Strong in steel Vlassenroot

STRONG IN STEEL

Advanced steel component producer Vlassenroot has gained a reputation for excellence in state-of-theart equipment. World leader in production of the most critical components of telescopic cranes, Vlassenroot is working hard to maintain its competitive advantage.

Vlassenroot has over 80 years’ experience in the steel processing industry and today employs more than 1000 people across its three European production sites.

Established in 1926, Vlassenroot has been a part of the international production and distribution group JC Wibo and Partners since 1996. Having held an ISO international quality standard since 1999, the company has long combined the best of its heritage in engineering excellence with high quality production capabilities.

This heritage and hard work has given Vlassenroot a strong base of well-known clients, including major crane manufacturers Liebherr, Manitowoc, Terex, Faun and many others, who appreciate its core product: completely welded boom-sections for hydraulic telescopic cranes.

Equipment and expertise

Vlassenroot has the equipment and expertise to offer a wide range of steel crane components, with its core business in the lifting industry providing booms and chassis for telescopic booms, lattice work and spreader beams. The company also performs well in the infrastructure industry, with its expertise utilised in bridge profiles, beams and steel constructions. With both of these industry sectors hit heavily by the global economic crisis, Vlassenroot was required to reduce its inventory in order to be in a strong position to capitalise on the upturn.

As the world leader in the production of the most critical components of telescopic cranes, Vlassenroot is primarily active as a subcontractor for projects in the lifting industry. Its three production sites are located in Belgium, Germany and Poland, with the latter being the most recently completed. A company representative told Industry Europe, “Since we completed the Polish site a few years ago, we have added the production of frames or chassis for the same hydraulic cranes for which we have long been manufacturing the welded boomsections. We are also active in the produc-

tion of these booms and chassis for aerial platforms and we make various different kinds of parts for construction under our XXL portfolio brand.”

The wide XXL brand offered by Vlassenroot is a key component in its competitive advantage, and it highlights that the company is the only supplier in its field that can deliver a completely welded boom solution. “We are the only manufacturer that provides the complete production, from buying the material, laser cutting, bending, welding, completing and finishing under one central management, with no subcontracting to bending or welding companies. Our customers have one central point of contact to manage their demands throughout their complete product acquisition, which is not only easier from an organisational point of view but also gives great cost and quality benefits.”

XXL – supersized quality

Quality is a core value than runs through Vlassenroot. From the raw materials (high strength steel with yield strengths going up to 1.300N/mm2 for its construction projects) to the environmental commitment (the company has installed a large number of solar panels), Vlassenroot is focused on being at the top of its game. The company has invested heavily in increasing its operational sustainability and sees its environmental responsibility as both its day-to-day activities and its ability to provide customers with components for green technologies.

The XXL steel processing brand is widely considered to be a feather in the Vlassenroot cap. As an innovative solution to industry requirements, the slogan has been carefully created to highlight the fact that ‘Vlassenroot starts where others stop’. The company representative commented: “Our machinery is second to none. We have lasers with a width of seven metres and a length of 30 metres. Our bending machines have forces going up to 4000 tonnes with lengths of 24 metres and our welding possibilities have no limits – we have machining centres of over 240m2. That’s why we say that we start where others stop, because our team of specialists and engineers are able to maximise the capabilities of this extensive portfolio of machinery to meet the most specific of customer demands.”

High expectations

With its main customers situated in Europe, Vlassenroot also enjoys considerable market share in the USA, China, Russia, Japan, Africa and other areas. In addition to its core business of completely welded boomsections and chassis for telescopic hydraulic cranes, Vlassenroot is gaining presence in shipbuilding and transport markets.

As Vlassenroot looks forward to continued success, its plans incorporate both further innovative products and developing new geographical markets with strategic partners. “We are always looking for new business opportunities and we intend to keep investing in new technology. Our intention is to add laser welding to our capabilities in the near future, which will cement our market leading position as no one else is offering laser technology for welding boom-sections and other parts.” n