Automated materials handling specialists BEUMER Group South America has been awarded two contracts by Gerdau S.A. to supply stockyard machines to the Gerdau Açominas Ouro Branco steel plant (Figure 1). The double win will see BEUMER Group South America supply a new FAM bridge type bucket wheel reclaimer, one stacker and one reclaimer boom type for use in the stockyards of Gerdau’s steel plant. The project scope, aimed at enhancing the steel plant’s operational efficiency, also includes engineering, purchasing, fabrication (including inspection), transport to site and site services.
Gerdau S.A. is one of the leading long steel producers in the Americas and one of the largest recyclers and special steel suppliers in the world. The Gerdau Açominas steel plant in Ouro Branco/MG is the company’s flagship facility in Brazil with a production capacity of over eight million tonnes of steel per year.
Fig. 1. BEUMER Group South America has been awarded two contracts to supply iron ore mining equipment for the Gerdau Açominas Ouro Branco steel plant. Photo: BEUMER
The steel plant has been operational for more than 30 years and needed to install new machines and replace some in its stockyard to ensure the continued efficiency of its iron ore operations. Under one contract, BEUMER South America will supply a new FAM bucket wheel reclaimer – bridge type with two bucket wheels and a 36-meter bridge conveyor. The plant is designed for a capacity of around 1,200 tonnes per hour. The other order is for an iron ore stacker with a boom of 30 meters, which is designed for an output of 1,700 tonnes per hour, and reclaimer with a boom of 43 meters, which is designed for an output of 975 tonnes per hour.
The significant contract award follows BEUMER Group’s acquisition and integration of the former FAM operations in Brazil, Peru and Chile. Commenting on the win, Bruno Rocha Ribeiro, Head of Project Management, BEUMER Brazil, says: “Securing both contracts from Gerdau S.A. for this steel plant upgrade against stiff international and local competition is testament to the expertise and professionalism of our team in Brazil. By combining the skills and expertise inherent in the FAM and BEUMER brands, we excel in mining and handling iron ore in challenging environments. We are continuing to deploy solutions that improve efficiency and drive down operational costs for our customers. We look forward to further developing the relationship with Gerdau S.A. and supporting their aim to modernise iron ore operations at this flagship site.”
BEUMER Group is continuing on its growth path and expanding its commitment in India. The global manufacturer of material handling solutions invests more than INR 2 billion in a new, state-of-the-art production city in Reliance MET City/Jhajjar. Laying of the foundation stone took place on 27 June 2024, with representatives of BEUMER Group and Reliance MET City attending the ceremony.
The new production site will further strengthen BEUMER’s global factory footprint as well as boosting the continued success of its BEUMER India subsidiary. With an area of more than ten acres, the new plant will be placed at a highly strategic location, with Reliance MET City offering exemplary infrastructure and support. BEUMER will be the first German company to set up production in the development zone. Construction work will commence this summer, the inauguration of the new plant is scheduled for September 2025.
Ceremonial laying of the foundation stone. The new BEUMER production site in India is scheduled to start operations in September 2025. Photo: BEUMER Group
BEUMER Group has been active in India since 2003. Initially catering to the cement industry exclusively, BEUMER India has grown significantly over the years and now offers solutions for the airport industry, minerals and mining, for automated warehouses and distribution centres in the retail industry as well as in the areas of e-commerce and courier, express and parcel. In addition, BEUMER India is also providing engineering support to the group’s global network.
On the product side, BEUMER India has been a trailblazer of new bulk as well as discrete material handling technologies to India, for example: high-capacity, high-speed automatic loop sortation for passenger baggage, fully automated truck loading for cement bags, high-efficiency bulk material transport, as well as curved belt and pipe conveyors.
Over the years, BEUMER strengthened its position in India through various steps, such as diversifying to all business segments as global operations, acquisition of ENEXCO Technologies India, FAM India and the establishment of a modern manufacturing unit at Naurangpur, Haryana.
