Kranendonk: “The path of trust and growth”

Kranendonk, originally a family-owned business specializing in innovative cutting and welding installations, has evolved over forty years into an international player in robotic automation. With locations in countries such as Denmark, Japan, China, Singapore, and the United States, and with over sixty employees worldwide, Kranendonk has established a robust international presence.

Growth
Bart van Dam, CTO of Kranendonk, explains, “Arie Kranendonk, the founder, quickly saw, shortly after its inception forty-one years ago, that the opportunities primarily lay abroad.” “Given the conservative stance of the Dutch shipping industry, he actively introduced our innovative solutions to international shipyards. Through sketches, 3D visualizations, and simulations, he convinced the initial clients, laying the foundation for the establishment of our own sales offices worldwide.”

Trust
Bart continues, “Although we have always focused on innovative solutions, grant applications were not a priority for a long time. While we were aware of potential grant opportunities, our knowledge in this area was limited.” The introduction to Ignite Group, recommended by a colleague, led to an exploratory conversation. Bart explains, “Together with Ignite Group, we evaluated the developments within Kranendonk, identified projects with potential for grants, and determined which grants could be relevant to our field.” Inspired by this conversation, Kranendonk decided to start with a modest project to test both the administrative feasibility and the effectiveness of the collaboration with Ignite Group. “This marked the beginning of our collaboration with Ignite Group,” concludes Bart.

Growing confidence
Bart elaborates, “In our quest for an automated welding process for pipe sections used in shipbuilding and offshore applications, we aimed to substantially increase production efficiency.” “This innovative production method promised production efficiency levels up to ten times higher. Our focus was on combining advanced welding techniques with precise alignment and automation to deliver exceptional welding quality on a large scale.” This ambitious project marked the first time KRANENDONK applied for a WBSO grant with the assistance of Ignite Group. The success of this project, supported by grants, marked the beginning of a sustainable collaboration.

Cultivating growth together
Bart shares, “Our discussions with Ignite Group revealed significant opportunities for improvement in how we approached grant applications.” Thanks to Ignite Group’s open communication, accessibility, and assertiveness, we’ve learned tremendously about grants over the past four years. This has not only led to the successful realization of multiple projects supported by WBSO grants but also to significant progress in our administrative processes, such as time registration. From a modest beginning with a few thousand euros in grants, we have grown to receiving several hundred thousand euros. We are currently exploring the possibilities for an MIT feasibility application, highlighting how Ignite Group proactively collaborates with us in identifying new opportunities. Bart concludes, “The realization that we are not alone and Ignite Group’s tight agenda management make this collaboration particularly valuable.”