Manufacturing: coating
Coatinc Ninove
Coatinc Ninove protects steel against corrosion and is part of The Coatinc Company, an international family business in surface treatment. To further raise the yield of its galvanising operation — home to one of the largest galvanising lines in the Benelux — Coatinc chose Vocum in 2026.
Result
€ 1.1M potential/year · 18% productivity gained · ROI 2.2:1
The assignment: more yield from galvanising
Coatinc Ninove wanted to raise the yield of its corrosion centre while maintaining quality and delivery reliability. At the outset, Vocum thoroughly mapped production, planning and logistics — largely by following operations on the floor across full shifts, day and night.
That analysis revealed an improvement potential of 20% on labour costs within the scope, worth € 1,100,000 per year. We translated that potential into concrete improvements on the floor, step by step, together with Coatinc.
Three levers
- Leadership on the floorShift supervisors and foremen were given a clearly defined role, a fixed back-up and training on the floor — growing from a supporting into a steering role.
- Staffing to matchUsing volume tiers, we matched the number of employees per shift to the actual workload. Hidden waiting times were made visible and eliminated step by step.
- Managing by factsA management system with an operational dashboard tests the core KPI — man-hours per tonne — against targets every day. Fixed meetings translate those figures into concrete actions.
The biggest lever lay with the supervisors
Shift supervisors and foremen steer their team every shift on the basis of facts and figures.
Results
The guaranteed saving was already reached after twelve weeks. During the project, Coatinc already achieved 18% higher productivity, measured in hours per tonne of galvanised steel — and the trend is still rising. Coatinc expects to reach the 20% project objective soon, safeguarded through monthly follow-up and audits.
- 18%higher productivity, measured in hours per tonne of galvanised steel
- ROI 2.2:1returned on the project investment
- 12 weeksto reach the guaranteed saving
Read the reference letter from Managing Director Marc Miclotte
Reference letterRead the full letter
Dear Sir or Madam,
Coatinc Ninove is part of The Coatinc Company, an international family business and full-service partner in surface treatment – from hot-dip galvanising and powder coating to wet painting of steel and anodising of aluminium. In Ninove, the corrosion centre for the protection of steel operates three production lines: one of the largest galvanising lines in the Benelux, a centrifuge line and a powder-coating line. To further raise the yield of our galvanising plant, we engaged Vocum as an external partner in 2026.
At the start, Vocum thoroughly mapped our production, planning and logistics. That analysis revealed an improvement potential of 20% on labour costs within this scope, worth 1,100,000 euros per year. What immediately appealed to us was that Vocum did not stop at recommendations on paper, but actually got the organisation moving.
The biggest lever lay with our supervisors. Shift supervisors and foremen were given a clearly defined role, broader responsibility and a fixed back-up who takes on exactly the same tasks in their absence. Through training – in groups, individually and on the floor – they grew from a supporting into a steering role: they follow up their team, address lost time and adjust course themselves on the basis of facts.
At the same time, the way we determine our staffing was sharpened. Using volume tiers, the number of employees per shift is better matched to the workload. Hidden waiting times – around hanging, the baths and unloading – were made visible together with the process owners and eliminated step by step.
To be able to steer this, Vocum implemented a management system with an operational dashboard that tests our key KPIs – such as man-hours per tonne – against the set targets every day, so that deviations surface faster and more precisely. Fixed consultation moments, aligned with our continuous day and night production, translate those figures into concrete actions and a trackable action plan. For planning, logistics and the technical department, digital tools were added that record, distribute and follow up the work – from photo registration during loading and unloading to the follow-up of preventive maintenance.
The results speak for themselves, but the way they came about at least as much. In the beginning there was scepticism on the floor about feasibility. When the guaranteed target was reached after just twelve weeks, that picture shifted quickly; by reviewing the figures together every week and tackling the improvement points one by one, confidence grew further. The fact that the approach is now being safeguarded through monthly follow-up and audits gives us the certainty that the gains will also hold up after the project.
A productivity improvement of 18% has already been achieved, measured in hours worked per tonne of galvanised steel, which corresponds to an R.O.I. of 2.2:1. Moreover, the trend continues to rise, and we are convinced that we will soon reach the 20% project objective.
We look back on this project with satisfaction and wholeheartedly recommend Vocum to any organisation that wants to improve its operations structurally and measurably.
Yours faithfully,
Marc Miclotte
Managing Director — Coatinc Ninove
We look back on this project with satisfaction and wholeheartedly recommend Vocum to any organisation that wants to improve its operations structurally and measurably.
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