About us
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State of the art technology, with century-old roots
Sormac is headquartered in Venlo, in the southeast of the Netherlands. Along with the neighbouring German border region, this is Europe’s largest horticultural area. It should therefore come as no surprise that this is where Somac put its roots down over a hundred years ago, specialising in the development and manufacture of Sorting Machines – Sormac. Market developments in the 1990s incentivised us to expand our product portfolio. We have built a solid reputation as a manufacturer of peeling machines for potatoes, carrots and onions and of the most advanced washing and drying systems for leafy vegetables.
Reliability is paramount
In the world of natural produce, nothing is identical. We therefore strive to set realistic expectations in terms of the commitments we make and the machines we supply. If a solution falls short of those expectations, we will remedy it. We invest in the development of mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with our clients. This is reflected by our machines: their robust design provides high operational reliability and a long service life. The food industry requires a clean and structured environment, and the same can be expected from our production area. The entire production process takes place under our own roof, meaning we have full control of the process.
Small details, big difference
We strive for perfection in every detail of our work. When developing our products, quality comes first. By combining the latest technologies with many years of experience, we exceed expectations by breaking industry standards time and again. Continuous optimisation is achieved by listening to our customers attentively. All of our products are tested in our own testing facility, resulting in innovative solutions tailored to the market’s desires. All internal processes are compliant with the ISO 9001 standard, allowing us to guarantee the highest possible quality.
Leading in technology
We don’t just focus on the quality of our machines; we also concentrate on the quality of our customer’s finished product. Our laboratory team searches for solutions to microbiological and physiological questions from the market in our in-house testing facility. How does the product undergo processing? How can the service life be extended? What quality requirements are imposed on a given product? Through our in-house research, market experience and product knowledge, we provide well-founded answers to these questions. Our aim is to help our customers to supply their customers with the best possible product.
Meet our executive team
We have a passionate and committed team of more than 75 staff. Sormac’s executive team comprises Bert Haffmans, Roy Lemmen, Roel van Essen and Ruud Schreurs.
Bert Haffmans is the former owner of Haffmans BV, a company that specialises in quality-control equipment and CO2 systems for breweries. He studied food technology at the Technical University of Munich. He has been the owner and general director of Sormac since 2003. Bert is extremely passionate about innovating and fine-tuning machines. Under his leadership, the business has become a globally operating enterprise.
Roy Lemmen is the commercial director and has worked at Sormac since 2004. He has an agricultural background and extensive knowledge of vegetable processing. Through his affinity for technology and his many years of experience, he provides valuable solutions for customers. During his career, his focus on building meaningful relationships has contributed significantly to Sormac’s growth. He applies this passion when managing the sales department.
Roel van Essen, Sormac’s financial director, has had a career in Finance, IT and HR management spanning over thirty years. He also has considerable experience with international projects. Within Sormac’s dynamic operating environment, Roel enables the business to continue to professionalise and to adapt its structure appropriately. This allows the organisation to place maximum emphasis on the core business.
Ruud Schreurs joined Sormac in 2011 to complete his graduation project. Since then he has progressed to his current role as technical director. With his eye for detail and no-nonsense approach, he is valued highly by customers and suppliers alike. His curiosity about technology and quality produces innovative solutions. From order through to production, Ruud is responsible for managing the technical team and quality control. As such, he creates a robust foundation for Sormac’s future.
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United we stand
In 2019, Sormac acquired a stake in Foodcons GmbH & Co KG based in Viersen, Germany. Foodcons specialises in innovative cutting and punching technologies for vegetable and fruit processing. The versatile machines are a welcome addition to Sormac’s VeggieLine range. By combining our technical knowledge and market experience, we form a powerful union with an even more comprehensive product range.
Sormac expands to the US
Sormac has been active in the United States since the 1980’s. Driven by the strong growth of this market, we opened an office located in Northwood, Ohio under the name Sormac Inc. in 2019. John Clement and Daniel Alu manage all commercial and technical matters. With support from the headquarters in the Netherlands, they form the basis for the new site. Our local presence allows us to offer customers faster service and provide instant access to critical spare parts.
