Obsolete items & modernisation
Don’t get left behind
Huisman’s main goal is to help its clients boost their productivity, safety, and efficiency by having the most advanced and cost-effective equipment in the industry.
Huisman has the in-house engineering knowledge, production and installation capabilities, and decades of experience needed to offer the best solutions for replacing obsolete items or modernisation works, ensuring maximum uptime.
An evolving market that fosters regular equipment advancements
The market is evolving rapidly, driving regular advancements in equipment. Technical innovation and digitalisation require systems to be updated and modified more quickly to stay competitive in both the current and future market. Additionally, many computer systems, including Programmable Logic Controllers, are becoming outdated and lack sufficient computing capacity. As a result, clients need to remain agile to outpace competitors and stay ahead of technological advancements in their industry. Huisman can assist in this process.
When considering modernisation or replacing obsolete items which allow you to improve productivity, or to remain compliant with the latest regulations, Huisman is the perfect partner.
Huisman is continuously developing its own new technologies and solutions. While these latest technical innovations are often installed on newbuilds initially, in most cases they can be retrofitted to existing equipment, and this can be early or late in its lifetime.
Proactive role
Jerry Donker, Huisman Manager Service Offering, who is responsible for managing technical proposals, modifications and requests for clients, covering anything from small software changes to major upgrades, says it is vital to anticipate developments. He points out that Huisman is very much taking a proactive role in supporting clients to keep up with industry developments.
“There are vessels out there with obsolete components and sometimes owners don’t realise this. We are currently striving for a pro-active approach, giving clients a heads-up about upcoming obsolete items in the next few years. We are working closely with clients to inform them what will be obsolete in the coming five years, and we offer advice about strategic spare parts packages and how to modernise their systems and equipment,” Jerry says.
Hydraulic motor controller
One example is the Hydraulic motor controller 4 (HMC04) which is already obsolete. There was a new version available, but it required a major refit aboard. Therefore, Huisman has taken the lead and redeveloped the configuration. A template is provided which can fit in the same space available on the vessel. “We are working on standardisation, making it easier from a manufacturer’s point of view but also easier for clients,” Jerry adds.
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) replacement
In another example, all Huisman cranes built in 2014/15 are equipped with a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) - dubbed the ‘brain of the crane’ – which will be reaching the end of its lifetime in three years. After that the OEM will no longer support it with spare parts. “We are proactively approaching our clients with this PLC. We explain that if they want to operate the crane for another 20 years and optimise the total cost of ownership, they should consider a replacement. We aim to work closely with the client to make informed decisions. We do not actively push for the replacement of the PLC but based on the remaining lifetime and discussion about the scope, we can also advise on a spare parts package.”
Working alongside clients to anticipate future needs
The above-mentioned components are just a few examples of how Huisman is supporting its clients in updating their equipment so they can stay one step – or many steps - ahead of their competitors in a rapidly changing market. Using its in-house engineering knowledge, production and installation capabilities, Huisman helps maximise the value of equipment throughout its lifetime, and even beyond its official lifetime.
Carrying out timely replacements of aging equipment ensures that clients are at the forefront of the industry. Optimal productivity is guaranteed with safe, efficient and modern equipment which is able to take on any challenge.