NETHERLANDS – Key Technology has promoted Harry van de Wiel to Vice President and General Manager to steer operations in the Netherlands.

Van de Wiel, who is based in the Netherlands (NL), is in charge of developing and leading strategies to bring Key’s high-performance optical sorting, conveying, and other process automation systems, as well as world-class service, to food processors in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), as well as China, India, and Southeast Asia.

With 33 years of experience in automated food processing Van de Wiel brings on board a wealth of knowledge in this sector.

Previously, he held the position of Director of Projects and Engineering for EMEA. He has been employed by Key for two years, most recently as Senior Director of Sales Engineering and Process Engineering for EMEA and Asia.

Additionally, he ran the international provider of food processing equipment, Innotec Systems B.V., for 16 years.

“Key has achieved exponential market growth in EMEA and Asia over the last five years. As customers entrust us with more business, we must continue to keep the customer at the center of everything we do – that’s our single highest priority,” van de Wiel said.

“This means understanding our customers’ goals, keeping the lines of communication open, and developing new technologies that solve previously intractable problems.”

He believes that Key is the total package following its 75 years of experience and best-in-class global engineering, sales, and service teams, who know how to design, build, and support innovative and reliable systems that help processors and packers optimize product quality, protect food safety, and increase profitability

According to Jack Lee, Duravant Group President – Food Sorting and Handling Solutions, food processors and packers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), as well as China, India, and Southeast Asia are facing a huge challenge – extreme weather is impacting the quality of field crops, increasing the prevalence of defects found in raw products.

“Harry is a strategic thinker with a big-picture perspective and he sees opportunities and creates a clear path forward,” said Lee. “Add his strong professional background and technical knowledge, and Harry is the ideal person to lead Key in these important regions.”

In Lee’s view, processors and packers must work harder and smarter to adequately prepare their products for consumers.

“Our advanced sorters, graders, and other equipment are invaluable tools for managing product quality, and great leadership at Key in EMEA and Asia helps fuel customer success,” he added.

In Beusichem, the Netherlands, Key produces conveyors, optical sorters, and other food handling equipment for processors in the Asia and EMEA areas.

Along with equipment from Marlen, WECO, and other Duravant firms, Key technologies are on display at Duravant’s Customer Experience Center in Hasselt, Belgium.

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