Banken Champignons: security supports distribution process
The old location in Elst was in danger of becoming wedged between Arnhem and Nijmegen and the building had actually become too small.
In addition, the technical installations were gradually in need of replacement.
With its 10,000 m2, the new building is a lot larger and meets all modern (hygiene) requirements.
Also when it comes to the security installations installed by Mactwin.
The origins of the company lie in the fifties when father Banken – who is still active in the company – started growing mushrooms.
The grower company has grown into the market leader in the Benelux in the field of fresh mushrooms.
In 2012, Banken Champignons has a production division with three production companies in Poland and Belgium and a trading division located in the new building in Wijchen.
Fresh mushrooms are supplied daily in Wijchen, both from our own farms and from fellow growers.
The vast majority are (chestnut) mushrooms, but Banken Champignons also sells more exclusive varieties, such as oyster mushrooms, truffles, chanterelles and porcini mushrooms.
Jurgen Banken: “In Wijchen, we first check the quality of the mushrooms supplied. After that, most of them are packaged, as they are later in the supermarket. A small part of the mushrooms supplied to us is cut and then packaged or processed into complete meals. About 80% of the mushrooms we package or process go to retailers or food services abroad.”
Controlled conditions
All this, including transport, is done under controlled conditions.
Jurgen Banken: “We have to comply with strict international hygiene requirements. During the construction of the new building, we took this into account in all respects. For example, the temperature in most rooms and in our trucks is constantly only 2°C; Mushrooms age quickly and are not very resistant to temperature changes. But the production staff also enters through their own entrance. To get into the production areas, they first have to go through a so-called hygiene lock: a changing room with showers and a private locker for each employee.”
For gates, exterior doors, lockers and time registration, employees use one and the same access tag.
Because mushrooms are brought in and taken away on a daily basis, the company’s own drivers can open the gate and a single entrance door 24/7 with their access tag.
External drivers can report via the intercom.
An employee of the transport department receives this call on his mobile phone, after which he can open the gate remotely.
Erik van Hoogdalem, Account Manager at Mactwin, explains that the access control system is linked to both the burglar alarm and the intercom system.
“With this, we have realized a fully integrated system that is completely in line with the wishes of and daily use by our client.”
Advanced IP HD cameras monitor processes
In and around the Banken building we see quite a few cameras .
Jurgen Banken explains that a large part of the outdoor cameras are intended for general surveillance around the building.
“The other outdoor cameras and the indoor cameras are placed in such a way that they supervise our (logistical) processes. For example, cameras have been placed indoors and outdoors at our dock shelters. The outdoor cameras provide an image of the occupied and free dock shelters, while the indoor cameras record the pallets that are loaded into the trucks.” “These HD cameras read, as it were, the labels with shipping data that are stuck on the pallets,” adds Erik van Hoogdalem.
“As a result, Banken Champignons knows exactly when which shipment is loaded into which truck. In order to select the right camera for this purpose, we tested various cameras and lenses at an early stage and still in the old building. Bosch’s HD cameras came out on top in the test. From the user-friendly BVMS video management platform, our client can manage and operate the camera system and record and view the camera images.” 
Fireproof
In accordance with the requirements of the Building Decree and the specifications, the building is equipped with an integrated non-automatic fire alarm and evacuation system.
“Given the size of the building, it is divided into several fire compartments that are separated from each other by fire-resistant (WBDBO) facades and partition walls,” says Erik van Hoogdalem.
In several places, however, conveyor belts run right through the partition walls.
In order to nevertheless meet the requirements with regard to fire resistance, the conveyor belts are first sent to the side in the event of a fire alarm (after the production process has been automatically stopped), and then the fire doors are closed.
Bosch Dual Ray detectors have been used on both sides of the fire hatches.
These detectors are extremely accurate and insensitive to temperature fluctuations and, for example, steam.
Another type of fire alarm would too often give an unwanted fire alarm due to the heat, steam and condensation production in the adjacent rooms (such as the room where empty return crates are washed).
Van Hoogdalem: “With the fire alarm and evacuation system we implemented, Banken Champignons meets all the requirements. What’s more, expansion in the future is easy thanks to the modular structure of the system.”
Ready for the future
Jurgen Banken is very happy with the new, sustainable building.
“For the time being, we can do well here. With the building, including all technical (security) installations, we are ready for the future.”