20 years Mennens Cleanroom Cranes
It started out as a small project, a nice little extra, when 20 years ago, chip machine maker ASML asked Mennens for a clean crane to use in their dust-sensitive production environment. Twenty years later, Cleanroom Cranes has grown into a full-fledged subdivision of Mennens. Danny van Deuzen, Managing Director of Mennens Group and CEO of the Cleanroom Cranes division, looks back on all the developments in recent years and looks ahead as well.
Did you expect 20 years ago
that your production of cleanroom cranes would grow into what it is now?
'Nobody expected that, I think. It all started with one small crane, a nice little project. Ten years later we our took our large cranes abroad for the first time, and now we also focus on industries other than semiconductors as well. We could have never predicted that.'
Take us back to 1998 when you
decided to produce your first clean crane.
‘ASML asked for
cranes for their dust-sensitive production environment. They did not know
exactly what they needed or what was available, so we started investigating together.
The supplier of our standard cranes had the belt hoist crane in his portfolio,
which is cleaner than traditional hoists with chains, and our salesman saw the
possibility to use them at ASML.’
'A year later we
delivered our first clean crane. And it suited quite well. Ever since then ASML
has been a large and important customer and together we have further developed
the product. This collaboration is working perfectly, our products are becoming
more beautiful, better, more complete, safer and can handle more heavy
workloads. Back then, we talked about 3 ton cranes, now the latest development
is a 40 ton crane. '
At that time, the cleanroom cranes were still a part
of the regular activities of Mennens. Why did you decide to make it a separate
brand?
'When we first
received international customers in Dongen in 2007, they did not understand how
we could supply clean cranes. A clean room environment is supposed to have a
clean appearance, neat white floors. Our traditional heavy chains and cables
and technicians in greasy overalls do not fit in well with that. That is why we
decided to make a separate brand in 2010 with its own neat website and matching
logo. '
How has the CRC department developed over the past twenty years?
'The semiconductor is a nice market for cleanroom cranes, but not the only one. Since a few years we also focus on other industries: pharmaceutical, food and aerospace. Pharmaceutical in particular is a large and growing market, and after the polluted milk powder scandal in China, production in the Netherlands has grown enormously. The expertise we have built up in semiconductors is very useful for those industries, but there are also differences. In the case of food and medicine, pollution absolutely cannot occur, the requirements are stricter and different. We have also stepped up our after-sales and service activities: during maintenance and inspections we want to demonstrate the same clean quality as we do with our products. A traditional mechanic with a dirty toolbox simply cannot walk into a clean room just like that.
'Two years ago we have hired a full time sales engineer who actively offers our products to those industries and you see the effect of that. These activities are also being developed at Mennens Belgium and our sister company in Germany. It is not always easy: not every customer understands this market. We must first explain that they have a problem, that pollutants are emitted by traditional cranes, but then we also have a solution for them. Our products are specially produced, clean-room-resistant materials are used, parts are polished, products that will not collect pollutants will not have to be cleaned! We know what is allowed in a clean room or controlled environment and what is not. That offers opportunities in the market. '
Is there an event of which you have a special recollection?
'In 2007 ASML ordered cranes with us. We had barely delivered them when ASML asked if we wanted to visit some of their customers who also needed cranes. We started with six pilot projects, Intel, Toshiba, TSMC, Samsung, Hynix and the University of Leuven, and we said to ourselves: if we score three of those projects now, it's party time. We scored all six of them. That was a fantastic international start. "
'The different cultures with which you come into contact also remain special experiences. We have learned to abandon our expectations when, for example, we go to Korea, because the schedule is always turned upside down. In many Eastern countries work gets done very differently, so there we tell our mechanics: count to 10, go with the flow, because you are not going to change this. By traveling and getting to know our customers and local partners, you learn what their expectations are and what you want to convey to them. That is very instructive. '
How do you see the future for the CRC division?
'For the time being we are very busy with the success
of the EUV machines with which ASML can produce microchips in a more cost
effective way. Despite some earlier setbacks, this is really becoming a mature
market, factories are being built for those machines and cranes will have to be
installed. This year we hope to deliver, for first time, a newer and larger
version of the crane type that we introduced in 2007.
'That market will be saturated in a few years.
That is why we are also actively recruiting a position in the pharmaceutical
industry, food and aerospace and we are continuing to develop our service
activities. We already have more than 100 cranes operating in the field this
year, which have to be maintained and inspected. Finally, we will focus on the
conversion of cranes, the addition of new components. In Korea we are now
working on our first crane conversion.'
'We are currently still at 3 different locations, but
soon we will be moving to Eindhoven. Then we will be positioned as we should
be: together, with a larger production capacity in order to be able to build
the new generation of cranes better.’
What
distinguishes you from other companies in this sector?
'First of all
innovation, the products that we have developed. In addition, we have knowledge
of the market, are flexible and inventive. And we are a small, very nice group
of people. We are always there for each other, we have an incredible drive, we
can laugh together and are very serious. That is our strength.’
Which message do you find important to convey to potential customers?
'That the hoisting equipment in their production space is special as well. Some companies want to be clean, but still throw in a polluting traditional crane, often because they do not know any better way. But if you do not bring pollution into the production process, you will not have to remove it either. We have to demonstrate that. And we have to show that our cranes are worth the extra cost: they are built tailored to you and your production process, and that will benefit you.'