Foseco (Vesuvius)
ATEX explosion safety at market leader Foseco
Foseco, part of Vesuvius and market leader in foundry solutions, prioritizes maximum safety in its production and process environments. To comply with strict European safety standards, Foseco is working with DEKRA on updating its Explosion Safety Document (ESD/EPD). This ensures explosion safety for employees and products. "The ATEX process via DEKRA was very thorough and smooth," says Gaston Engbers, HSE manager at Foseco.
About Foseco
Foseco Nederland B​.V​.
is based in Hengelo and Enschede and is part of the global market leader in products and solutions for improving foundry performance. The company in the Netherlands was founded in 1937 and is part of the Vesuvius PLC group, headquartered in London. Foseco works on innovative products and services that increase productivity and improve quality and the working environment. Thanks to its extensive expertise, Foseco supplies a wide range of tools for steel, iron, and non-ferrous (iron) foundries.
"We mainly serve customers in the automotive industry. But we also provide solutions for products such as water pumps for sewage treatment plants, electric motors, and parts for wind turbines and train rails," explains Arjan Witbreuk, Maintenance & Engineering Manager at Foseco.
What is ATEX?
ATEX is an abbreviation of the French words ATmosphères EXplosibles. This European legislation was created to prevent explosions at companies. Companies where there is a risk of explosion are therefore required in Europe to comply with the standard known as
ATEX 153
and to have an
explosion safety document (ESD/EPD)
.
An ATEX certificate is a legal requirement for European companies that deal with explosive atmospheres or companies that sell equipment that must be certified according to
ATEX 114
for use in
ATEX zones
. Thanks to the explosion safety document and certification, organizations can prove that they comply with explosion safety standards. This minimizes the risk of explosions and ensures the safety of employees and equipment in hazardous environments. Read all about
ATEX certification
here.
ATEX: minimizing risks
"Of course, Foseco works with risk-reducing materials as much as possible. However, for specific coatings, we use isopropanol, a highly flammable solvent," explains Arjan. "This raw material is processed in an automated and closed process. Because this involves risks, we work with machines that comply with ATEX guidelines. This ensures that we meet the strict European standards for explosion safety. In our explosion safety document (ESD/EPD), we further explain the work processes, zoning, and control measures. Thanks to this approach, we are continuously assured of a safe production process."
From complex to clear and readable ESD/EPD
Drawing up an explosion safety document is not a one-off action; it must reflect the current working situation. This means that it must also be updated regularly, for example in the event of process or relevant standard changes. "This is the only way to ensure that we continue to comply with ATEX obligations. We started implementing the ATEX standards again in 2010. At the time, we did this in collaboration with DEKRA EXAM GmbH Germany, and today we do this together with DEKRA Netherlands," says Gaston.
Arjan adds: "The goal was to take a close look at Foseco's original safety document, the ESD/EPD, to refine and clarify it so that every employee understands the safety risks and can act accordingly. That has been very successful. We are very satisfied with the current setup. Our ESD/EPD is clear, well-organized, and easy for operators to read. We have gone from a complex 120-page ESD/EPD from before 2010 to a concise and understandable ESD/EPD of about 62 pages. In short, it has become much more user-friendly. Our current ESD/EPD is a 'living document'."
Thanks to the new setup, there is now much greater awareness of explosion safety, not only within our organization but also within the Vesuvius group.
ATEX via DEKRA
Foseco Netherlands has been working with DEKRA for 16 years now to optimize explosion safety within the company. Gaston: "Because our head office was still located in Germany in 2010, ATEX was launched with the help of DEKRA Germany. This was done with the support of DEKRA Netherlands. Gradually, DEKRA Netherlands took over this task." Over the past year and a half, there has been intensive collaboration to optimize the ESD/EPD.
Foseco is very satisfied with the collaboration with DEKRA, in which Mr. Stephan Schaepman, Technical Professional-Plant & Process Safety at DEKRA, was our permanent contact person. Arjan: "We found the collaboration very pleasant. The guidance and communication were always excellent. It was also beneficial to us that Mr. Schaepman has been involved in our ESD/EPD process since its inception in 2010. He knows our company well and is therefore able to contribute valuable insights into the continuous assurance of explosion safety within our organization."
Continue to comply with laws and regulations
"At our core, we have hardly changed as a company; we still manufacture coatings. However, we now use many more different raw materials in our mixers than we did twenty years ago, which has led to increased legal and regulatory requirements. DEKRA Nederland is a valuable sparring partner in this regard. Thanks to this close collaboration, the three of us have successfully completed the ATEX-ESD/EPD process."
Gaston summarizes: "Over the past year, we have jointly answered the question: how do we continue to comply with explosion safety laws and regulations while remaining technically pragmatic? We have been extremely successful in this regard."
Want to know what an ATEX certificate entails and how DEKRA supports your organization in explosion safety? Take a look at our page and feel free to contact one of our experts.
ATEX certification