'Good extraction makes deployment of robots in factory environments more approachable'

Welding robots are booming in the metal sector, but extraction is still not always well enough regulated. That's a missed opportunity, because a lot is possible, argues Jacquelien van der Lem, founder of Lemtech. "Innovation, sustainability, satisfied employees and customization really go hand in hand."

Van der Lem was a European welding technician herself until 25 years ago. A tantalizing comment from a headhunter prompted her to make a career switch. She started Lemtech Air and Environmental Engineering in Heiloo, specializing in extraction technology. Her goal in starting the company was to improve the working conditions of welders. "So even before the government came up with legislation, in 2002. That legislation has been tightened up more and more since then."

'There should be no inconvenience to welders'

When she started her company, the emphasis was on developing and engineering what welding workshops need. "A fan as simple extraction was not enough. What we came up with here we submitted to a then also young German company, Teka. That focused on filter technology." According to Van der Lem, the products resulting from the cooperation match what is needed in a specific welding environment. "People must be able to work dust-free and safely, even in a fully or partially robotized environment. There should be no nuisance, not for welders, nor for the workers around them."

Clean air, even when using robots

Lemtech is a growing family business. There are several reasons for that. The founder sees that more and more companies are taking clean air in factory environments seriously. There are a number of reasons for this, she states. "Legislation is stricter and the scarcity of workers is growing. Companies want to take good care of their employees. At the same time, you see that the scarcity of skilled workers is increasing the need for robotization. It is something we already saw emerge during the banking crisis in 2008-2009. Companies said goodbye to a flexible shell and those positions disappeared. Automation took over some of that work, and now so has combination welding and cutting robots. By now we have been researching how companies work for years, so we know what to consider. Working safely with a robot also means working in clean air.

Collaborating with producers

According to Van der Lem, what sets the company apart from competitors is "putting the customer first and coming up with the best solution for that. "In doing so, we work closely with Teka. If Teka cannot produce it, we use other manufacturers. We take care of the new development and deliver it exclusively within the Benelux. The companies we work with are allowed to further sell the developed products worldwide."

Customers lead own clients around clean room

That a tailor-made solution works is proven by Van der Lem using a great example. "Together with a customer of ours, VDL Culemborg, now Casaro, we developed a customized plan for the entire production area, both all robots, as well as the hand welders. The clean production area impressed customers of VDL Culemborg, who proudly took a tour there. This really earned the company orders. A clean, tidy factory gives confidence."

Sustainability, safety and productivity go hand in hand

"Skilled workers are scarce, so make sure they are in their strengths and be economical with them. By having a clean and safe work environment. Robot/laser automation equipped with the right exhaust helps with that. The sustainability aspect is super important, but so is safety. So much is possible, as long as you know what to do and what not to do. We like to help our customers with that, so they can focus on their own specialty."