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Tag: METZEN

Four centres of excellence. One shared direction.

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Corporate.

Last week, the METZEN management team came together at our Gochsheim site for a strategic meeting.

The focus was on the topics shaping our future development: analysing relevant growth markets, strategically developing our four Centres of Excellence, advancing our HR strategy, and launching new initiatives in After Sales and Service.

As our own meeting room was occupied, this time we were hosted by our direct neighbour, KÄFER. The family-owned company is now run by its second generation, led by Managing Partner Daniela Wetterich, and has a history spanning more than 70 years.

Many thanks for the warm hospitality and the engaging exchange.

At METZEN, our focus remains firmly on the future: strengthening our expertise, unlocking new potential and consistently aligning our services with the evolving needs of our customers.

When it matters. METZEN.

We are delighted to welcome Stefan Marx to METZEN!

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Careers.

Stefan Marx joined our Engineering team as a Design Engineer at our Bitburg site in mid-August. He brings many years of experience in plant and mechanical engineering, combining strong design expertise with extensive practical experience in manufacturing, installation and service.

His background in plant engineering, design and installation enables Stefan Marx to take a holistic approach to technical challenges. He develops solutions with practical implementation in mind – well considered, installation-friendly and reliable in operation.

This combination of design expertise and hands-on experience shapes his approach to technical challenges. Stefan Marx understands the requirements of complex plants not only from the design stage, but also from first-hand experience of on-site installation. This enables him to identify potential challenges at an early stage and develop pragmatic, technically sound and feasible solutions.

Stefan Marx deliberately chose METZEN for the variety of its projects, its flat organisational structures and the opportunity to be directly involved throughout the project process. For him, it is particularly important not only to develop designs on screen, but also to actively support their implementation and completion.

We look forward to working with Stefan Marx and to many exciting projects together!

KRÖGER at the 38th VDI/ITAD Conference on “Thermal Waste Treatment”

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Environmental Technology, Grab Technology.

On 23 and 24 September 2026, industry professionals will gather in Würzburg for the 38th VDI/ITAD Conference on “Thermal Waste Treatment”. KRÖGER Grab Technology, a product brand of METZEN, will be exhibiting for the second consecutive year.

The focus: grab solutions designed to support efficient material flow, plant availability and cost-effectiveness, even under demanding operating conditions.

At the KRÖGER stand, the discussion will centre on the key factors that make a difference:

  • Optimising processes: Targeted improvements to material pick-up, handling and feeding.
  • Planning modernisation projects with confidence: Precisely adapting grab technology to existing cranes and plant infrastructure as well as changing operating requirements.
  • Reducing wear and maintenance requirements: Consistently tailoring design and configuration to the material and specific operating profile.
  • Designing new plants with foresight: Taking throughput, material characteristics and operating conditions into account from an early stage.

Whether you have a specific operational challenge or are planning a new investment, talk to our technical experts about the right grab solution for your plant.

Visit KRÖGER at the conference – we look forward to discussing your requirements with you.

Why build new when there is more potential?

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Energy, Environmental Technology, Grab Technology.

Industrial plants often remain in operation for decades. But requirements change: production volumes increase, processes are adapted, and energy efficiency and new technologies become increasingly important.

Building a new plant is not always the most economical solution. METZEN identifies the potential within existing plants and develops retrofit solutions that combine technical feasibility, economic viability and the requirements of ongoing operations.

Analyse first, then modernise

Where are the bottlenecks? Which components are limiting performance, and which existing structures can continue to be used?

This is where METZEN’s Consulting comes in. Experienced Senior Engineers analyse plants and processes, identify optimisation potential and develop tailored technical concepts that consider the interaction of the entire plant.

Integrating new technology into existing structures

In existing plants, interfaces are critical. Structural conditions, supporting structures, conveying routes, existing plant and building data, and ongoing processes define the framework.

METZEN assesses the current condition to create a sound basis for precise planning. Engineering, design, and static and dynamic calculations work hand in hand to integrate new components and processes seamlessly into existing plants.

From planning to commissioning

METZEN combines the key services within one integrated process chain:

• Consulting and analysis
• Plant concept development and engineering
• Design and structural calculations
• In-house manufacturing of components and assemblies
• Assembly and installation
• Commissioning and process optimisation
• After-sales service, maintenance and spare parts supply

This reduces interfaces and enables coordinated implementation from a single source. This close integration is particularly important for modifications during ongoing operations or within tight shutdown windows.

Getting more from existing plants

Retrofit increases performance, productivity and operational reliability while retaining structures that continue to make technical and economic sense. METZEN supports the entire modernisation process, from engineering and manufacturing through to commissioning and long-term support – ensuring plants are ready to meet future requirements.

