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The master of all screens

Stefaan Smet has 16 screen machines in use. Reason enough to ask how he arrives at this figure and whether there is that much to screen in Belgium.

The company Smet R. & Zoonen is a typical family-run business. Founded in 1984, operations started with contract work in the agricultural sector, later on added with services such as earthmoving, land reclamation and car-park/swimming pool construction.

Then, eight years ago, there was a requirement for their own screen machine. "We hired a MAX drum screen for a long time and were extremely satisfied with it", remembers Stefaan Smet. However, the first machine of their own was a step up, namely a MUSTANG. The second machine followed in 2001, the third in 2002 - and then it really took off. The end of 2005 saw the first star screen arrive. Today, Stefaan Smet is the master of 7 MUSTANG drum screens, 4 MULTISTAR L3 star screens and 5 vibrating screens. Windsifting is also offered as a service - a HURRIKAN and a new HURRIKAN S extend the line of machinery in the area of screen technology.

Electrical benefit

One of the most recent acquisitions included two MUSTANG E drum screen machines, one with and one without generator. Power is taken from the mains socket wherever possible. Low operating costs of course also benefit the customer.

Stefaan Smet can also report on another application. At the port of Gent, pellets are produced from peanut shells. Dust removal with screening is necessary here. However, the dust exposure presented an extreme risk of ignition within the building and so the use of a generator was not a consideration. For this contract, we were able to leverage the new "removable motor unit“ option on the MUSTANG E. We were able to locate the drive unit outside, away from the hazard area, and work continued perfectly smoothly.

Reliable partner

But it has not only been machine technology convincing Stefaan Smet to remain loyal to a brand. Equally important is the good relationship with the supplier, Pon Equipment - Komptech’s sales partner for Benelux. Both sides have a close and mutually beneficial partnership. For example, Pon Equipment relies on Stefaan Smet as a resource for many of its demonstrations. A demonstration is converted into a rental and often results in a machine sale for the supplier or a long-term rental for the service provider.

But Stefaan Smet has more plans for the future: "The market for biomass in Belgium is still in its early stages and waste treatment for separation of potential recyclables is set to grow further. Here there is still sufficient potential for a service provider with screening technology, in the future perhaps also with shredding technology”.

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