Within NEDCON, the Test Department plays an important role in ensuring the quality and safety of our storage solutions. Mark Assink and Veronica Smidkova, both working in the Research, Development & Prototyping department, provide insight into the importance and operation of our Test Department.
What exactly does the Test Department do?
The Test Department performs a wide range of tests to support both the design and development of NEDCON systems. For example, we test standard components, project specific solutions and new product developments.
“In the Test Department, we carry out both static and dynamic tests,” explains Veronica. “These include, for example, fatigue tests to evaluate long term durability and impact tests to evaluate how materials behave under sudden loads.”
The team behind the testing
Mark and Veronica bring years of experience in engineering and product development to the Test Department. They prepare the test plan, including setup and methodology, and closely monitor the testing process in collaboration with our skilled test crew: Han, Edwin and Jermo. After completion, they evaluate the results and create a clear test report with conclusions. Veronica explains: ‘’By working closely with the test crew, we can carry out complex tests quickly and accurately.’’
The value of in-house testing
Having our own Test Department offers major advantages. ‘’Because of our own testing laboratory, we can respond flexible to customer wishes and needs. Our clients can also witness the design and validation process, which builds their trust in our solutions’’, says Veronica.
A strong example of this is a project for a laundry detergent manufacturer, where fatigue tests on pallet shuttle rails were essential. Targeted testing allowed the rail thickness to be reduced by at least one millimetre, a small change with a major impact on material use and project cost. “This approach was key to the project’s success,” Mark emphasizes.
In addition to benefits for our customers, in house testing also brings advantages for NEDCON. It helps us continuously improve our products and make well informed design decisions. “It increases the company’s know how and gives us valuable insights we simply couldn’t obtain from calculations alone,” adds Veronica. Being able to observe how components behave under real-life conditions leads to smarter designs, higher safety and a more efficient development process.
Reliability of tests and equipment
The reliability of our tests starts with the skills and experience of the test team. They use modern measuring tools that automatically capture data and are regularly checked by independent external specialists to ensure accuracy. Our test setups also follow strict guidelines to make sure every test is carried out under the right conditions.
The combination of expertise, well maintained equipment and careful quality control ensures that our results are trustworthy.
Looking ahead and continuing to develop
We expect to combine digital simulations and real-life testing even more in the future. First, we use a software that allows us to “test” a design digitally and see how it is expected to behave. We then confirm those predictions through physical tests in our lab. Once the digital version is validated, we can explore small design adjustments on screen instead of testing every variant physically. “It’s a faster way to improve our designs, without compromising the reliability of our results,” says Mark.
A current example is the redevelopment of a pallet shuttle console. The new design was first tested digitally and the results looked very promising. Physical testing is now in progress to confirm that the final version performs exactly as expected.
On the move
The Test Department was literally on the move. The team was relocated relocating to a new location in Doetinchem. The entire process was being handled by Han, Edwin and Jermo themselves. “This way, full control over the process and its quality was maintained,’’ says Veronica.