When it really matters. METZEN.

Welcome to METZEN, Michael Scott Fry

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Careers, Corporate.

Since 1 September, Michael Scott Fry has joined our team at the Gochsheim site as Head of Project & Order Management. His focus is on the cross-functional management of order processes: bringing interfaces together, identifying challenges at an early stage, and proactively coordinating materials, suppliers and schedules. At the same time, he will further develop existing business relationships, identify new potential and create additional project opportunities for METZEN.

Michael Scott Fry has a comprehensive understanding of industrial value chains, combining technical, operational and commercial perspectives. International service and project assignments, as well as his experience in managing tender processes and teams, have shaped his holistic approach to industrial challenges.

His aim is to consider projects in their entirety and bring together the key factors at an early stage. Technical and commercial requirements are taken into account alongside availability, supply chains and schedules. This creates reliability and planning certainty throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Michael Scott Fry made a conscious decision to join METZEN: for the region, our shared values and a company that combines industrial expertise with long-term, forward-looking thinking.

We are delighted to welcome Michael Scott Fry to METZEN and look forward to working with him to further develop existing partnerships, explore new areas of business and reliably deliver demanding projects.

Thermal Waste Treatment 2026: Availability starts with the grab

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Grab Technology.

In 2024, 25.9 million tonnes of waste were thermally treated in ITAD’s 92 member plants alone. This equates to an average of around 281,000 tonnes per plant per year.

These throughput volumes place high demands on continuous material handling. Heterogeneous waste, refuse-derived fuels and abrasive materials need to be reliably picked up, transported and fed into the process. Any disruption can have an immediate impact on downstream processes and plant availability.

This is where KRÖGER Greifertechnik, a product brand of METZEN, comes in, developing robust rope and motor grabs designed to meet the demanding requirements of thermal waste treatment. Customised geometries, durable designs and low maintenance requirements ensure reliable material handling even at high throughput rates.

Stable processes, consistent fuel feeding and high plant availability will also be key topics at the 38th VDI/ITAD Conference on Thermal Waste Treatment, taking place in Würzburg on 23 and 24 September 2026.

For the third consecutive year, KRÖGER Greifertechnik will be exhibiting at the conference. We look forward to exchanging ideas with plant operators, planners and industry experts on current challenges, modernisation projects and high-performance material handling solutions.

Meet us in Würzburg and talk to us about the right grab solution for your plant.

What happens when a 1% deviation suddenly costs millions?

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology.

Food and animal feed manufacturers in Germany generate more than €200 billion in revenue every year. The animal feed industry alone produces around 22 million tonnes annually. At this scale, even small process deviations can have a significant impact: waste, inaccurate dosing, unnecessary energy consumption or downtime can quickly become major cost factors.

In food and animal feed production, small weaknesses can have serious consequences. Insufficient cooling, inaccurate dosing, bottlenecks in material flow or equipment operating at its limits can jeopardise efficiency, quality and the ability to meet delivery commitments. Downtime is rarely an option.

That is why technical expertise must extend beyond individual machines and components. METZEN considers the entire process and develops tailored solutions, from analysis and engineering to design and in-house manufacturing, through to installation, commissioning and after-sales service. We also carry out complex modernisation projects while production continues.

A project for one of the world’s leading confectionery manufacturers demonstrates just how crucial this can be. Increasing production volumes pushed the existing cooling system to its limits. At the same time, space was restricted and interrupting production was not an option. METZEN developed and integrated a bespoke cooling tunnel incorporating advanced cooling and control technology. The result: greater efficiency, consistently high product quality and improved maintainability.

For a manufacturer of delicatessen products, the challenge was different: increasing throughput without risking glass breakage or compromising the cold chain. METZEN developed an automation solution combining speed, gentle product handling and stringent hygiene standards. The resulting increase in efficiency also enabled the manufacturer to save one full-time position per shift.

In animal feed production, performance and cost-effectiveness depend on the seamless interaction of numerous process stages. METZEN develops complete system solutions for this purpose: from silo and conveying systems to precise weighing and dosing technology, automated material flows, cooling belts and raw material processing. Designed to be modular and scalable, these systems can grow with new formulations, capacities and production requirements.

Whether for an oil mill, biorefinery, food production facility or animal feed plant: when processes reach their limits, a standard solution is not enough. METZEN considers the entire system and develops solutions that make production safer, more efficient and more cost-effective.

When it really matters.

Materials extraction: when every tonne counts

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Grab Technology.