“This expansion reflects BEUMER Group’s strategic focus and commitment to long-term success in India. The new production site plays an important part in our global factory footprint, strengthening our position as a quality leader and partner of choice for our customers”, said Rudolf Hausladen, CEO BEUMER Group.
“Our new production site at Reliance MET City offers a convenient ease of business and synergy in approaching infrastructure and facilities with a vision towards sustainable development. Setting up a manufacturing unit in the context is truly ‘plug and play’, with Reliance staying true to its goal of developing a ‘Model Economic Town'”, said Nitin Vyas, Cluster Asia CEO, BEUMER Group.
BEUMER Group has extended its presence in South America with the integration of the former FAM operations in Brazil, Peru and Chile. The move follows the acquisition of FAM Minerals & Mining GmbH in 2022. Now known as BEUMER Group South America, the former FAM operations have become an integral part of the BEUMER family and will offer customers access to the full range of BEUMER automated material handling solutions and services. This milestone demonstrates BEUMER Group’s long-term commitment to customers throughout South America and represents a significant investment into the region.
BEUMER Group locations in South America. Photo: BEUMER
Continuity of service is assured as Paulo Costa, former head of FAM operations in the region, has been appointed as the new CEO of BEUMER South America. Paulo says: “FAM had a strong reputation within the mining and minerals industry in Brazil, Peru, Chile and beyond, which gives us a strong foundation to build upon. As part of BEUMER Group, we will continue to support our customers in mining and minerals, while also expanding our reach to offer high quality handling solutions for airports, ports and terminals, warehousing and logistics to customers throughout South America.”
BEUMER Group offers global expertise through local presence and puts the customer at the heart of its business. By combining the skills and expertise inherent in the FAM and BEUMER brands, the teams based in Brazil, Peru and Chile will support customers throughout South America to deploy handling solutions that improve efficiency and drive down operational costs. The strategically located offices further enable BEUMER Group to respond quickly and efficiently to support customers in the region, delivering outstanding solutions at every stage of the project life cycle to meet the necessary standards and certifications.
BEUMER Group has secured a contract to supply a large 2-way pipe conveyor system for a strategic development project at the Port of Saguenay in Quebec, Canada. The conveyor will connect the port with customers in the new industrial port zone, boosting economic growth and supporting the region’s commitment to a more sustainable maritime supply chain.
The Port of Saguenay is located 500 km north of Montreal. The BEUMER Pipe Conveyor is central to the port’s new Multi-User Bulk Transport System, which will increase the port’s ability to both import and export iron ore, pellets, wood ships, salt, aggregates and other ores. It will attract further investment in the region of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. On awarding BEUMER Group the contract, the Port of Saguenay Authority commented that they were particularly impressed with the company’s “engagement, commitment, and flexibility in understanding our requirements, especially regarding the importance to work with the community.”
The pipe conveyor will be roughly two km long with a downhill (export) capacity of 4,150 t/h and an uphill (import) rate of 2,750 t/h. It runs along an existing steep and curvy road, reducing the need for truck transport and any associated carbon, dust and noise emissions. Because the pipe conveyor is fully enclosed, it reduces any environmental impacts and protects bulk materials from the sun, rain, snow, and wind. The scope of the contract includes all mechanical, structural and electrical equipment including prefabricated electrical buildings and the control system.
BEUMER Group is supplying a 4,150 t/h bi-directional pipe conveyor to the Port of Saguenay. The system will be installed inside an enclosed gallery structure for ease of maintenance during the winter months. Photo: BEUMER Group
Markus Schmidt, CEO BEUMER Group North America, says: “The Saguenay pipe conveyor project represents a very important milestone, both for this region of Canada and for BEUMER Group’s Minerals & Mining business. The expertise inherent in our global team enables us to deliver a conveyor solution on this scale, meeting the client’s criteria for improving capacity in bulk handling while reducing environmental impacts.”
The pipe conveyor is expected to be fully operational in 2025.
