Farm Frites

The construction of a production line always requires flexibility, but in Saudi Arabia, an additional challenge was added. Just before a crucial test phase, the situation in and around Iran severely tested the construction partners. With smart remote support from our Industrial Automation Business Unit, the project remained on track.

Sjaak van den Dries is electrical project manager at Farm Frites; this Dutch family business is active in over 100 countries. “Saudi Arabia is an important market. This is the reason for the construction of a new fries factory in the capital, Riyadh. It involves a joint venture with Americana Foods, an established player in the region.”

Progressively greener

The automation of the new production line is being handled by Van den Pol. “I have known the company for about thirty years,” says Van den Dries. “It is also a trusted partner for Fram Frites. The collaboration has intensified over the past few years.” In Saudi Arabia, Van den Pol is responsible for the line control and switch cabinets, plus the supply of the cabling. “Local parties handle the installation. The cable routes are marked with stickers; these are only removed once the cable has been connected.” Van den Pol closely monitors the progress. Gradually, the overviews become greener and greener.

VR headset, unexpected twist, smart solution

Just before the start of the IO test—an essential check of the industrial automation—tensions began to rise in the region. “At that moment, I was in the Netherlands. It was not possible to return to Saudi Arabia. The same applied to the Van den Pol Elektrotechniek team.”

During the corona period, Van den Pol gained experience using a VR headset for remote support. “Such a lens has also been deployed in Saudi Arabia. For instance, Van den Pol employees monitor the process and guide local people step by step.”

Spanish specialists

The programmers overseeing the project work from the Van den Pol branch in Spain. “It is good that the company is able to expand its workforce in this way. They are specialists who know their trade. With English as the working language, the collaboration is proceeding smoothly. Although it naturally took more time, the remote support allows the production line to be completed nonetheless.”