Around 570 million tonnes of mineral raw materials are extracted in Germany alone every year. For operators of quarries, gravel pits and sand works, this means reliably handling and processing enormous material flows. At the same time, demands on performance, energy efficiency and plant availability continue to increase.

METZEN develops solutions that are consistently tailored to each customer’s process. Through our product brands GERWIN and KRÖGER, we combine plant engineering with specialised grab technology for the raw materials industry. From primary crushing and conveying to dosing and material handling, we adapt the technology to the material, site conditions and existing infrastructure.

The modernisation of a mobile primary crusher demonstrates that this does not always require an entirely new plant. An existing feed hopper was limiting throughput and particle size distribution. METZEN developed a stationary, fully electric solution with optimised material feeding and continuous loading. The result: higher throughput, more saleable material and lower CO₂ emissions. Where additional capacity is required, we also deliver modular primary crushing plants that combine short implementation times with high durability and flexibility.

Unusual material properties also require technology precisely matched to the raw material. For the annual handling of 70,000 tonnes of highly corrosive potash salt, METZEN developed a specially coated and structurally adapted KRÖGER grab. It has been in full operation since 2022 and shows no visible signs of wear.

METZEN also develops high-performance grab solutions for the underwater extraction of gravel and sand at depths of more than 100 metres.

Whether a new plant, a targeted modernisation or a particularly demanding raw material, METZEN develops solutions that improve performance, availability and cost-effectiveness throughout the process.

When it really matters.

A steep change in bulk material handling

Written by Ines Luther on . Posted in All topics, Conveying Technology, Grab Technology.

When decades-old crane technology can no longer meet the demands of modern production processes, new solutions are needed to improve efficiency, operational reliability and automation.

This is exactly the kind of project currently being delivered by KRÖGER Greifertechnik, a METZEN brand, in partnership with BRUNNHUBER Krane Berlin, a member of the Teichmann Group. Together, the companies are equipping a modern automatic crane for a leading cement plant in eastern Germany with two specially engineered 5 m³ motor-driven clamshell grabs. The grabs will be used to handle a wide range of raw materials and bulk solids required for cement production.

For the plant operator, the new system represents a significant technological leap forward. A crane that has been in service for many years, operated from a driver’s cab and equipped with conventional grabs, is being replaced by a modern automatic crane featuring intelligent control technology and application-specific KRÖGER grabs. The result is greater automation, improved operational reliability, more precise material handling and a future-proof bulk material handling solution.

The project is the result of more than a year of close collaboration between the engineering teams at BRUNNHUBER Krane Berlin and KRÖGER Greifertechnik. Working together, they analysed the technical requirements in detail and tailored the grabs precisely to the operating conditions and the specific application.

During a recent project meeting, the teams reviewed progress and discussed the next stages of implementation. The visit also included a tour of BRUNNHUBER Krane Berlin’s modern production facility.

Another notable aspect of the project is its short delivery schedule. Despite the bespoke design, the two motor-driven clamshell grabs will be manufactured and delivered within just 30 weeks, with delivery scheduled for the end of 2026. This is made possible by well-established processes, efficient coordination and the close cooperation of all project partners.

This project clearly demonstrates the value of strong partnerships. When crane engineering and grab technology are integrated from the outset, the result is a solution that makes bulk material handling more efficient, more economical and ready for the future.

We would like to thank BRUNNHUBER Krane Berlin for the open and constructive collaboration and look forward to continuing our successful partnership. Further joint projects are already in preparation.

A new chapter begins: Thank you, Ralf Haupold!

Written by Lilan Abuzed on . Posted in All topics, Corporate.

After many years of dedication, international projects and personal connections, we are saying farewell to our Senior Engineer, Ralf Haupold, as he embarks on his well-deserved retirement.

At KRÖGER Greifertechnik, a METZEN product brand, he has played a key role in developing our markets in eastern Germany, Eastern Europe and Turkey. With his extensive international experience, technical expertise and keen understanding of customer needs, he has built lasting relationships and successfully delivered demanding projects.

Whether supplying specialised KRÖGER grabs to gravel plants in Hungary, managing complex projects across Eastern Europe or developing new business opportunities, Ralf Haupold has always stood for practical solutions, rapid response and collaboration on equal terms.

His ability to combine technical expertise with commercial foresight has made him a highly valued contact for customers, partners and colleagues alike.

Dear Mr Haupold, we would like to thank you for your dedication, expertise and the many valuable contributions you have made to KRÖGER Greifertechnik and METZEN.

As you begin your retirement, we wish you above all good health, plenty of time to enjoy the finer things in life and many new experiences.

All the very best for this new chapter – and thank you for the time we have shared!