Partnership as the Foundation for Sustainable Innovation
Car Wash Transmissies and Ammeraal Beltech Join Forces to Develop Reliable Conveyor Systems for the Car Wash Industry
A successful partnership goes beyond simply supplying a product. It is about sharing knowledge, developing solutions together, and challenging each other to continuously improve. This is exactly what defines the collaboration between Car Wash Transmissies and Ammeraal Beltech. What began with a critical first encounter has grown into a strong partnership in which engineering, innovation, and trust go hand in hand.
“We weren't looking for a customer who simply wanted to buy a conveyor belt,” explains Jean-Pierre Claassen, Senior Global Key Account & Industry Manager Mobility at Ammeraal Beltech. “A high-quality belt can only perform at its best when the conveyor system underneath it is equally well engineered.”
This philosophy laid the foundation for the initial contact between the two companies several years ago. Car Wash Transmissies was eager to use Ammeraal Beltech's premium conveyor belts but initially received a surprising response: supplying a belt without being certain of the quality of the overall system did not align with Ammeraal Beltech's philosophy. That changed when Car Wash Transmissies decided to develop a complete conveyor system of its own.
Investing in knowledge
Car Wash Transmissies deliberately chose not to take the easiest route. To develop a system capable of competing with the best solutions on the market, the company invested extensively in practical research. Employees even travelled to the United States to study and analyse existing conveyor systems in car wash facilities.
That commitment made a strong impression. “When we visited Car Wash Transmissies, we saw an organisation that was genuinely committed to investing in quality,” says Claassen. “They have their own manufacturing facility, extensive in-house technical expertise, and, importantly, they operate independently. This means they are not tied to a single brand and can always select the best solution for their customers.”
Developing solutions together
Since the partnership began, both companies have continuously worked on further developing and improving the conveyor system. Their respective strengths complement each other.
Car Wash Transmissies designs and manufactures the mechanical structure, while Ammeraal Beltech supplies the high-quality modular conveyor belts, engineered to withstand the demanding conditions of modern car wash operations. The guiding principle is always the same: never compromise on quality.
“Of course, you could build a lighter structure,” Claassen explains. “But we believe in a heavy-duty solution that continues to operate reliably for many years, even under high loads. Ultimately, it is the customer who benefits.”
Even when challenges arise during a project, that shared sense of responsibility remains. “Problems are part of the process,” says Claassen. “What matters most is that you don't walk away from them. We keep communicating, solve issues together, and use every experience as an opportunity to improve the system further.”
Learning from real-world experience
An important example of this approach was a project in Italy, where a complete interior conveyor system incorporating the jointly developed solution was installed for the first time. The system's performance exceeded the end customer's expectations. At the same time, the project provided valuable insights. “Projects like these are exactly what help you move forward,” Claassen explains. “We learned where we could make production more efficient and reduce costs without compromising on quality or reliability. ”This commitment to continuous improvement remains a key element of the partnership.
Innovation with sustainability in mind
Both companies are also constantly exploring new opportunities to improve sustainability. A recent example is Circle Links, an innovation developed by Ammeraal Beltech that enables modular conveyor belts to be manufactured entirely from recycled polymer materials, depending on the application. A life cycle assessment verified by Bureau Veritas shows that recycled POM material has a significantly lower carbon footprint than virgin material. For an average installation, this can result in a CO₂ reduction of approximately 13 tonnes.
Safety down to the smallest detail
Innovation is not only about sustainability but also about safety. Within conveyor systems, friction between plastic components can generate static electricity. This can cause discomfort for employees and may even affect sensitive electronic components. To prevent this, the conveyor belts are equipped as standard with conductive inserts and stainless-steel pins that safely dissipate accumulated static electricity. “These may be details that the end user doesn't immediately notice,” says Claassen, “but it is precisely these technical features that make the difference in terms of reliability and safety.”
Global Support
With approximately 6,000 employees and its own sales and service organisations around the world, Ammeraal Beltech also provides international support to Car Wash Transmissies customers.This ensures that car wash operators with international operations can rely on local expertise, service, and technical support wherever they operate.
Stronger Together
The partnership has now expanded beyond the car wash industry. Car Wash Transmissies is increasingly developing conveyor systems for applications within the automotive industry, a market in which Ammeraal Beltech has been active for many years. Here, too, the strength of the partnership is evident.
“Large suppliers often offer standard solutions,” Claassen concludes. “But in the automotive industry, every customer requires a specific approach. By combining our expertise, we can deliver customised solutions without compromising on quality. Ultimately, a partnership is like a chain: it is only as strong as its weakest link.”
Perhaps that is the best way to describe the relationship between Car Wash Transmissies and Ammeraal Beltech. Not simply a supplier and a customer, but two technical partners who strengthen each other and continue to invest together in innovation, reliability, and sustainable solutions for the future.