A unique, sustainable combination

VAN HOOL and KALTENBACH | GIETART

In the year 2022, while VAN HOOL celebrates its 75th anniversary, the company has decided to replace its 50-year-old GIETART Shot blaster. And just this year, GIETART celebrates its 100th anniversary. This prompted both companies to visit each other and celebrate this memorable event together! A moment to look back together on a rich history and to look forward to a bright future.

VAN HOOL

VAN HOOL is an institute in the world of bus and trailer manufacture. Still a stable family business after 75 years, which has always worked on product and process innovation, thanks to its long-term vision. This means that VAN HOOL occupies a unique position in this extremely competitive market. A tour of the factory quickly shows that VAN HOOL is not satisfied with standard solutions. All production lines are designed in-house and often perfected in collaboration with suppliers.

KALTENBACH | GIETART

The GIETART brand is a household name. The robust blasting machines have been dominant in the European market for a century. Most of the innovations were invented in this company. GIETART, located in Hengelo (Netherlands), became part of KALTENBACH in 2007, another giant in the machine building world. This company recently updated its entire product range and the result is visible again. Robust, reliable and even further improved in 'Cost of Ownership'.

TECHNOLOGICAL LEADERSHIP

LEADING THE WAY - VAN HOOL stands for quality, reliability and flexibility. Excellent craftsmanship and passion for technology. Expertise, creativity and innovation lead to high-quality products and customers who enjoy working with VAN HOOL. And that for more than 75 years. The same applies to KALTENBACH | GIETART. As a technology leader, GIETART, like VAN HOOL, sets the standard in the industry, especially in the areas of innovation, sustainability and reduction of cost of ownership. 100 years of GIETART – 100 years of robust and reliable systems, with an attractive machine design.

75 YEARS VAN HOOL – 100 YEARS GIETART – 50 YEARS GIETART SHOT BLASTER

In the spacious office at VAN HOOL we came together to commemorate the memorable fact: 75 YEARS VAN HOOL – 100 YEARS GIETART – 50 YEARS GIETART SHOT BLASTER at VAN HOOL. Daniël Kemp, Manufacturing Manager of VAN HOOL, had invited Stephan Toxopeüs, Managing Director of KALTENBACH | GIETART, to celebrate this special moment together. In addition to his own team, Daniël Kemp had not only asked the current supervisor of the plate processing department, Gunther Sannen, to be present for this occasion, but also the retired, former supervisor of this department, Guido Van Den Berg.

Guido retired in 2021. This after a decades-long career. Guido was there when the current GIETART Shot blaster was placed. Guido: “It was the first machine to be installed in our new production hall! The machine also has machine number 001.”
Over the years, the GIETART machine has been modified a number of times, usually to create space for other operations. The GIETART itself is still in its original place and still does its job every day.

Daniël Kemp calculates that in recent years 50,000 blasting hours have been made on the GIETART. "Parts for 125,000 trailers have been blasted, not counting the buses. In times when there was free space on the GIETART, blasting was also done regularly for other companies."

SUSTAINABLE COOPERATION AND GOOD MAINTENANCE

It goes without saying that maintenance is high on the agenda at VAN HOOL. Daniël Kemp: You can only use a machine for a long time through consistent and preventive maintenance. Continuity and reliability are most important to us.”

Daniël continues: “Choosing a new machine was not difficult either. The GIETART has proven itself in our company.”

From January 2023 there will be a new GIETART Shot blaster at VAN HOOL. Maybe another 50 years?

VAN HOOL