Dry bulk ports and terminals are in a state of constant change. The materials they handle change and so, too, do the quantities. Operators are constantly having to adapt to new requirements. They want to automate their activities as much as possible while also remaining flexible. They need more space for future expansions, and they are constantly facing the challenge of adapting their facilities to the increasing throughput, while at the same time paying ever more attention to avoiding dust emissions and improving their CO2 footprint. In projects such as these, BEUMER Group works together closely with its customers to develop efficient and new solutions.
Lukas Paul, Head of Ports & Terminals at BEUMER Group. // Lukas Paul, Head of Ports & Terminals bei der BEUMER Group. Photo/Foto: BEUMER Group
The ability to load ships quickly is a decisive productivity factor. It is important to adapt the technology implemented in ports to the local space constraints and the size of the vessels – as well as to take account of the characteristics of the transported material. “Ports are faced with the challenge of increasing their performance,” explains Lukas Paul, Head of Ports & Terminals at BEUMER Group. To remain competitive, operators must constantly expand their terminals. “That is just one of the challenges. It is necessary to ensure economically viable and environmentally responsible operation and, first and foremost, cost efficiency.” When it comes to dry bulk handling equipment, BEUMER Group is there to help. The system provider supports operators – starting with every aspect of conveyor technology and through to the loading of the ships.
“When customers come to us, we sit down with them and talk,” explains BEUMER expert Paul. “In most cases, they know their everyday workflows extremely well and are aware of where the weak points and bottlenecks are.” To ensure the efficient handling of dry bulk, they must constantly adapt or expand their terminals. However, the restricted space available in ports often presents a difficulty. This means that operators face the challenge of integrating new storage areas – and these are not always in the immediate vicinity of the port. To use these areas, environmentally friendly conveyor systems represent an alternative to trucks.
Belt conveyors as a cost-efficient alternative Belt conveyors can be used to transport various bulk materials from and to the port. BEUMER Group supplies a variety of solutions depending on the intended use. Troughed belt conveyors, for example, permit high mass flows. They have an open design and are therefore suitable for coarse materials and very large volumes. Pipe conveyors, by contrast, have other specific advantages. The idlers shape the belt into a closed tube. This protects the transported material against external influences and also protects the environment against emissions such as dust or material loss. Panels with hexagonal cutouts and idler rollers in an offset arrangement keep the tube closed.
The pipe conveyor passes through the port: This is the final curved section before the transshipment tower for transfer to the port terminal. // Der Pipe Conveyor passiert den Hafen: Dies ist der letzte Kurvenabschnitt vor dem Umschlagturm zum Hafenterminal. Photo/Foto: BEUMER Group
Pipe conveyors are able to cope with tighter curves and larger angles of inclination than are possible with an open troughed belt conveyor. Their enclosed design also enables them to handle various bulk materials securely without any danger of cross-contamination. They also protect the health of the people who work at the facility or live nearby – for example, when bulk metal concentrates are being transported.
Lukas Paul remembers a project in Peru. To transport zinc, copper or lead concentrates mined by a number of different companies from the store to the terminal, the system provider installed a pipe conveyor measuring approximately 3,000 meters in length which transported more than 2,000 tonnes of this material per hour. However, there was a problem: The route passed through a military area with barracks for troops. The enclosed conveyor system reliably prevents the concentrates from coming into contact with the environment and conveys them to the ship’s holds without generating dust. The pipe conveyor is also equipped with filters, scrapers, a dust removal mechanism and a control system, making the need for any transfer points superfluous. “Our belt conveyor systems are an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to truck transport,” says Paul. “They allow operators to automate their processes and remove the burden of the manual work from their employees. This solution also reduces energy consumption.”
Adapting for improved performance Sometimes the bottleneck can be a transfer chute. The facilities are already designed to cope with large volumes of bulk materials, but the transfer chutes through which the material moves from one conveyor to the next are not. “That was true of one of our customers,” reports Paul. In this case, the experts at BEUMER were able to perform a DEM analysis which enabled them to adapt the chutes and eliminate the bottleneck.
