igus and Van Merksteijn Steel - Netherlands B.V. have been building on each other's expertise for more than 30 years

Reliable motion plastics ensure continuity and reduced downtime

Van Merksteijn, a specialist in wire rod processing, has relied on igus' cable crawler systems and motion plastics since 1990. In a production environment where dust, grinding and steel residues are daily reality, igus' components prove their exceptional wear resistance and reliability. The long-term cooperation between the two companies is the result of a shared focus on quality, efficiency and sustainability.

Van Merksteijn is part of Reinforcing Steel Europe, an international family business and market leader in reinforcing steel products. Based in Almelo in the Netherlands, the group supplies customized steel products to customers throughout Europe, with a strong emphasis on quality, speed, service and long-term partnerships. Van Merksteijn's activities focus on processing wire rod and supplying rebar, a precision process in which reliability and continuity of machinery are essential.

Reliable

The machines in Van Merksteijn's production halls run continuously, in an industrial environment.

“Our installations are exposed to dust, grease and metal particles. Yet igus” cable beads continue to function without any problems,“ says Rob Grote Ganseij, Senior Project Manager at Van Merksteijn. ”We have counted on igus since their solutions were supplied as standard on machines from Austria and Germany. Our experience shows that their products are simply better - more wear-resistant and reliable than the rest. We have replaced parts whose part number was no longer even in the catalog. That means they lasted more than twenty years - and failed not because of wear and tear, but because of external factors such as falling steel. That says it all about the quality."

Quick service and personal contact

The cooperation is not only smooth technically, but also practically. “I simply send a photo with the project number to Roderick, and within an hour I have a quote,” says Rob. “If it's a bit more complex, he comes by himself. That works ideally for us.”

According to Roderick Mollema, Technical Sales Engineer at igus B.V., that is exactly where igus makes a difference: “Our customers not only expect quality products, but also speed and commitment. At companies like Van Merksteijn everything revolves around continuity. Downtime costs money. That's why we make sure they have an answer within the hour and that every solution is immediately applicable. That combination of technical expertise and service orientation has made our cooperation successful for more than thirty years.”

chainflex

At Van Merksteijn, igus' E4Q cable crawler systems are primarily used, along with chainflex cables (such as PVC and PUR control cables) and iglidur sliding bearings. In addition, triflex systems are also integrated on the powder coating robot line. Each of these products is designed for highly dynamic applications and tested for maximum reliability - exactly what is needed in Van Merksteijn's harsh industrial environment.

Joint focus on sustainability

Sustainability is an important theme within both companies. Van Merksteijn strives for reliable, low-maintenance solutions with a long service life. igus supports that vision not only with sustainable materials, but also with initiatives such as the chainge program. Within this program, used plastic cable beads are collected and recycled into new products - a concrete example of circular production in the industry. Van Merksteijn is currently exploring how the company can join this initiative.