‘Van der Giessen truly thinks from our perspective as the customer.’
Farm Frites is a family business with a long history in the industry. Founded in 1971, they now supply fries to hospitality businesses in over 100 countries. As an experienced specialist, they prefer to work with other seasoned professionals. That’s why Van der Giessen Industrie has been a trusted partner for many years, including for the Farm Frites location in Lommel.
The collaboration between the two companies goes back a long way. "We have been working with Van der Giessen for 15 years now," says Luc Aerts, Chief Industrial Engineer at Farm Frites Lommel. "They deliver complete production lines for our factory. For example, they have integrated new optical sorting lines several times. They also produce various solutions for pump systems, water transport, and product transport. They tailor these to the specific situation in our facility, allowing us to have unique systems that perfectly fit our way of working."
The competition works with them too
Van der Giessen Industrie has long collaborated with global players in the potato processing industry. The experience the company gained from this is highly valuable, says Luc: “They have years of experience with effective solutions. Undoubtedly, they also learned from things that didn’t go so well in the past. By resolving these issues efficiently, you can learn a lot. That’s also what makes working with Van der Giessen so pleasant: if something isn’t 100% to our satisfaction, they fix it very quickly.”
“Van der Giessen comes up with solutions that perfectly align with our process.”
— Luc Aerts, Farm Frites Belgium
Example for the industry
When Luc speaks with the engineering team and the assembly crew, a few words are enough. He explains: “Van der Giessen understands what we need. They think along with us on all fronts: food safety, efficiency, yield, sustainability, and minimizing product damage. This is important for our entire sector because no one wants to appear negatively in the media. It reflects on our industry as a whole. Especially when it comes to matters like food safety, you don’t want to take any risks. That’s why I’m so satisfied with Van der Giessen’s specialized solutions.”
Innovation in our own factory.
Van der Giessen Industrie combines best practices with strong improvisation skills. The team often comes up with innovative ideas. Luc explains: “Van der Giessen truly thinks from our perspective as the customer. They listen to understand what we need and come up with a fitting solution that aligns with our process. The systems they propose always make sense to me, and I can fully support them. So far, my trust in their expertise and abilities has always been justified.”
Investing in innovation.
Although Van der Giessen Industrie already has a lot of experience, the company doesn’t stand still. “They continuously make their products better and more efficient,” says Luc. “I see that they invest heavily in staff training and expanding their knowledge. For example, there’s already a world of difference between the conveyor belts, platforms, and railings they made ten years ago and those they make today. Everything they produce is becoming more accessible, safer, and better finished. They really excel at that.”
Laughing under pressure.
In the potato processing industry, work is often done under great pressure. The deadlines are tight, and a lot is at stake. Luc explains: “In stressful situations, it can be difficult to keep a cool head. I’ve worked with companies that would start throwing things around in those moments. That’s the last thing you want. The team at Van der Giessen works seriously, but there’s also room for laughter. They keep the atmosphere light, which makes working with them very pleasant.”
“They are people of their word: if they promise something, they deliver on it.”
— Luc Aerts, Farm Frites Belgium
Even with some humor along the way, the team keeps everything under control, Luc notes. "I find them very professional and great to work with. They are people of their word. If they promise something, they follow through. That’s really reassuring because there are plenty of companies that make empty promises. I know I can always count on the team at Van der Giessen."