“When we talk to our customers and analyze the processes, we very soon see whether a technical solution to the problem already exists,” says Paul. An example? BEUMER Group supplied the conveyor technology for an iron ore terminal in Malaysia. “We were making a few small changes to improve plant performance when we discovered a new problem related to conveying iron ore in a particular condition,” recalls the BEUMER expert: During the rainy season, the material that is to be transported can sometimes become wet and sticky. In this state, material sticks to the conveyor belt and over time is distributed along the complete conveyor route. There was no suitable solution for keeping the belt clean available on the market. “We had tried a number of different belt scrapers but that didn’t really help,” says Paul. BEUMER’s technical experts developed a prototype that cleans the belt using very-high-pressure water. “In this way, we were able to remedy a problem for which there had previously been no solution.”
The U-shape conveyor is able to cope with tighter curves than a troughed conveyor and transport larger mass flows than a pipe conveyor. // Mit dem U-Förderer lassen sich engere Kurvenradien als mit einem Muldengurtförderer und höhere Massenströme als mit einem Rohrgurtförderer umsetzen. Photo/Foto: BEUMER Group
The U-shape conveyor was developed against a similar background. The challenge was to combine the advantages of open troughed and enclosed pipe conveyors: The transported material had to be protected against outside influences such as wind, rain or snow – while the environment had to be protected against potential escaping material and dust. The solution had to be equally suitable for coarse material as well as very fine material. And all this was made even harder by the sometimes complex routing. “In our U-shape conveyors, a special idler roller configuration forms the belt into a U-shape. This is how the bulk material is transported to the discharge station,” explains Paul. A similar idler roller configuration to that used in troughed conveyors is used to open the belt. In this way, BEUMER Group has extended the possibilities for providing the best bulk material transport solution based on the specific need of the individual project.
From greenfield to brownfield projects BEUMER Group works not only on greenfield but also on brownfield projects – for example in the case of a fertilizer factory in Malaysia. To meet the growing demand for urea fertilizers, the system provider was commissioned to modernize and improve the performance of the existing system located between the longitudinal stockpile and the ship loading system.
The project scope included not only a portal scraper and ship loader but also a fully automatic tripper car which fills the longitudinal stockpile, system monitoring and control equipment, adaptation of the motor control units, a transformer station, a transfer station and a screening station. The schedule was quite tight. However, the particular difficulty lay in finding space to install the new systems. “We had to install a new reclaimer in the warehouse. To do this, we blocked off a small section of the hall in order to construct the new reclaimer, which was approximately 50 meters wide. We had to bring it in part-by-part through the back door and then assemble it during ongoing production,” describes Paul.
“During our discussions, it usually becomes clear to us straight away what the customer needs. As a result, we are often able to propose a solution very quickly.” However, the complex part lies in the actual implementation and identifying precisely where the problems lie. “Thanks to our experience with the pipe conveyor, we were able, for example, to form the belt on the U-shape conveyor into the required shape. However, we still had to find out whether the belt would run stably and whether there were any problems in shaping it,” says Paul. The answers to these problems become clear with time.
It is also important to adapt the systems to the bulk material – for example in the case of fertilizer. Here, it is necessary to make sure that certain components are manufactured from stainless steel. “We have to examine the application very carefully,” stresses Paul. “We can’t simply pick a solution off the shelf and be confident that it will function well in countless other applications.” It is important to have a precise understanding of the materials in order to adapt the design individually using the appropriate technical capabilities. This is the great strength of BEUMER Group.
FAM has been part of the group of companies since May 2022. It plans, designs and manufactures turnkey plant and equipment for extracting, transporting, loading and storing minerals, raw materials and goods. “This allows us to provide an even more comprehensive service to port terminal operators, be it very large or also smaller systems,” says Paul.
How can mining companies make their operations more sustainable to reduce their environmental footprints? One element that can be perfectly adapted to match the conditions is the efficient transport of the mined material. Here overland conveyors that can move large quantities of material over long distances are required. BEUMER Group relies on modern planning and layout tools to support operators at an early stage of the project and design the ideal conveying solution together with the customer.
