Maximize Value, Reduce Waste

Thursday, 20 November

Venue: The Den, Magistratenlaan 54, Den Bosch

Module I             ‘Manufacturing’

09:30 hrs             Walk-in and registration

10:00 hrs             Opening by Halbe Vogel, IFFI

10:15 hrs             Keynote ‘Operational Excellence’ by Prof. Dr. Marcel van Assen, TIAS School

11:00 hrs             Break

11:30 hrs             Workshop | parallel sessions by Prof. Dr. Marcel van Assen

12.30 hrs             Lunch

Module II           ‘Human Capital’

13:30 hrs             Business case ‘Human Capital’ by Hens van Wingerden, Bunge

14:15 hrs             Break

14:45 hrs             Keynote ‘How to capture knowledge’ by Wouter Schotborgh, Elicit Online

15:30 hrs             Break

16:00 hrs            Workshop | parallel sessions by Wouter Schotborgh

17:00 hrs             Wrap up by Halbe Vogel, IFFI

Networking

17:30 hrs             Pre-dinner drinks

18:30 hrs             Dinner

21:00 hrs             End formal program

Friday, 21 November

Module III ‘Technology’

Venue: GEA, De Beverspijken 7-C, Den Bosch

08:45 hrs           Walk in and coffee

09:00 hrs           Welcome by Christo Lourens, GEA

09:15 hrs            CO2 emissions and energy usage reduction by Maarten Gelens, GEA

09:45 hrs            Break

10:00 hrs            Integrated energy and energy recovery solutions with Q&A by Maarten Gelens, GEA

10:30 hrs            Wrap up

10:45 hrs            Break

Company visit

Venue: PeelPioneers, Koenendelseweg 29-A, Den Bosch

11:15 hrs             Welcome by Bas van Wieringen, PeelPioneers

11:30 hrs             Plant tour

12:15 hrs             Wrap up

12:30 hrs             Lunch

13:00 hrs             Closing by Halbe Vogel, IFFI

Module I  ‘Manufacturing’

Led by Prof. Dr. Marcel van Assen – TIAS School for Business & Society

Operational Excellence within food ingredient manufacturing is concerned with the systematic pursuit of efficiency, quality, and sustainability by reducing waste and maximizing value across production processes. Prof. Marcel van Assen of TIAS School for Business and Society argues that this requires the development of robust operational capabilities that integrate technological innovation with organizational resilience. Such capabilities strengthen the adaptability and reliability of manufacturing sites, ensuring continuity under dynamic conditions while supporting long-term competitiveness and sustainable value creation.

Module II ‘Human Capital’
Led by Hens van Wingerden – Bunge

Human Capital plays a pivotal role in the factories of food ingredient producers, where skilled and engaged employees are essential for operational continuity, agility, and long-term performance. As Hens van Wingerden, Group HR Director at Bunge, emphasizes, the operational capabilities of these producers depend not only on technological assets but also on the organizational and human resources resilience of their manufacturing sites. Effective staffing strategies, talent development, and workforce flexibility ensure that production can adapt to disruptions while maintaining efficiency and quality. In this way, Human Capital becomes a cornerstone of resilience and sustainable value creation across the food ingredients industry.
With an aging workforce in food ingredient manufacturing plants, producers face the challenge of retaining critical operational knowledge while ensuring continuity and efficiency. Strategic workforce planning is essential, but equally important is the structured transfer of expertise from experienced operators to the next generation. In this session, Wouter Schotborgh of ELICIT Online will highlight how effective knowledge transfer between operators can strengthen workforce resilience, safeguard know-how, and support the agility and long-term competitiveness of manufacturing sites.

With an aging workforce in food ingredient manufacturing plants, producers face the challenge of retaining critical operational knowledge while ensuring continuity and efficiency. Strategic workforce planning is essential, but equally important is the structured transfer of expertise from experienced operators to the next generation. In this session, Wouter Schotborgh of ELICIT Online will highlight how effective knowledge transfer between operators can strengthen workforce resilience, safeguard know-how, and support the agility and long-term competitiveness of manufacturing sites.

Module III “Technology”

Led by Christo Lourens, GEA

Technology is a critical enabler of Operational Excellence in food ingredient manufacturing, supporting efficiency, quality, and sustainability across production sites. As Christo Lourens, Sales Director at GEA HRS Benelux, highlights, the operational capabilities of food ingredient producers increasingly rely on technological solutions that strengthen the resilience of manufacturing sites. Emerging innovations, such as advanced heat recovery systems and process optimization tools, play a key role in lowering energy consumption and reducing CO₂ emissions. By adopting such technologies, producers enhance both their environmental performance and their long-term competitiveness.

