grip, inspections, assembly and maintenance of systems and installations just continue and they keep investing in their organisation. And, he says: “For us, it only starts after completion of a project. It is the prelude to the next order. When everything is back to normal again, our customers will prefer to have their installations installed in optimal conditions today rather than tomorrow. This ensures their continuity.” 

All-rounder within its own specialism

TES Industrial Systems has a branch in Oosterhout with more than 100 employees. The Beverwijk branch employs around 25 people. Founded in 1983, the company goes along in the rapid evolution in electrotechnical drives and industrial automation and is committed to innovations such as remote management and predictive maintenance. Their systems are deployed worldwide in cranes, conveyor systems, power plants, factories, ships and amusement parks. In addition to the complete process from engineering to the commissioning of customised systems, they also offer service and maintenance, inspections and training courses.