Challenge
BLÜCHER wanted to strengthen food safety by upskilling employees in hygienic design across national borders.
Solution
A recognised expert trained BLÜCHER employees in EHEDG requirements for food safety and hygienic design.
Result
BLÜCHER now has certified employees and actively utilises their expertise in marketing and customer dialogue.
BLÜCHER is an international manufacturer of stainless steel pipes, fittings and drains for, among others, the food industry. As an active member of EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group), BLÜCHER aims to lead by example and help raise the standard for hygienic design worldwide. That is why the company invested in a specialised course with Force Technology, ensuring that employees across countries have the in-depth knowledge required in hygienic design and food safety.
“We want to give customers confidence that our solutions meet the highest hygiene standards. With the course and certification of participants, we can document our expertise, both to customers and in our marketing,” says Bo James Andersen, Sales Manager for the food segment at BLÜCHER.
The food safety course was delivered by Alan Friis, Team Manager at the Centre for hygienic design at Force Technology. The training focused on hygiene in relation to BLÜCHER’s core product, drains, while also providing a broader understanding of the need for hygienic design in food production and EHEDG guidelines. Participants represented sales, development and marketing, helping to anchor the knowledge widely across the organisation. The training was intensive and concluded with an exam and a certificate for participants.
“It was not something you could just get through. There was a great deal to take in, but it was beneficial for us to gain an overall understanding of the subject. It also mattered that sales, development and marketing all gained the same thorough understanding of hygiene requirements,” says Bo James Andersen.
According to Bo James Andersen, it was crucial for BLÜCHER to find an instructor with strong technical authority who could also cover the full breadth of hygiene requirements across countries and functions:
“What is unique about Alan Friis is that he is the only one who can cover the full spectrum of hygiene requirements and teach across countries and disciplines. His passion and commitment ensure that it never becomes dull, and he is respected across the industry. It was essential for us to gather everything around one instructor who understands the details as well as the broader perspective.”
Alan Friis’ depth of expertise in EHEDG and hygienic design is rooted in his active involvement in developing several EHEDG guidelines, his work evaluating, testing and certifying processequipment in line with EHEDG principles and his participation in developing CEN and ISO standards.
BLÜCHER actively contributes to EHEDG guideline work and helps set the standard for hygienic solutions in the industry. In that context, the course has given employees greater confidence in customer dialogue and strengthened the company’s position on food safety in Denmark and internationally. This matters in a market where new players try to enter with solutions that do not meet the same standards.
“This is not only important for us, it is important for food safety globally. When we help set the standard and develop guidelines in EHEDG, it helps ensure that everyone who wants to enter the market must meet the same requirements. In this way, we contribute to making food safety a shared responsibility, not just for BLÜCHER but for the whole industry,” says Bo James Andersen.
The course has provided BLÜCHER with a quality endorsement that can be used actively in marketing. Employees now share a common understanding of hygienic design and food hygiene. Consequently, development, sales and marketing now work according to the same standards.
“I participated to gain a broader understanding of the subject so I can produce marketing materials that clearly demonstrate our knowledge in this area,” says Mie Damgaard from BLÜCHER’s marketing department.
BLÜCHER’s membership of EHEDG and the upskilling of employees mean that the company is not merely following developments; it is helping set the direction for how hygiene and food safety should be handled in the industry. This gives BLÜCHER a strong position when new standards are implemented and when customers request documentation showing that their suppliers take food safety seriously.
Reach out to Alan Friis for more information.
