When two companies work well together and trust each other, something entirely new can emerge. That is exactly what happened in Urk. The request from Urker Zalmhuys for a specific water filter was taken up by Jansen Techniek. Together, they developed it into a new, hygienic and sustainable product that is now in use at several other companies as well.
In the heart of the fishing village of Urk stands Urker Zalmhuys, a modern family business built on craftsmanship developed over generations. Since its founding in 2002, the company has grown from a small smokehouse into an international supplier of fresh and smoked salmon with more than 450 employees. “We achieved this through hard work, investing in people and continuous improvement,” says Production Manager Maarten Wakker. Urker Zalmhuys works closely with Jansen Techniek from Putten, a company that develops machinery for the food processing industry – from conveyor belts to complete production lines. Sales engineer Corwin van den Bor and Maarten look back together on the development of a new water filter, which is essentially the result of years of collaboration.
A key player in the salmon industry
“Over the past decades, Urk has transformed from a fishing village into an international hub for fish processing. Where we once mainly handled North Sea catch, Norwegian farmed salmon is now the basis of our business,” Maarten explains. “Fresh fish arrives here every day. After two days of transport, the salmon has exactly the right firmness for filleting. This relates to rigor mortis – how ‘firm’ the fish is. From Urk, it can then be shipped worldwide within a matter of hours.” Urker Zalmhuys combines craftsmanship with technology. Automation, efficiency and above all hygiene are essential. The collaboration with Jansen Techniek Putten plays an important role in this.
Partnership
The cooperation between the two companies began in 2016, when Urker Zalmhuys experienced rapid growth. “What we value in Jansen Techniek is their way of thinking along with us,” says Maarten. “We come with a question, and they come back with a better solution. Not just designing, but advising as well. That is incredibly valuable.” Corwin adds: “Our conversations are not about technology, but about processes. How can processes – especially fish processing – become cleaner, smarter and more efficient? The technology follows naturally.” Today, multiple Jansen Techniek machines operate on the production floor of Urker Zalmhuys. The companies work as true partners: short communication lines, open discussions and a shared mindset of continuous improvement.
Let us advise you.
The water filter
The latest development is an innovative water filter. “Every salmon that comes in is washed,” Maarten explains. “That process releases countless scales and residues. You do not want those in your wastewater, both for hygiene reasons and because of wastewater charges. The existing filters no longer met our needs. That’s when we asked Jansen Techniek to think along with us,” says Maarten. “We had ideas but needed a partner who could truly develop it.” Corwin laughs: “To be honest, we put the question aside several times at first. We’re not a water treatment company after all. But after the fourth request, we thought: this is something we really need to take on.”
Together with UNIKON, a specialist in industrial washing systems, they designed an entirely new model. “We combined UNIKON’s proven filtration techniques with our own machine-building expertise,” says Corwin. “The result is a self-cleaning stainless steel filter that is fully detachable, easy to clean and requires no additional rinse water.” The technical service team at Urker Zalmhuys also played a role. “Kees from our technical department rebuilt the prototype at least three times,” Maarten says. “That’s how we truly developed the filter together. It has now been running smoothly for over a year, and several units have already been sold to other companies.”
Hygiene as a core value
Hygiene runs as a common thread through every joint project. “Our machines have open structures and are easy to clean,” Corwin explains. “If a customer knows that part is well taken care of, you don’t need to discuss it anymore.” At Urker Zalmhuys, that attention to hygiene is just as natural. A local cleaning company cleans the factory at night. “Working cleanly is essential for us,” says Maarten. “If we see room for improvement anywhere, we address it immediately.”
Reliability and thinking ahead
What makes the cooperation between the two companies successful and unique – not only for the water filter but throughout the past nine years? “Reliability, keeping agreements and thinking ahead,” Maarten says without hesitation. Corwin confirms: “The best part is that we don’t feel like a supplier, but like a partner. We think along about the future, about automation and about how we can grow together.”
Image: Vakblad voedingsindustrie, Esther van der Lelie | photos ©Koos Groenewold
“Reliability, keeping agreements and thinking ahead,”
Interested? We would like to advise you!
Corwin van den Bor