BEUMER Group installed the first overland conveyor with horizontal curves as early as 1969. Since then, calculation methods and components such as idlers, belts and drives have undergone constant development, resulting in the implementation of increasingly efficient conveying systems for routes that are often complex. Mine operators can use BEUMER curved troughed belt and pipe belt conveyors to transport raw materials over routes with steep inclines and narrow curve radii. “We can exactly match our systems to the required conveying task and topography,” says Dr. Kilian Neubert, Global Head of Mining at BEUMER Group. “We rely on state-of-the-art planning tools to provide our customers with an efficient, sustainable and cost-effective material flow.”
Sustainability in mining
Raw materials are needed to produce almost all industrial and consumer goods; however, extracting them has far-reaching effects on the environment and society. This is why mining companies constantly strive to make their extraction and processing operations even more efficient and sustainable, and such efforts are called for in the planning of a new mine.
Mine operators must ensure that the population generally approves of the planned project. This approval can be obtained through extensive approval procedures, environmental impact studies, geo-monitoring, and the implementation of suitable risk management systems. “Mining companies need to build trust with the public,” Neubert explains. “For example, they need to involve the public and key stakeholders at an early stage of projects.” This is why operators need to integrate the issue of sustainability into all aspects of planning a mine and improve the environmental compatibility of the overall system by ensuring the efficient transport of ore and waste rock over longer distances. Optimised routing and the selection of suitable methods achieve these objectives
The fundamentals and capabilities of modern conveying systems
No two conveying systems are alike, even if the primary task of transporting bulk material from A to B appears comparable. “We must adapt the components and the system to the material to be conveyed,” says Neubert. “The mass flow to be conveyed and height differences that need to be overcome over the length of the conveyor line are important factors that we must address when designing a system.”
The energy consumption of long, horizontal belt conveyors is primarily determined by the main resistance in the upper and return strand in stationary operating conditions. This resistance consists of the running resistance of the idlers, the indentation rolling resistance, and the flexing resistance of both the conveyed material and the belt as they run over the idlers. The forces required to overcome these resistances depend on various operational and design parameters; however, they can be determined using the ‘single resistance method.’ If components with low running resistances are used, such as belts with reduced indentation rolling resistance or running-optimised idlers, the calculations of the systems nowadays show considerably lower tractive forces of the belt than those of a few years ago. This leads to lower energy costs, and smaller radii can also be selected for the horizontal curves thanks to the lower tractive forces of the conveyor belt.
The topography of the existing terrain also has a significant influence on the design of the conveying system. An in-depth analysis of various dynamic load cases and a thorough investigation of the technically feasible horizontal and vertical curve radii must be conducted to design the system in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way.
Long and difficult conveyor lines distances must be considered during the planning phase. Source: BEUMER
This is especially true for longer and more difficult conveyor lines. Potential obstacles that must be considered during the planning phase include residential areas, roads, and rivers. “Today, we can design curved overland conveyors of up to twenty kilometres or longer without the need for a transfer tower,” says Neubert. The conveying capacities of a system like this are more than 20,000 tons per hour.
The right layout
A 3D model of terrain and conveyor: the advantages of earthworks (cut & fill) or steel structures ……. can be quickly and precisely assessed using graphic representations and mathematical calculations. Source: BEUMER
“We use our BEUMER Overland Layouting Tool to ascertain the ideal layout for the system,” says Neubert. “It generates a digital 3D model of the conveyor in the virtual landscape during project planning, more or less automatically.” The critical topography data can either be provided by customers, or drones are used to capture terrain data. “These 3D visualisations are also ideal for supporting mining companies in their PR relations work,” explains BEUMER expert Neubert. Important factors such as ‘cut and fill’ volumes, i.e. the necessary excavation work, and the required steel structures for the conveyor can be evaluated and illustrated on this basis. “This procedure considerably accelerates the project planning process and enables us to provide project-critical data to the customer at an early stage of the project,” says Neubert.
