Keestrack prides itself in consistently developing its worldwide manufacturing capacities. The company, which at bauma celebrated its 10,000th production machine since the legendary "4518" was introduced in 1996, is also marking the completion of its new 8740-square-metre assembly complex, the second extension phase of its main factory in Šternberk, Czech Republic. More milestones and new extension projects will be set and started in 2019, including the opening of Keestrack's Indian assembly in Neemrana and new production capacities in Ponzano Veneto, Italy.
Opened in 2001, Šternberk has been the sole manufacturing site for tracked screeners and crushers of the Belgium-based processing specialist until 2007. Then the Chinese screener assembly in Chuzhou went into operation, in 2010 Keestrack acquired the Italian jaw crusher manufacturing of former OM. Because of continuous growth requirements on Keestrack-CZ were increasing rapidly - today the 5-hectare factory supplies all Keestrack impactors, screens, scalpers and stackers and provides modular machine components for the jaw and cone production at Keestrack-Italy and high quality kit modules for Keestrack's Asian operations.
As a reaction on the integrated manufacturing concept, the group invested early in modern, fully automated, manufacturing technologies (ie. plasma-cutting) to guarantee fast and flexible internal supply of key components. In 2009, Keestrack introduced an anti-corrosive zinc-phosphate nano powder painting line in Šternberk providing a high-quality long-lasting finish of frame components and other plant key structures.
In 2014 the group management decided to launch a mid-term development programme to expand the capacities at Šternberk. The first phase, of the planned three steps, was adding a modern 5000-m² factory in 2016 for steel construction, additional to the existing halls (8000 m²) and this improved raw material logistics remarkably. The second new complex - operational since September 2018 - now completes phase 2 with an additional space of 8.740 m², accommodating parts storage and four separate assembly lines for screeners and crushers.
Both projects, totalling an investment of 6,0 million Euro since 2015, offer a state-of-the-art working environment at the factory with currently 480 employees. The optimized production processes improve the work-flow and significantly reduce lead times for components and complete plants. As an example, Keestrack now introduced a four-cycle line production process for its medium range of scalpers (K3 - K6) and the new 30-ton impactor crusher R3. Compared to the former work cell production, the new process is expected to reduce the manufacturing time by up to 30 %, depending on the type of model.
According to Keestrack management, phase 3 of the factory extension will be initiated in 2019/20, including a new quality control facility, a modern spare part logistics terminal and a state-of-the-art customer centre. Parallel to the floor space extension Keestrack-CZ will also implement a new powder coating line, remarkably increasing production capacities and considering larger workpiece dimensions for the coming heavier Keestrack models.
Integral and global investments
Keestrack also announced an important investment at its Italian operation in Treviso, Ponzano Veneto. Within the group's integrated manufacturing and distribution concept with decentralized international technology competence centres, the 2,4-hectare operation supplies the complete series of jaw crushers and the growing range of tracked cones. This way contributing importantly to the expanding Keestrack "Heavy range" with powerful track-mobile processing systems for quarrying and mining operation, the existing 5000-m² production of Keestrack-Italy will at least be doubled by the planned factory extension to be finalized in 2020.
Production of the group's Indian branch Etrack Crushers will start in May/June 2019 at the brand-new assembly with the first machines leaving the 10.000-m²-facility in Neemrana, around 100 km south of New Delhi, in August. The production programme initially includes the full hybrid crushing plants Keestrack B4e (jaw) and H4e (cone), identified to meet the demands of Indian contractors in terms of productivity, transport and on-site mobility. Etrack's assembly is flexible, based on core OEM modules (crushers, frames, chassis, etc.) delivered from the group's European factories and components of international technology partners (engines, drives, etc.) or local suppliers.
Structured as an independent family-owned international holding, Keestrack is led by Group President Kees Hoogendoorn, his spouse Annet Schoenmaker and sons Peter and Freek Hoogendoorn, as second owner generation. Headquartered in Bilzen, Belgium, the group directly employs today more than 700 staff in its international manufacturing and aftersales activities. The company's sales and service network today covers more than 50 countries on all continents, totalling 75 dealer and service partners.
Within the last years Keestrack successfully followed the market approach of a "specialist full-liner" in mobile processing, offering uniquely flexible and energy-efficient solutions to all relevant sectors of mineral recycling, quarrying and mining. Accordingly, the Keestrack brand became a true alternative in terms of cost-effective productivity for many customers, which resulted in continuously rising sales and a consistently positive revenue development. For 2018 the company's turnover is once again expected to reach a consolidated volume of around 100 million Euro, expectations for 2019 exceed 120 million Euro.
