Press

Combined forces are strong

Ommeren Metal Technology chooses synergy

With about thirty well-trained employees Ommeren Metal Technology is a specialist in welding technology. The activities vary from simple construction work to the processing of high-strength steel for all kinds of applications. However, most of the activities are in the field of heavy transport lorries, like manufacturing axle bodies for lorries. Roy Vermeer, welding technician and project manager, tells about this comparatively young company that started in 1998 and chose to cooperate with Kinkelder Laser Cutting Technology Ltd in 2004.

Ommeren Metal Technology joined the Kinkelder Group on January 1^st 2004. This offered the possibility to combine forces with the company Kinkelder Laser Cutting Technology Ltd, a supplier in the field of sheet iron work and specialized in treatments like laser cutting, water jet cutting, punching, punch, punching & nibbling, squaring and setting. Because of the cooperation between the two companies, Kinkelder Laser Cutting Technology can offer a wider package, and in view of the assignments that Ommeren Metal Technology performs for demanding buyers, this synergy seemed very successful. Roy Vermeer leads us through the company that is divided into two separated work places: one for carbon steel and one for stainless steel and other high-quality materials. At first we walk through the steel department.

 “Here we process from simple construction work to high-strength steel for all kinds of applications, but most activities are in the field of heavy transport lorries like axle bodies  for a lorry builder. We weld the standard axles  on a robot with tandem MAG and that is rather unique in the Netherlands,” he tells. The robot installation is supplied by Aeques from Geleen and consists of a Fanuc-robot with two identical Lincoln-power sources. The welding torch has a more substantial dimension than a standard gun and the wires are supplied with a distance of 12.5 millimetres between them.  Roy Vermeer: “The melting speed is considerably high, which is necessary for the big seam fillings of the axles. The quality is excellent and the appearance is nice as well. It is not possible anymore to do this manually, but the small series of special axles are still welded manually, because their shape is more complicated and the welding has to be performed in several positions. Then eventually our welder is  faster. The materials in the steel department vary from thin steel plate to a thickness of 120 millimetres. All the thicker and alloyed materials are preheated and the required temperature during the welding process is measured by the welder and has to be maintained. “For much welding work we have WPS’s and we also weld stinger rolls for offshore with metal-filled wire on a manipulator. All weldings are investigated magnetically and we hardly have reparations,” says Roy Vermeer.

After visiting the steel department we walk round the building to see the department where quite a lot of products are welded for an engineering office that is focused on petrochemical industry and that is specialized in separation technology. “That is a discharge of liquid and/or gas”, explains Vermeer. “Here the specifications of customers usually refer to the ASME-code. For this we also have the necessary procedures for a whole range of metals, from 304, nickel alloys and titanium to some exotic materials. Materials that we (among other things) have processed and welded are Inconel 625 and 825, Alloy 59, Hastalloy X, monel and duplex. The work is quite varied, the products vary from drainage systems to separators that weigh fifteen tons. And when the end customer asks for this, we also take care of the assembly. Usually this involves long journeys, for instance to Oman.”

The cooperation between the engineering department and the project management is very close, which does not only work for the customer but also for Ommeren Metal Technology. “As a company we know exactly how we can produce in the best possible way, how we can optimize matters welding technically and how we can deliver the desired quality. Because there is a guarantee for a long life span, the quality demands are high. A lot of work comes in because of the cooperation with Kinkelder, for instance heat exchangers and fireproof stainless steel-doors. In addition to this, we also see here parts for turbines and silencers.”