"Wij houden u op de hoogte"
Innovation is the solution for the different challenges our customers face. That is why Moba has its own Innovation department. Every day, this team focuses on making Moba machines even smarter, more reliable and more efficient. The Director of this department is Mr. Paul Buisman, and together with his team he works on techniques, data, algorithms, robots and artificial intelligence. "Every customer will reap the benefits of this."
"The best thing about the job? The variety and the constant search for improvement", Buisman answers. "In close collaboration with Product Marketing and the Research and Development department, we develop ideas into concepts and, ultimately, new products. With our Innovation Team, we try to think five to ten years ahead. What are the expected developments in the market? What are the wishes of our customers and how can we respond to them?" Technology always offers new possibilities. "Things that aren't possible now may be possible next year. We also get a lot of inspiration from other industries."
The rising demand for eggs due to the growth of the world population is an important motive for innovation. Worldwide, chickens lay about 3.5 billion eggs every day, of which 1.3 billion are processed by machines. The majority—approx. 1 billion—are processed by Moba machines daily. Buisman: "Automation is still booming. It is not easy to find staff and machines to ensure quality and efficiency."
When I started, eight percent breakage was very common. Now, some farms have hardly any waste, thanks to modern barn equipment, transport systems, flock management - and last but not least - Moba machines with perfect egg handling, accurate detection and smart algorithms to reduce waste.
Improvement
When Buisman joined Moba, he worked on the company's first computer-controlled egg grader, unique in Europe at the time. In recent decades, technology has improved considerably and great strides have been made in terms of hygiene, reliability, efficiency and capacity. "Our latest machine can process as many as 255,000 eggs per hour, a quantity I would not have thought possible years ago." He is just as proud of Moba's impact on the planet by reducing waste streams. "When I started, eight percent breakage was very common. Now, some farms have hardly any waste, thanks to modern barn equipment, transport systems, flock management - and last but not least - Moba machines with perfect egg handling, accurate detection and smart algorithms to reduce waste."
Big data
Smart software plays a vital role in current and future egg grading and breaking machines. "Mechanics is still the basis, but our added value is increasingly in business solutions such as iMoba," Buisman explains. For example, Moba provides customers with software to accurately track eggs on their way to consumers, and online management dashboards provide important new insights into business operations. "Every day, Moba machines process a total of one billion eggs worldwide. This provides a wealth of data that helps our customers to optimize their business operations. How do your waste streams compare to those of your colleagues? Do you get the maximum return from your machine? In the past, you could only guess the answers to these kinds of questions. Now, you will receive the data on a silver platter. There are several success stories from customers who have made improvements based on data and are now saving tons on an annual basis."
The enormous amount of data helps Moba to improve its service provision through preventive maintenance. "Reliability is perhaps Moba's most important strength," Buisman stresses. "Our customers don't just buy a machine; they enter into a relationship with us. We offer continuity and do everything we can to prevent downtime. Should there ever be a problem, there is always a technician nearby."
The great thing about innovation is that there is always room for improvement. The sky is the limit!
Amazing the poultry world
What will Moba machines look like in five years? Buisman weighs his words because future innovations are still a secret. "I expect iMoba to become a permanent part of all our deliveries in any case, and that data will then lead to safer, smarter and more efficient production," he says. "And we will amaze the poultry world, for example with convenient tools that simplify the operation of egg-packing stations. The great thing about innovation is that there is always room for improvement. The sky is the limit!"