VDL Translift gains inspiration in Tilburg and boosts production with Fabory Logic
During a visit to Fabory’s central warehouse in Tilburg, VDL Translift discovered how a smart inventory setup can significantly accelerate production work. Michel Dingemans, Stefan van Zanden, and Dirk-Jan Bruggink of VDL Translift, accompanied by Fabory Account Manager Paul Geelen, learned how Fabory Logic contributes to more efficient processes, modern technology, and advanced automation on the shop floor. The visit proved inspiring: the VDL team decided to introduce a similar Fabory Logic setup in their own production facilities, ensuring that fastener inventory would always remain at the right level.
VDL Translift: innovation and in-house production
VDL Translift develops and manufactures innovative side loaders, screw compactors, and underground waste collection systems. With these in-house developed systems, VDL Translift has gained a strong market share in the Netherlands—demonstrating the importance of continuous innovation in the waste collection market.
For assembling these vehicles and systems, the right bolts, nuts, and other fasteners are indispensable, as every machine contains countless fastening points that must be exactly right. With its own engineering department, VDL Translift manages the entire cycle from design to finished product. This enables the company to adapt quickly to changes, but it also requires that the right parts are available at the right time in production. Smart inventory management of so-called C-parts (such as fasteners) is therefore essential to prevent downtime and safeguard consistently high production quality.
Implementation of Fabory Logic across 19 locations
Inspired by what they had seen in Tilburg, VDL Translift decided in 2024 to implement Fabory’s inventory concept in their own production environment. The company invested in new racking, and Fabory’s specialists began making weekly visits to monitor and replenish stock. VDL also added Lubrinox fasteners to its assortment. Today, 19 VDL locations are equipped with a combination of one-bin and two-bin setups for inventory management.
In Fabory Logic terms, a one-bin system means that each article type is stored in a single bin, which is checked and replenished at regular intervals (for example, weekly) by the supplier. This simple system relieves VDL staff of the task: during the weekly visit, Fabory’s merchandiser scans the bins and ensures that empty ones are refilled with the next delivery.
Reliable stock with a hybrid bin system
The two-bin system, as the name suggests, works with two bins per article. Once the first bin is empty, it serves as a signal to automatically trigger a new order. Meanwhile, staff continue using the stock from the second bin, which serves as a buffer. By the time the new stock arrives, there is still enough left in the second bin to keep production running.
This combination of one-bin (for regular replenishment) and two-bin (for critical parts where shortages are not an option) ensures that VDL always has the right amount of materials available and that stock-outs are practically eliminated. Fabory supported the full implementation of this Fabory Logic project on-site, ensuring a smooth transition.
Efficiency gains: continuous stock and less assembly time
Where staff previously had to search for missing bolts during busy periods or wait for urgent deliveries, those days are now over. All fasteners are neatly organized in Fabory racks, and replenishment is handled proactively by Fabory. This means that VDL employees spend far less time managing inventory or searching for parts, allowing them to focus more on their core assembly tasks. The result is measurable productivity gains and smoother assembly processes at all participating locations.
Three benefits in one
Michel Dingemans, Plant Manager at VDL Translift: “The deciding factor for us was that Fabory offers a wide range of logistic solutions, an extensive assortment with many items in stock or with short lead times, and that they include Lubrinox in their program. This saves us additional steps during assembly. The entire project went smoothly, and we can truly call it a success. We now look forward to what the future will bring.”
Benefits at a glance
- Always the right stock: one-bin and two-bin setups practically eliminate stock-outs.
- Time savings: assemblers no longer need to search for fasteners or apply lubrication.
- Higher productivity: less downtime and smoother assembly processes.
- Sustainable partnership: Fabory provides flexible logistic solutions and short lead times.
Interested in the benefits of Lubrinox? Learn more.
