In the sheet metal industry, turning heavy parts is often time-consuming and risky. At Heudra, they didn’t realize how big the challenge actually was – until they discovered the EasyFlipper from Teqram. It proved to be the perfect solution for turning heavy parts faster, safer, and more operator-friendly.
Great variety, great challenges
As a supplier in the thick plate segment, Heudra processes products ranging from 50 x 50 mm up to an impressive 12 x 3 meters. For finishing, they use a drum deburring machine, but most of the work is still done manually with an angle grinder. The biggest challenge? Many parts are simply too large and heavy to flip by hand during grinding and deburring.
A trade fair discovery that changed everything
At TechniShow Utrecht 2022, Heudra was introduced to the EasyFlipper for the first time.
“The EasyFliper was the solution to a problem you didn’t even know you had,”
says managing director and co-owner Arjan Peterse. Colleagues were equally enthusiastic. At EuroBLECH Hannover, the decision was quickly made. The price was reasonable, but more importantly:
“Ease of use, safety, and operator satisfaction far outweigh a simple payback period.”
From time-consuming and risky to fast and safe
Previously, flipping large cut parts was both time-consuming and risky. Plates were placed on wooden beams with an overhead crane, then flipped over roughly using a forklift – before being lifted back onto the grinding table. This process not only took valuable time but also kept both the crane and forklift occupied, causing interruptions elsewhere in production.
An indispensable link in the process
Since January 2023, the EasyFlipper has been running at full speed every day. Parts weighing up to 750 kg, up to 100 mm thick, and measuring 2.5 x 1 meter are now flipped safely and efficiently. Moreover, the EasyFlipper doubles as a grinding table. Heudra uses a standard pneumatic EasyFlipper, enhanced with integrated power outlets, creating a complete workstation for operators. “Looking back, you think: we should have done this 10 years earlier,” says Peterse with a smile.
Reliable, robust, and always ready
Since the EasyFlipper’s arrival, there’s been no downtime caused by crane or forklift use. “The EasyFlipper keeps our production running like clockwork,” according to Peterse. Despite intensive daily use, there hasn’t been a single malfunction. A second EasyFlipper is already on the wish list – limited only by available space.
Heudra Snijtechniek: thick plate cutting specialist
Heudra Snijtechniek in Kesteren, Netherlands, specializes in oxy-fuel and plasma cutting of thick plate materials in small to medium series. With two advanced cutting machines, they can process plates up to 12 x 3 meters and 300 mm thick in a single operation. Together with sister companies Heudra Metaalbewerking and Rodin Machining, Heudra offers a complete production chain – from semi-finished to finished product. Customers include machine manufacturers and shipyards.
Smarter production with Teqram
Teqram’s mission is to make automation accessible – helping manufacturers streamline their processes for greater efficiency, consistency, and safety. In addition to the EasyFlipper – designed for quickly and safely flipping large and heavy parts up to 5,000 kg – Teqram develops autonomous robotic systems for grinding, deburring, and blasting sheet metal components. These systems combine advanced vision technology with artificial intelligence, enabling easy operation without complex programming. Smart sensors and algorithms ensure reliable and user-friendly automation, empowering teams to work safer and smarter.
Learn more at heudrasnijtechniek.nl and teqram.com.