Company visit “PeelPioneers”

Welcomed by Bas van Wieringen, PeelPioneers

During the masterclass, we will visit Peelpioneers, a scale-up and proud member of IFFI. Known as the “peel farmers of the 21st century,” Peelpioneers gives a second life to citrus peels by turning them into valuable ingredients for food and beverages. We will be welcomed by Bas van Wieringen, who will share the company’s journey, innovations, and ambitions for a more circular food industry.

Prof. Dr. Marcel F. van Assen

Professor Operational Excellence at TIAS School for Business & Society

Prof. Dr. Marcel F. van Assen is Professor of Operational Excellence at TIAS School for Business and Society. His expertise lies in operations management, process improvement, and organizational design, with a strong focus on building resilient and high-performing manufacturing and service organizations. He combines academic rigor with practical insights, advising companies on how to strengthen their operational capabilities and achieve sustainable excellence.

Hens van Wingerden

Group HR Director at Bunge

Hens van Wingerden is Group HR Director at Bunge, where he leads global human resources strategy and organizational development. With extensive experience in talent management, leadership development, and workforce resilience, he focuses on building agile and future-ready teams that support continuity and sustainable growth across Bunge’s worldwide operations.

Wouter Schotborgh

Director at ELICIT Online

Wouter Schotborgh is founder of Elicit Online and an expert in knowledge management and organizational learning. He specializes in capturing and transferring critical expertise within manufacturing environments, ensuring that valuable operational know-how is preserved and passed on across generations of employees. With a focus on digital tools and structured learning methods, he supports companies in building resilient, future-ready workforces that can adapt to technological change and demographic shifts.

Christo Lourens

Director Sales, GEA HRS Benelux

Christo Lourens is the Director of Sales for Heating & Refrigeration Solutions at GEA. He is a seasoned sales director and head of mechanical engineering, combining deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen to lead high-performing teams, drive business development, and deliver innovative engineering solutions across complex and competitive markets. He holds a degree from the University of Stellenbosch Business School and is recognized for his ability to translate engineering design into strategic growth.

Bas van Wieringen

CEO, PeelPioneers

Bas van Wieringen is co-founder and CEO of PeelPioneers, where he leads the company’s commercial strategy and partnerships.
He is one of the driving forces behind the mission to upcycle citrus peel—once considered waste—into high-value, functional food ingredients.

With a strong business mindset, Bas bridges sustainability and scalable growth, steering PeelPioneers toward European expansion while keeping circularity at its core.

Maarten Gelens

Sales manager, GEA Heating & Refrigeration

Maarten Gelens has been Sales Manager at GEA Heating & Refrigeration since 2013. He started his career in refrigeration technology in 1995 after graduating from HTS Mechanical Engineering – Energy Technology, and quickly became passionate about the field. In addition to his regular work, he spent around 15 years training refrigeration system designers at Koning Willem I College in Den Bosch.

Over the past decade, developments in industrial refrigeration have mainly focused on heat pumps, technology that enables direct contributions to the sustainability of various industries. This continues to motivate Maarten and gives him the sense that he is truly helping to create a cleaner world.

This network meeting is for junior professionals working in manufacturing and supply chain disciplines of the food ingredients industry. They develop their skillset and acquire best practices methods within the area of production management, human resources and process technology.

Questions regarding this meeting? Contact Marita Mantle-Kloosterboer via marita@iffi.nu.

Registration

The IFFI masterclass includes lunch, dinner and drinks.
Hotel costs are excluded.

Registration is open for IFFI affiliating companies and non-affiliating manufacturers of food ingredients:

• Participants employed by IFFI affiliating companies: participation is covered by the membership fee.
• Participants employed by non-affiliating manufacturers of food ingredients.: € 1.350,- (excl. VAT); please complete the registration for. After validation, an invoice will be sent.

Registration via this registration form.

Venue

Thursday

The Den
Magistratenlaan 54
5223 MD  Den Bosch
www.hoteltheden.nl

Dinner

Current Rooftop Restaurant
Magistratenlaan 54
5223 MD Den Bosch
https://currentrooftop.nl/nl

Venue

Friday

GEA
De Beverspijken 7C
Den Bosch

Venue

Friday

Peelpioneers
Koenendelseweg 29-A
Den Bosch

Hotel accommodation (optional)

The Den
Magistratenlaan 54
5223 MD  Den Bosch

Bookings via this link