3 days delay
Another major malfunction at Suiker Unie Hoogkerk
Since Wednesday morning, December 6, the sugar beet factory of Suiker Unie in Hoogkerk has once again been experiencing a major disruption. Due to a broken conveyor belt, the supply of beets has come to a complete standstill. The repair is expected to take 3 days.
Beet growers who deliver to the Groningen factory have received an email containing the news. An employee of Suiker Unie Vierverlaten confirms to Boerenbusiness that the supply of sugar beet has been stopped. "Trucks that are still en route are allowed to unload their cargo on the site. However, no new cars are loaded anymore. The conveyor belt for the supply of beets is again defective."
Conveyor belt again
At the beginning of October, the bursting of this conveyor belt already caused damage. A week later it happened again. The belt ensures that the beets go from the central reception to the washing drum for processing. Then the band had snapped. Now it has stretched, so the tire needs to be replaced. However, it takes 3 days to arrange a replacement. Processing is expected to resume on Saturday December 9.
Sugar production can continue for a while on the stock of thick juice. It must be processed. 28.000 tons of sugar beet is supplied per day. That supply is now at a standstill.
Multiple failures
Both Dinteloord and Vierverlaten have been plagued this season by some disruptions, which delays the collection of the beets. The factory in Groningen has been shut down twice. There was also a malfunction in Dinteloord at the start of the season, as a result of which the supply came to a standstill.
Niels van der Boom
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