Smart Factory Architect for Metal Fabrication
Hi! I'm Luke van Enkhuizen, independent consultant specialised in digital transformation for metalworking and sheet metal companies.
Let's talk
Why work with me
Does this sound familiar?
Your quotes take too long, causing you to lose orders. You're still walking the factory floor to check where jobs stand. Your machines generate data, but it never reaches the people who could actually use it. And that ERP system - once meant to be the central hub of your business, but there's always something missing.
You know digitalisation is the solution, but so far you've mainly bought systems that don't talk to each other.
My background: from the shop floor to digital integration
I'm Luke van Enkhuizen, and I understand your frustration because I've walked this path myself. I've been working in sheet metal since I was 16 - started as a welder, progressed to CAD engineer and then to engineering. I earned two degrees: business administration and metal fabrication.
I began consulting in 2016 because I saw too many good companies struggling with technology that should have been making their lives easier. Working across Europe from my base in Vienna, I'd experienced firsthand how systems were implemented that worked beautifully in demonstrations but failed the moment production pressure mounted.
Over recent years, I've analysed more than 30 companies across Europe and worked with many of them on complex integration challenges. From that practical experience, I know exactly where things go wrong and how to get them right. Production always comes first - systems must support that, not make it more difficult.
Why my approach is different
Most consultants come from either the technical side or the business side. I combine both worlds. I understand what happens on the shop floor when a machine breaks down and the complete planning goes upside down. But I also know how to connect APIs and make data flow between systems that were never meant to work together.
That combination is crucial. Because the most elegant integration plan in the world won't help you if it collapses the moment your production manager has stress with an urgent order. I design solutions that function in the real world of metal fabrication - where deadlines are sacred and machines sometimes simply decide to break down.
My specialisations in the systems you actually use
TRUMPF Oseon and Boost - extracting more than you thought possible
I've been working intensively with TRUMPF Oseon and Boost since 2010. I know these systems inside out - from the early XML integrations to the latest APIs and web applications. What I often see: companies invest heavily in this technology but only extract a fraction of its potential. They're still using Oseon alongside Excel spreadsheets and manual planning.
I help you harness the full potential. Real-time connection with your ERP, automated job tracking, intelligent planning that accounts for material stock and machine capacity. Your TRUMPF investment finally becomes what it should have been: the engine of your efficiency.
ERP systems - from unfinished project to working solution
Ridder iQ, Microsoft Business Central, ECI Bemet - I've implemented and connected them all. I often visit companies where the ERP stands like a monument to good intentions. Once installed as the central hub, but there's always something missing. Data that must be manually retyped, reports that don't add up, processes that essentially bypass the system entirely.
I build the missing links. Bespoke applications that do what standard modules cannot. Integrations that make your ERP communicate with your CAM software, your machines, your planning. So your ERP becomes what it always should have been: the beating heart of your business.
Equipment that truly communicates
LVD, Bystronic, welding robots, AGVs - I deliver genuine connectivity. Not just data collection, but systems that work together intelligently. Your press brake automatically reports when a job is finished and triggers the next step in your process. Your laser sends actual cutting times directly to your ERP for accurate post-calculation.
It goes beyond machine monitoring. It's about a production environment where information flows as it should, where exceptions are automatically flagged, and where your planning is based on real data rather than estimates.
Unified Namespace - your data architecture for the future
I help you build a modern data architecture with Unified Namespace as the foundation. All systems, machines, and processes connected via one central hub. Real-time visibility, predictable data flows, and the flexibility to add new systems without reinventing everything.
Where possible, I use open source solutions like United Manufacturing Hub. Not from idealism, but because it gives you freedom. Your data remains yours, and you're not locked into one supplier's roadmap.
Why companies choose my approach
Independent expertise without hidden agendas
I don't sell software. I have no deals with suppliers. When I recommend a solution, it's because it fits your situation and objectives. Sometimes that means developing bespoke solutions. Sometimes it means telling you that your current systems aren't ready for the next step.
My reputation depends on your success, not on the number of licences I sell.
Proven results in comparable businesses
I focus specifically on growing metal fabrication companies with 30-300 employees. Companies like yours, that have moved beyond the startup phase but don't yet have the IT budgets of multinationals. I understand the specific challenges of that growth phase and have developed solutions that fit.
Personal involvement in your project
I deliberately work with a limited number of clients each year. That means your project gets my full attention. You deal with me personally, not with a team of rotating consultants. From analysis to implementation to aftercare - you work with someone who truly knows your business and challenges.
The companies I work with don't use integration as an end in itself, but as a strategic weapon. They respond faster to customers, produce more efficiently, and make better decisions because they finally have the right information at the right time.
If you're ready to stop fighting your systems and finally make them work for you, then we need to talk. Let's discuss what strategic integration can mean specifically for your business.
Take the First Step
If you're ready to explore digital transformation for your metal fabrication business, let's start with a conversation.
Book Your Introduction Call
A focused 20-minute discussion to understand your challenges and determine if we're the right fit to work together.