Harris + Kemps: An Exercise in Delivering Certainty
For over three decades, Harris has enjoyed status as vendor of choice with Kemps. We’ve supplied them with conveyors, platforms and specialty equipment throughout that time, and Kemps has always appreciated the top-notch quality of both our equipment and our processes from design and manufacturing all the way through installation.
Our relationship with Kemps is not defined by one project; it’s an ongoing collaboration. We serve as an extension of their team, supporting day-to-day operations, providing engineering for future projects, troubleshooting issues and repairing or replacing equipment when needed. Kemps knows they can lean on us for solutions, whether that’s tackling an urgent maintenance challenge or planning for a new production line.
When Kemps takes on a new project, they don’t have to manage every detail in-house. It’s a true collaboration, as they bring the ice cream production expertise, we bring the engineering capabilities, and together we create systems that keep their operations running at the highest level.
They know exactly how they want their product to move through the plant and what outcomes they need to achieve. Their plant manager and maintenance manager handle initial layouts, then pass them on to Harris to fine-tune and bring to life. We’re able to apply our design expertise and problem-solving skills to refine every detail and install equipment that works the way it should from day one.
In January of 2024, Kemps had a new freezer project to complete. While Harris did quote the entire job, Kemps ended up purchasing a freezer platform, shrink wrapper and conveyor package from a different company they encountered at an industry trade show.
After making the purchase, Kemps reviewed the new layout and identified concerns with the conveyor package. Drawing on their understanding of their facility’s needs, they reached out to Harris for a requote based on the updated design.
When they came to us with their concerns, we discovered and explained that the conveyor package they’d purchased from the other company did not account for standards, components, belting and design considerations required for heavy-duty freezer environments (-30F). These omissions were the reason for the price difference, and ultimately, Kemps directed the other company to purchase conveyors directly from Harris, instead.
While our solution carried a higher upfront cost, the Kemps team recognized the right equipment would more than pay for itself over time. Factoring in reduced maintenance expenses, fewer repairs and, most importantly, the prevention of costly plant downtime, they made the strategic decision to invest in the higher-quality system. It was a forward-thinking choice that demonstrated their commitment to long-term operational success.
We care deeply about the success of our clients, and Kemps has worked with us long enough to know that we don’t play with our numbers. Their team could tell right away that the added up-front cost of purchasing the correct equipment was not going to be wasted, as it will save down time and expenses down the road.
From this point forward, our team moved quickly. The project called for:
- Provided packaging conveyors designed for -30F
- Zero tangent 50” wide 90-degree radius conveyors
- Straight running 50” wide transfer conveyors
- Multiple incline grip top conveyors integrating curves
- A servo divert arm for automatic production line switching
- Conveyor supports designed with ongoing easy maintenance in mind
- Designed for minimal floor space requirements and shared conveyor supports to maximize maintenance area in future
Our conveyor design group was onsite to verify measurements, review packaging information and ensure the layout would fit precisely in the space. We identified and corrected several issues in the existing plans, just one example of the proactive service Kemps has come to expect from us.
Drawings were completed on schedule, allowing fabrication to begin on time despite a delayed purchase order. We delivered and installed the equipment ahead of expectations, and startup was seamless. Even though it wasn’t part of our official scope, we stayed onsite for commissioning to make sure everything ran perfectly. On day one of production, Harris’ equipment was operating at 100% capacity.
The conveyors have been a major success for Kemps. They’ve run without issues since installation, freeing their team to focus on other priorities in the plant. That kind of performance is exactly why Kemps continues to choose Harris.
Going Beyond the Scope
Our commitment didn’t end at installation. Since startup, we’ve remained onsite to assist Kemps with unrelated equipment challenges, including addressing issues with equipment from other suppliers. We’re also currently working with them to replace some of that equipment, ensuring it meets the same standards as the rest of their system.
This kind of ongoing support is a big part of our value to Kemps. They know they can call us for anything, from small repairs to large-scale upgrades, and we’ll bring the same level of problem-solving, technical expertise and follow-through. They trust us to work on a time-and-materials basis without needing detailed proposals for every single talk, because we have built the trust that they know we will treat them fairly.
The Harris–Kemps partnership works because it’s built on experience, reliability, flexibility and long-term support. Decades of proven results have given Kemps complete confidence in our recommendations, pricing and workmanship.
Our design group and field teams bring the expertise to understand complex challenges and the capabilities to solve them. We deliver equipment that works from day one, stays in operation and is easy to maintain, and we have the flexibility to step in as an extension of their project team, managing details from layout to installation when needed.
Just as importantly, our commitment continues well beyond project completion. We remain a steady resource for their operations, ready to tackle anything from small repairs to major upgrades whenever they need us.
The Value of Doing It Right
In today’s competitive environment, there’s always pressure to choose the lowest price. But the lowest upfront cost often comes with higher long-term expenses in the form of downtime, repairs and replacements.
You can’t deliver certainty if you’re racing to the bottom on price. Our clients rely on us to bring the right equipment to the table from the beginning to save them money over the long run. This requires investing in quality from the start, which is never the cheapest option.
For Kemps, that value was clear. By choosing Harris for their freezer project conveyors, they avoided costly performance issues, kept their installation on schedule and started production with equipment running at full capacity from day one.
And for us, it’s another example of why long-term partnerships matter. Because when you know your client, their operation and their goals, you can deliver solutions that work, not just for the project at hand, but for years to come.
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