Ongoing development in conveying technology
The 1990s saw BEUMER Group start its development into one of today’s leading suppliers of pipe conveyors. In these systems, the idlers form the belt into a closed pipe that protects the material to be transported against external influences and the environment from emissions such as dust and odours. This conveying solution is therefore ideally suited for fine bulk materials such as ore concentrates. Pipe conveyors also allow tighter curve radii and greater angles of inclination compared to conventional troughed belt conveyors.
No two conveying systems are alike, even if the primary task of transporting bulk material from A to B appears comparable. Source: BEUMER
However, what if bulk material with large grain sizes requires a larger pipe diameter? The rule of thumb here is that the pipe diameter should be about three times the maximum grain size. To solve this problem, the BEUMER Group developed the U-shape conveyor. “This variant combines the advantages of a troughed belt conveyor with those of a pipe conveyor,” says Neubert. The idlers form the belt into a U-shape rather than a pipe. The U-shape conveyor enables tighter curve radii than a troughed belt conveyor and higher mass flows than a pipe conveyor and also protects the conveyed material from environmental influences and the environment from material loss and emissions.
FAM Group has been part of the BEUMER Group, Beckum/Germany, since May 2022. FAM plans, designs and manufactures turnkey plant and systems to extract, transport, load and store minerals, raw materials and goods. Through this acquisition, BEUMER has considerably strengthened its market position in the minerals and mining sectors. But what is FAM?
FAM is a globally active manufacturer of conveyor systems which has its headquarters in Magdeburg/Germany (Figure 1). The mid-sized company is one of the world’s leading full-range bulk handling and processing equipment suppliers. The company’s journey started with the construction of steam engines in the mid-19th century. Over a period of just a few decades starting in the 1830s, Magdeburg witnessed the growth of one of Germany’s major industrial centers. In the early 20th century, the industrial areas in and around Magdeburg continued to grow. Increasing numbers of technical innovations first saw the light of day here, e. g., the first double-portal excavators for coal mining, which were developed and built by the company.
During World War 2, and more precisely on 16th January 1945, Magdeburg was almost completely destroyed for the second time in its history. Due to the changed political circumstances, Magdeburger Maschinenfabriken – as FAM was called at the time – became a state-owned company. Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, industry in Magdeburg and the mechanical engineering sector in the area underwent a deep-seated structural change. The majority of the businesses in the area were unable to keep pace. FAM Förderanlagen Magdeburg, which was the new name of the company, was more fortunate: In 1993, it was privatized and able to make a fresh start.
A difficult period of modernization followed. FAM stayed the course and developed from being a component manufacturer and supplier to become a general contractor offering custom-built conveyor solutions. Nowadays, the provider supplies state-of-the-art machines for the extraction, handling and preparation of raw materials. FAM is one of the global market leaders in its sector. The company stands out for its impressive, high-level engineering expertise. In this way, FAM is successfully continuing the tradition of mechanical engineering in Magdeburg. The Group has subsidiaries around the globe. It has customers in more than 80 countries. These rely on the bulk materials handling equipment, loading systems and opencast mining technology from Magdeburg to transport raw materials or extend port facilities. FAM offers consulting, planning, development, design engineering, assembly and commissioning services, all from a single supplier. However, the company’s range of activities also includes quality management and monitoring, maintenance, conversions and service.
In addition to expanding the BEUMER’s portfolio, FAM’s expertise and global positioning also complement BEUMER’s competence in the planning of plant and equipment projects. The company brings planning, engineering and the entire value chain to BEUMER, as well as aftersales service.
With the acquisition of one of the leading companies for air supported belt conveyors, The Hendrik Group Inc., the BEUMER Group is expanding its portfolio in the field of bulk material transport. In particular, the handling of alternative fuels and raw materials (AFR) confirms BEUMER’s commitment towards sustainability and is at the same time fully complementary to the current technologies offering ensuring an even broader customer benefit. The technology also generates additional potential in the field of bulk material handling of sensitive materials when it comes to preventing hazardous substances from being released into the environment.
