QBTEC

QBTEC is a Dutch manufacturer of stainless-steel frying and fish-baking ovens for professional use. Its factory is located in Woerden, on the Polanen industrial estate, and the company employs around 160 people, making it one of the largest production companies in the municipality of Woerden. The company and its name date from 1 October 2008, when it emerged from a merger between Kiremko Duurland B.V. and Perfecta Nederland B.V., two former competitors both specialised in producing professional frying installations. The QBTEC name is derived from the initials of Quirinus Bakker, originally a coachbuilder who took over a similar business in Kamerik around 1944. Responding to growing demand for frying ovens, Quirinus and his brother Jan turned to manufacturing them. In 1953 the first frying oven of Dutch manufacture was produced, and Quirinus focused entirely on this product under the brand name Perfecta, marketed by the trading company Kiréma (named after the village of Kamerik). In the 1960s demand for industrial food-processing equipment grew, and Kiréma began developing and producing food-processing lines through its subsidiary Kiremko Food Processing Equipment, supplying machinery mainly to the potato-processing industry. After the link between Kiréma and Perfecta was broken in the early 1980s, Kiremko began producing frying installations for the hospitality sector under the Kiremko Horeca brand, making Perfecta and Kiremko competitors. In 1987 Kiremko Horeca was taken over and expanded by brothers Gijs and Marcel Okkerman, and in 1994 Duurland-Smitto Apparatenfabriek, specialised in compact and light fish-baking ovens, was also acquired. In June 2007, after years of separation, Kiremko and Perfecta merged again, and from October 2008 the company continued under the name QBTEC. Three brands (including Smitto) are now produced in one factory. QBTEC produces roughly 1,200 units per year and supplies mainly the following Western European countries: Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain. The company operates as a private manufacturer and remains based in Woerden.

The history of QBTEC reaches back to Quirinus Bakker, originally a coachbuilder who around 1944 took over a similar business in Kamerik. As demand for frying ovens grew, Quirinus and his brother Jan began manufacturing them. In 1953 the first frying oven of Dutch manufacture was produced, and Quirinus focused entirely on this product under the brand name Perfecta. The product was marketed by the trading company Kiréma, whose name was derived from the village of Kamerik where the business was located. In the 1960s demand for industrial products for the food-processing industry increased. Kiréma responded by developing and producing food-processing lines itself through its subsidiary Kiremko Food Processing Equipment (Kiremko standing for "Kiréma Konstructies"). This company supplied machines mainly for the potato-processing industry. After the link between Kiréma and Perfecta was broken in the early 1980s, Kiremko Food Processing Equipment began producing frying installations for the hospitality sector alongside its industrial line. The Kiremko Horeca brand was born, and from then on Perfecta and Kiremko were competitors. In 1987 Kiremko Horeca was taken over and further expanded by the brothers Gijs and Marcel Okkerman. In 1994 Duurland-Smitto Apparatenfabriek was also acquired; this company specialised in producing compact and light fish-baking ovens. In June 2007, after years of separation, Kiremko and Perfecta finally merged again, and from October 2008 the company continued under the name QBTEC. Three brands (including Smitto) are now produced in one factory. The company is based in Woerden on the Polanen industrial estate, employs around 160 people, and produces roughly 1,200 units per year, supplying mainly Belgium, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain.

• 2008

  Company continues under the name QBTEC from 1 October.

• 2007

  Kiremko and Perfecta merge in June.

• 1994

  Duurland-Smitto Apparatenfabriek acquired, adding fish-baking ovens.

• 1987

  Kiremko Horeca taken over by brothers Gijs and Marcel Okkerman.

• 1980

  Link between Kiréma and Perfecta broken; Kiremko Horeca brand created.

• 1960

  Kiréma begins developing food-processing lines through subsidiary Kiremko Food Processing Equipment.

• 1953

  First frying oven of Dutch manufacture produced; Perfecta brand established.

• 1944

  Quirinus Bakker takes over a coachbuilding business in Kamerik.

Professional-grade stainless-steel frying and fish-baking equipment for the hospitality and food-processing sectors, produced in the Netherlands and sold across Western Europe.

• Perfecta frying ovens

• Kiremko Horeca frying installations

• Smitto fish-baking ovens

1. 1QBTEC – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2QBTEC – Wikipedia (Dutch)nl.wikipedia.org
3. 3QBTEC official websiteqbtec.nl