Post on 09-Apr-2018
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Projects and Services
Designed to be an engineer
A story of diversification
Cofely Fabricom is the ultimate reference in terms of innovative, multi-technical installations
and services. The group’s expertise includes a wide range of disciplines such as electrical
engineering, instrumentation, mechanical engineering, piping, automation and mainte-
nance. This diversification gives additional advantages in the sectors in which the group
operates: from infrastructure, buildings, industry and energy to oil and gas.
Fabricom was established in 1946 as an SME focused almost exclusively on electrical
installations. As from the 50s, the company began to diversify, with the production and
installation of pipelines, poles for power lines, nuclear power plants, gas terminal modules...
From 1980 onwards, the group embarked on a European conquest with new technologies
such as production automation, networks, fibreglass, composites and security installations.
Today Cofely Fabricom – the adjusted name was established in 2012 – is the leading Euro-
pean expert in the field of technical installations. As part of the GDF SUEZ Energy Services,
Cofely Fabricom integrates a wide range of multi-disciplinary skills. With more than 5,000
employees these are converted into total solutions for clients from various sectors. The
Process Solutions department plays a key role in the field of industrial automation and ICT.
In Belgium alone, 150 engineers provide a full service every day: from conceptual design
and detailed engineering to project realization and services with a 24/7 standby service.
Gert Thys, Business Development Manager: “Process Solutions in Belgium is divided into
the North and the South. In the northern section, we employ 80 engineers across our
offices in Genk and Zwijndrecht, near Antwerp. Here we develop solutions for automotive,
(nuclear) energy, pharmaceuticals, engineering, food and beverages, manufacturing, logi-
stics and cranes. Based on its vast experience, Genk focuses on discontinuous produc-
tion processes. Zwijndrecht, on the other hand, focuses more on clients with continuous
production processes.”
Continuous and discontinuous
“Continuous and discontinuous production processes require a completely different ap-
proach,” says Thierry Monsieur, Section Manager Industrial Automation Genk. “In discon-
tinuous processes, we must realize the projects during downtime. This means that the
deadlines are very short, which is logical. A production stop will cost our customers a lot of
money, and so we must limit the downtime to a minimum. This is also the reason why there
is a panel building department in Genk. It’s a matter of running both engineering and panel
building simultaneously, in order to shorten the realization time of the project. In contrast,
projects in the continuous industry usually run according to a fixed plan, and have a very
long and intensive preparation period. They are less hectic, but subject to complex and
stringent standards. This brings with it a lot of additional documentation.”
Symbiosis
Thierry Monsieur: “Despite their different approach, Genk and Zwijndrecht work together
very closely. Both engineering teams have competences that are complementary and they
mutually reinforce each other. The result: a high capacity, a continuous symbiosis of ideas
and vast internal knowledge. We like our clients to benefit from this intensive collaboration.
In recent years it has resulted in a loyal customer base. Over the years, we have evolved
alongside our clients. Where we used to realize mainly local projects, today already 40% of
our projects are outside Belgium.”
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Projects and Services
Continuous symbiosis of ideas
Great job satisfaction
The central position of the engineers also has a positive effect
on the engineers themselves. Thierry Monsieur: “The flat
organizational structure, short communication lines, variety
of work, direct involvement ... This all translates into a high
degree of job satisfaction. As a result, we have a low staff
turnover. An additional reason for our excellent staff retention
is the fact that we invest a lot in knowledge and in the best
possible tools for carrying out the job.”
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Focus on the engineer
One of the reasons for this customer loyalty is the unique
position of the engineer. Gert Thys: “A dedicated project
manager provides a single point of contact for clients.
And from day 1 the automation engineer also takes
shared ownership. Apart from direct customer contact, he
collaborates intensely with other departments with regard
to the electrical and mechanical on-site installations. The
hardware engineer is also fully involved. He is responsible
for all the hardware engineering, which includes the
design and informing the panel builder. By participating
in on-site I/O testing and commissioning, he is perfectly
placed to assess the impact of his design on the different
departments.”
Gert Thys continues: “Quality is our trademark. It is not
only a customer requirement, it is also important to us. In
many cases, after the projects have been realized, we also
provide the PLC maintenance of the systems. After all, our
core business is all about the clients’ technical installations.
We need to take away any worries the client might have,
and enable him to concentrate on his own core activity:
production.”
EPLAN Software & Services NV/SA
Bosstraat 54 ∙ B-3560 Lummen
Tel +32 (0) 13 53 96 96 ∙ Fax +32 (0) 13 53 96 99
E-mail: sales@eplan.be ∙ www.eplan.be
EPLAN Software & Services B.V.
Hengelder 56 · NL-6900 AE Zevenaar
Tel: + 31 (0) 316 591 770 · Fax: + 31 (0) 316 591 749
E-mail: sales@eplan.nl · www.eplan.nl
Projects and Services
Towards an EPLAN Certified Company
One of the supporting systems used is EPLAN. “Because we involve our hardware engineers in the projects from the very
beginning, EPLAN is an important tool,” says Thierry Monsieur. “Starting from the initial phase, all technical installations are
detailed in EPLAN. So it is used from basic engineering right up to final documentation.”
Although Cofely Fabricom expects all-round knowledge from its engineers, they still insist on one specific specialization.
Gert Thys: “In order to validate this knowledge and quality, we aim to be an EPLAN Certified Company. This is why it is
important that we have the necessary EPLAN Certified Engineers available. Our internal EPLAN working group is an ideal
platform for sharing this knowledge with other colleagues. The group watches over the internal EPLAN standard and the
implementation of EPLAN technologies such as EPLAN Electric P8, EPLAN Pro Panel and EPLAN Engineering Center
One.”
“EPLAN supports this knowledge-sharing. We notice that other Cofely Fabricom departments liaise with the working
group. Cofely Fabricom employs more than 200 trained EPLAN users who, on a daily basis, use more than 50 EPLAN
licences.”
Guy Willems, EPLAN Strategic Account Manager for Cofely Fabricom
“I have noticed that the EPLAN Certified Engineer course gives our engineers extra motivation. For our company this is
recognition for our years of investing in people and professional tools.”
Gert Thys, Business Development Manager Cofely Fabricom Process Solutions
“Because of the many years of experience our hardware engineers have with EPLAN, the system is used intensively. From
basic engineering through to detailed design.”
Thierry Monsieur, Section Manager Cofely Fabricom Process Solutions
Find out more about Cofely Fabricom at www.cofelyfabricom-gdfsuez.com10
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