The BEUMER Group, a leading international manufacturer of intralogistics systems in the fields of conveying and loading systems, palletizing and packaging technology as well as sorting and distribution systems, is committed to sustainable corporate development. An important component of the high ecological standards that the specialist based in Beckum, Germany, has set for itself is its future-oriented conveying and system technologies for bulk materials. With the now completed acquisition of the Hendrik Group, a leading US manufacturer of air supported belt conveyors, BEUMER Group is expanding its portfolio and strengthening its market position in both the cement and the minerals and mining industry.
Markus Schmidt, CEO of BEUMER Corporation in Somerset, New Jersey, USA, is very pleased with the acquisition: “The Hendrik Group specializes in the efficient and environmentally friendly transport of bulk materials. This aligns very well with our goals of bringing sustainable products to the market and improving our customers’ carbon footprint.” The BEUMER Group has been established in the market for decades with innovative bulk material technologies and the air supported belt conveyors ideally complements the BEUMER portfolio. In the very core of the technology an air cushion is used to support the belt and the load. The result is a weatherproof and dustproof transport solution that is quiet, clean and efficient.
Founded in 1983 by Henk Hartsuiker and based in Woodbury, Connecticut, USA, the Hendrik Group has become one of the leading manufacturers in the bulk materials handling industry with customers all over the world. Operations Manager Rik Hartsuiker believes that his father’s many years of experience and expertise in air supported conveying technology are now in the best hands: “We hope my father’s legacy is safe in BEUMER’s care and are confident that they will be as committed to the further development of air supported conveying systems as we were.”
“In recent years, we have often had constructive discussions with the Hendrik Group about international cooperation in the field of air supported belt conveying systems. The acquisition of this internationally successful company is the logical consequence of these constructive discussions,” adds Kay Wieczorek, Head of the Center of Competence (CoC) Product Business of the BEUMER Group. “The qualitative expansion of our products is a great opportunity for us: we will continue to develop the groundbreaking technology of air supported belt conveyors for our customers and in terms of sustainability.”
The BEUMER Group GmbH & Co. KG, Beckum/Germany, now has a new partner, V-LINE, which will support it in projects in Saudi Arabia and help to give customers better local service (Figure 1). The system provider BEUMER is continuing to expand its activities and customer support in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on the cement, building material and petrochemical industries as well as minerals and mining.
BEUMER is strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia, which has been one of its important markets for years. In the future, it intends to put a stronger focus on sales in the region. Support will be provided by V-LINE EUROPE GmbH and its subsidiary V-Line Middle East, based in Jubail. V-LINE began as a small company in northern Germany in 1979 and now has more than 200 employees worldwide. Based in Sehnde near Hanover, it offers end-to-end supply chains for companies in 20 countries. It has subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Middle East, plus customer service centers in the Gulf region, USA, Mexico and Brazil. As a specialist in maintenance, repair and operations (MRO), it has increased its know-how for more than four decades, enabling its industrial customers to operate in promising growth markets, minimize risks and cut costs.
The new partner’s customer base and expertise are perfectly matched to BEUMER’s business areas. V-LINE will support BEUMER in projects in Saudi Arabia.
Further information/Weitere Informationen: BEUMER Group GmbH & Co. KG www.beumergroup.com
Since the beginning of the year, Kay Wieczorek (Figure 1) has headed the Center of Competence (CoC) Product Business as Divisional Director. CoC Product Business is responsible for the Cement, Building Materials, Chemicals and FMCG divisions. The 38-year-old studied Sales Engineering and Product Management at the Ruhr University in Bochum. He has been with the BEUMER Group since 2014. Until the end of last year, he was responsible for cement division sales. “I’m looking forward to my new task,” says Kay Wieczorek. “In this position, I can contribute the experience I have gained so far at the BEUMER Group. My goal is to establish BEUMER’s product business sustainably and successfully in the global market and continue focusing on customers’ needs.”
As the new Head of the CoC Product Business, Kay Wieczorek succeeds Norbert Stemich, who was appointed CSO of BEUMER Machinery (Shanghai) in China at the turn of the year.
