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Panheel, a village in the Netherlands with just 210 inhabitants, is the unassuming home of a renowned global player. Behind this modest facade, animal feed production machinery specialist Van Aarsen International BV has developed a worldwide reputation for innovation and partnership. Marketing and Communication Manager Noura Kuppens describes the outstanding innovation and service provided to its international customers.

KAWASAKI motorcycles are known all over the world. However, KAWASAKI Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) with their headquarters in Japan is active in various industries such as aerospace, robotics and rolling stocks. KAWASAKI Gas Turbine Europe GmbH (KGE) based in Bad Homburg close to Frankfurt am Main is part of the group’s energy division, focused on gas turbines and gas engines. European Business spoke to the company’s director about its place within KAWASAKI and potentials for future business.

‘You are only as good as the tools you use’. This saying has been around for many years and has lost none of its significance. There are many reasons why using the correct tool for the job is crucial. Every tool is designed for a specific purpose which is essential to getting a job done successfully. That is why FLEX tools are the first choice for many people all around the world. They meet the most diverse requirements perfectly – and have distinctive names such as ‘Giraffe’ or ‘Okapi’.

Who knows what a farmer needs better than another farmer? Rune Stark, a farmer with 30 ha of land in Hårrgarden near Väderstad in southern Sweden, laid the foundations for Väderstad AB back in the early 1960s out of sheer frustration. At the start of every season, he spent considerable time making a new wooden rigid tine harrow. Understanding that for him and his fellow farmers, time was precious, Mr. Stark set out to design and produce a rigid tine harrow made from steel. His philosophy of ‘make it last’ still underpins Väderstad today, through its very strong quality and customer orientation.

With 40 years of experience in the challenging field of multidisciplinary engineering, Incico SpA in Italy has made a name for itself with numerous successfully completed projects worldwide. Its Italian team of 80 experienced engineers and technicians is complemented by a 30-strong team at its subsidiary company in India. With its sights firmly fixed on future expansion, it recently restructured its operations into three business units. European Business talked to Giovanni Monini, CEO and son of the company founder, about how the restructure fits in with his plans for the future direction of the company.

Sensum d.o.o. transforms what used to be a manual, mundane job with efficient, precise innovation. Headquartered in Slovenia’s capital, Sensum, now entering its 20th year, is one of the premiere developers and manufacturers of automatic visual inspection systems for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies. Serving pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer, Novartis and Roche, the Sensum brand was catapulted into the spotlight at the same speed with which its machines inspect thousands of pills. Since then, Sensum has continued to experience steady growth, thanks to its technology-driven leadership.

Change can be a daunting prospect but is often a positive development which brings new winds. In business, whether a change of strategy, product or service portfolio or personnel, it often results in a plethora of great opportunities. For Italian machine tool engineering specialist SAFOP S.R.L., a recent change of ownership has generated new momentum. The company is proud of its long and prestigious history, and is now aiming to celebrate a new era of success by repositioning itself in the market.

Order picking: The process of finding and selecting products in a warehouse to fulfil customer orders. In theory a simple concept, but the reality is that it is often a complex and costly activity, and one which, if not conducted accurately and effectively, can heavily impact overall customer satisfaction. German engineering company KBS Industrieelektronik GmbH is a specialist in the design and manufacture of order picking systems, with a particular focus on Pick-by-Light technology, and provides top-class solutions to a broad range of high-profile clients around the world.

Waterjet cutting is a manufacturing method using a high-pressure jet of water, or a combination of water and an abrasive, to cut a wide variety of materials. It has many advantages, including high quality cutting results, no thermal impact on the material and environmental friendliness. StM Stein-Moser GmbH is a technology leader in this sector, with operations in Austria and Germany. Through constant product innovation and excellent customer service, the company is aiming to become the top supplier in Europe in this fast evolving market.

The past 30 years have seen tremendous advances in the world of electronics and automation. When the digital revolution began, many predicted that automation would eventually spell the end of employment as we know it. So far, this gloomy outlook has not come to fruition, and many believe it never will. Jack Pukal, CEO of Polish engineering company PROSTER Sp. z. o.o., is one of those who believe automation will continue to bring positive developments to the industrial workforce.

The purchase of new machinery is a huge investment for any company, and price should not necessarily be the driving factor: The cheapest isn’t always the most economical solution in the long term. One company that firmly believes in this philosophy is CAMPEN Machinery A/S in Denmark, a specialist in the production of backing lines for the carpet industry.