Smooth sailing for shipping industry with innovated PLC

Locally produced TULLP solutions travel the globe
 

In a time when the world, and therefore also the shipping industry, virtually came to a standstill, Dutch company TULLP introduces an important innovation. Over a period of more than four years they have embraced a new PLC that controls the fuel filters of seagoing vessels. By introducing it now, they want to send a signal. Sjoerd Kivits, service manager at TULLP: “Despite all the setbacks of the corona situation we simply went on developing. In the past year, people only received recons – patched up units. It is really cool that we have now made something entirely new.”
 

That resilience and enthusiasm are typical of the 24-member team from Raamsdonksveer. Once they have an idea in their heads, it will inevitably materialise. In 2017, the company that started almost 20 years ago under the name Separator Spares International was renamed TULLP, a reference to the symbol of the Netherlands, the tulip. For some time already, the old name no longer reflected the company’s character. They are an independent one-stop supplier of materials and solutions in the field of separators, pumps, filters, plate heat exchangers and fresh water generators. On top of that, MaxAssist, a technical support team, assists seagoing vessels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with help and advice. No matter if a ship is moored in the port of Rotterdam or is sailing somewhere on the Indian Ocean. 
 

Concept under development
 

Already in 2010, TULLP became aware that many ships were still equipped with a Siemens C7 PLC. And that, while this type awaited a complete phase-out. So the idea was born for a compact plug-and-play solution: a one-on-one interchangeable set, which the customer can easily mount in place of the old PLC, without any specialist knowledge or intricate fitting. 
 

All this time, the old PLC was on Sjoerd’s desk, a daily reminder of the concept that was in his head. He clearly knew what he wanted, but not yet how to get there. But he did already know with whom. “We have done business with itsme for years. They supply us with connectors and control units, among others. When we were looking for advice for this project, my contact person, Elly, referred me to itsme Industrial Automation.” Because of trust in the supplier relationship, the step towards technical support proved small. 
 

“We switch quickly towards our customers. It is nice to have a supplier with the same mindset”

In the beginning of 2020, the project gained momentum. In this last phase, Sjoerd worked intensively together with Pieter van Ginneken, application engineer at itsme. Pieter: “We can act and help out quickly, because we run various projects simultaneously. We do not get caught up in only the largest projects.” And that is exactly what TULLP is looking for, especially because its customers travel the globe, which requires a certain way of doing things. Robert van Ballegooijen, general manager at TULLP, says: “Switching quickly towards our customers is what we ourselves do. It is nice to have a supplier with the same mindset.”
 

Nevertheless, in the beginning the collaboration was a bit of a challenge because in that same period a smart lockdown was proclaimed. Visiting each other on location was no longer allowed. So Pieter proposed remote support via, among others, Skype, and for screen sharing he suggested TeamViewer. With the help of the latter he took over TULLP’s system. Once you’ve been at it for five minutes, it is just as if you are sitting side by side. It works perfectly.” On those moments that Sjoerd had to leave, Pieter just went on: “In the meantime I just continued from my home on his laptop.”
 

itsme three-stage rocket
 

Says Sjoerd enthusiastically: “I discussed everything with Pieter: from things that didn’t work as for software, to the complete assistance with connecting. I received tips on how to handle everything, including the underlying reasons. I didn’t have any experience with the TIA portal myself, but meanwhile I have become rather familiar with it. Actually, I simply had a crash course.” 

Peter Nelemans, account manager at itsme, meanwhile saw to it that the Siemens parts were kept in stock specifically for TULLP, ensuring shorter delivery times. He says: “That is the three-stage rocket that we at itsme like to offer. We supply the materials, give courses and are also there for technical support. In doing so, we see ourselves as an extension of our customers.”

 

“I didn’t have any experience with the TIA Portal, but meanwhile I have become familiar with it. Actually, I simply had a crash course”

Despite, or maybe even because, TULLP’s customers navigate all the world’s seas, they themselves prefer to work with local partners. Robert: “At itsme, lines are short and we do not run the risk to get lost in translation. And if we encounter a problem in delivery or support, we can always turn to them.”
Sjoerd proudly shows the end result: “Every connected wire we mounted ourselves. And it is perfect! I am very confident to send this PLC all over the world. And if our customers encounter a problem, we shall solve it with two e-mail messages.” Robert: “Seagoing vessels often have more than one of this kind of PLC on board. If they are happy with what we supply, then we naturally hope that the others will have their turn as well.” Looking back on the route that TULLP has covered together with itsme he says: “If both of us see that things could remain interesting, we can win. And that’s where you start talking about that collaboration.” 
 

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