Kolmer Elektromotoren has introduced a fast lane that enables customer-specific brake motors from various brands and price ranges to be ready within 24 hours. In doing so, the Harderwijk-based company is responding to a market that increasingly—and rightly—expects problems to be resolved immediately, says Operations Director Rob Doppenberg. By Schuttevaer.
Kolmer Elektromotoren has long been known for fast deliveries, extensive modifications and excellent service. Brake motors, however, require specialist expertise. “Motor suppliers more or less regarded brake motors as a sideline and gave them little priority. Customers were used to that,” Doppenberg explains. “But things have changed. That is why we have made brake motors a distinct product group and given them the priority the market needs. A brake motor failure is not always urgent, but it often is. If an anchor system fails, for example, a vessel cannot set sail. That costs an enormous amount of money. The approach we have taken to our standard motors for years now also applies to our brake motors. We can supply them quickly from extensive stock. We always stock brake motors and motors prepared for brake installation, covering braking torques from 4 to 1,600 newton metres. If required, we can also quickly adapt them to the customer’s specific needs.”
To achieve the desired speed of delivery for its brake motor range, Kolmer Elektromotoren introduced a “fast lane”, allowing a brake motor to be ready within 24 hours. This required, among other things, making all necessary documentation, such as 3D drawings and data sheets, easily accessible and standardising a range of components.
“A great deal of engineering and drawing work goes into that standardisation,” says Rob Doppenberg. “The brake end shield, for example, is designed so that the brake unit can be installed much faster than on a standard end shield, which first has to be modified to fit. You can come up with excellent solutions, but if they do not fit, you are still not making progress. We therefore invested considerable time and effort in ensuring that all our designs are robust and meet customers’ installation space requirements. This has resulted in a number of standardised packages with optional features. If a customer orders another brake motor several years later, they receive an identical motor.”
Another benefit of standardisation, he says, is the availability of replacement parts. “If a component fails—a brake disc breaks, for example—the customer can rely on us having it in stock, without having to buy an entirely new brake motor.”
Kolmer Elektromotoren is the exclusive distributor of Cantoni electric motors in the Netherlands and Belgium. “These are real workhorses that stand up well to harsh conditions at sea,” says Doppenberg. Kolmer also has its own electric motor brand, EMK: a more affordable range that still offers high quality and efficiency, for applications where the robustness of a Cantoni motor is not always necessary.
Both brands can be given additional protection with a specially developed coating. “This C5 coating can be applied quickly. It not only forms a protective layer, but also bonds to the motor’s metal surface through the paint layer, like thousands of tiny anchors. This prevents moisture from getting underneath the paint even if it is damaged, so the motor does not rust,” Doppenberg explains.
Several years ago, Kolmer developed a brake cover specifically for its brake motors. “A brake motor is normally not protected against harsh conditions at sea, so we came up with a steel cover: a watertight solution that can withstand impacts, making it particularly suitable for offshore and marine applications. It is a durable solution that extends the service life of brake motors.” Cantoni has since adopted the invention.
To make ordering as straightforward as possible and speed up delivery, customers can configure both electric motors and brake motors on the Kolmer Elektromotoren website: Motor Configuration and immediately download drawings and specifications.
“If you place an urgent order for a brake motor online, for example, the technician on site can start making preparations, so the motor can be installed on a plug-and-play basis as soon as it arrives,” says Doppenberg. “You can only supply something quickly if you have it in stock.
When someone needs one, we have it in stock nine times out of ten.
“We do not shy away from extensive modifications, such as different shafts, special materials and coatings, or a dual brake.
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