“The VC-i runs perfectly, it couldn’t be better”

“In 2024, I had no idea that JBT Marel was developing the new VC-i. At the EuroTier exhibition in Hannover, I expected the introduction of something small—like a new trolley or shackles. But instead, there was this beautiful new vent cutter, and I immediately knew we needed it. I was instantly impressed by the machine’s technology, adaptability, simple and robust units, and the clear data displayed on the screen. That made all the difference. I saw our sales manager Bart Wolters and said: ‘Good morning Bart, please wrap it up for me.’"

Proud of the decision

"Back in Zevenhuizen, I told Wim Clazing, director and owner, ‘Wim, I want that machine. I trust that this will work, that this is the right machine for us.’ Because quality is the most important thing for us. I know that from Wim Clazing too. He always wants only the best, whatever is needed to grow. If it works well, the investment is worth it; cheap solutions are expensive in the long run. And the response was: ‘Okay, go ahead and arrange it.’ So every day I am still proud of that decision. The VC-i runs perfectly, couldn’t be better, with our standard chickens consistently reaching an average performance level extremely close to 100%.”

Stable and precise 

“With our previous vent cutter, we spent a long time trying to get the right fixed settings for our standard broilers of 2.5 to 3.2 kg. But over time, we started receiving more light chickens of 1.6 to 1.8 kg. That meant we had to change the settings every day, which costs time. And if we kept running at the same settings, issues could come up. But now, with the VC-i, we don’t have these problems at all. We can easily select a different setting for a flock of lighter birds versus heavier birds. I don’t need an hour and a half for that; I simply tap the touchscreen and the line keeps running without stopping. We don’t have to slow down the line, and there are no issues or penalties with contamination. The consistently stable and tight operation gives us complete peace of mind. At the end of the day, we rinse the machine, close the doors, and say ‘see you tomorrow’.”

Favorite machine

“Here in Zevenhuizen, everyone is happy that we invested in the right vent cutter. Especially at the start of the evisceration line, it is crucial that this machine works well. If everything goes right with the carcass, then the rest of the evisceration process will also run smoothly, all the way to the FIM and I/O Washer. If something goes wrong at the beginning, it cannot be fixed later in the opener or eviscerator. My colleague in the primary process, Habib, who has worked here for 43 years, has never spoken so passionately about any machine. He said, ‘There are many good and beautiful machines in this slaughterhouse that I have no complaints about. But I have one favorite machine, the VC-i. Finally, the perfect machine for us, a machine that is truly top-notch, working 100%.’ I think that’s a great story.”

To measure is to know

Yasin Muratdagi is extremely happy with all the capabilities of the VC-i, “It’s great to know exactly what the machine is doing in detail. Having the data is important, because measuring is knowing. If one of the units isn’t performing well, you immediately see it on the screen. It will say that unit 2 has a problem. Note, we’ve never had that happen. We don’t need to check anything, because with performance above 99%, nothing is wrong with the units.”

Virtually no downtime

“In 2010, we replaced our entire evisceration line at once with Marel machines. In the beginning it took some getting used to but after some support and technical advice it has been running excellently for years. Since then, the evisceration line has been continuously updated, with the FIM, PGI, and now the VC-i. Additionally, here in Zevenhuizen we also have the GP live bird handling system and the plucking department from JBT Marel. This works very well together with our facilities in Breukelen, Hunsel, and Beringe, which all have the same machines. We can support each other, compare results, and help one another improve. Everything runs flawlessly. We have virtually no downtime.”

Short lines of communication

“I have very short lines of communication with JBT Marel, like with sales manager Bart Wolters, the technical department, the mechanics. It feels as if everyone at JBT Marel knows me. If I have a technical support question, I get a clear answer the next day. Being located in the Netherlands, we receive parts that we need the same day already in the afternoon by courier. I find the relationship with JBT Marel simply perfect. They do what they promise.”