ANDUS GROUP TAKES OVER VAN VOORDEN Andus Group has taken a new step in its growth strategy. On the 3rd of May the contracts, consolidating the take-over of Van Voorden in Zaltbommel, have been signed. Van Voorden is a well-established and solid Dutch company that will celebrate its centennial in September of this year. Jac Meeuwissen: “This will be
innovation and continuous
an extraordinary celebration.
improvement of products and
I started in 1981 at Van
services. In the late nineties we
Voorden, after having worked
entered into a turbulent era. We
at an aluminium smelter in
had to make a great effort to
Drunen for nine years. When
relocate our company, because
this typically Southern-Dutch
Van Voorden’s former location no
company was taken over by an
longer met modern-day demands.
do operate in a high-quality
American company, Alcoa, and
market, in which we can produce
all of a sudden was very tightly
Eventually we moved to this 22,000 m2 newly-built business
directed, the culture shock for
complex in 2008. It is well
4500 mm. These are used in
me was huge. But, I did learn
equipped with all the mod-cons
fishing industry, inland shipping,
a lot from that. When I first
and fully geared towards efficient
offshore and upmarket luxury
started working at Van Voorden,
production. We were ready for
yachts with a minimum length
this company was also rather
further growth, because we were
of 45 meters. Europe is our main
unstructured. However, I could
indeed growing.”
market. That is different for our
see the potential of the company
propellers up to a diameter of
repair company Van Voorden
if it would become more
Notable player
Repair, with a workshop in
structured. Such craftsmanship,
“Van Voorden is performing well.
Zaltbommel and one in Delfzijl.
such beautiful products…“
We are the only Dutch producer
In the repair sector we truly are
of ship’s propellers and are able
top players and I dare say that
Large improvements
to compete, thanks to the added
we are one of the largest repair
“In 1994, I had the opportunity
value we offer in the design
companies in the world, with two
to buy Van Voorden. This
phase, among others. We perform
locations in the Netherlands and
is in fact when we set our
all kinds of in-house computer
numerous global joint ventures.
main agenda: continuity and
simulations, for example in
Within the dredging industry
sustainable growth. As I saw
order to effectively predict the
we also play a major roll globally.
it, this should be based on
behaviour of the propeller. We
Our pump casings, pipelines, >>
VA N V O O R D E N R E PA I R •
VA N V O O R D E N C A S T I N G S •
RIJNDIJK CONSTRUCTION •
P&K R AIL •
L E N G K E E K S TA A L B O U W •
ISS PROJECTS •
HSM STEEL STRUCTURES •
HSM OFFSHORE •
G O U D A V U U R VA S T S E R V I C E S •
G O U D A V U U R VA S T B E L G I U M •
GOUDA REFR AC TORIES •
GOUDA FEUERFEST (DEUTSCHL AND) •
FIB INDUSTRIES •
ANDUS GROUP SERVING THE INDUSTRY
volume 2 | nr. 1 | June 2012
>> impellers and wear-out parts
may say so myself. And when the
clear to me from the beginning.
Netherlands, finding niche
are used by just about the entire
“Financieel Dagblad” (translator:
Look, I am 64 years old and
markets and focussing on
global dredging f leet, thanks
main financial newspaper in the
my two daughters did not have
continuity and sustainable growth
to our extremely wear-resistant
Netherlands) then quotes Tom
the ambition to take over the
– was compatible with the Andus
alloys. And last but not least we
van Rijn saying: ‘It is a highly
company. So, I started to look for
philosophy. Therefore all our
have our nozzle product group, in
innovative company, which makes
a new shareholder and on my first
clients and staff saw the take-
which we excel in engineering.”
my heart beat faster’, then this
meeting with Andus, I already felt
over as a very positive experience.
again confirms to me that we
a connection. The direction I went
Everyone is convinced we have a
Good prospects
have found the right take-over
in with Van Voorden – continuing
wonderful future ahead of us and
“A company to be proud of, if I
partner. However, this was already
to produce and innovate in the
I am very pleased with this.”
AN EVEN NICER PLACE TO WORK! RijnDijk Construction knows
changing rooms were relocated and
So the company decided to move
how important the workplace is.
completely upgraded, the personnel
the canteen and to group the
Besides being safe, it needs to be
entrance was moved, a new ware-
washrooms and changing rooms
a pleasant place to work. That of
house was erected and the offices
nearby. It must feel good to go
course goes without saying, taking
were given a facelift with attractive
freshly washed to enjoy a sandwich
into consideration that people
paintwork and extra windows to
or cup of soup in inviting surroun-
are the most important asset of
brighten up the day at work.
dings. Judging by the enthusiastic
a company. That’s why RijnDijk
To be honest, the facilities were
responses of the employees, the
undertook a renovation in Budel at
indeed somewhat outdated and
operation was more than worth-
year-end 2011. A new staff canteen
scattered across the site, with
while!
was created, the washrooms and
sometimes unpractical situations.
A COMPREHENSIVE JOB IN DUFFEL Aleris Aluminium Duffel in Belgium is one of Europe’s largest sites for the production of aluminium semifinished products, among them thin aluminium sheet rolls for the automobile industry. Since late 2011 RijnDijk Construction has worked on the expansion of the factory, the so-called WABS buildings. A challenging project, considering the limited space and the strict safety measures. Project manager Wout van
with all parties, in order to be able
are being set up: an oven hall, a
15-metre foundation piles, concrete
Brandenburg: “In a relatively small
to do our job with each other and
rolling mill hall, motor hall and
flooring, façades and roofs, elec-
area, a lot is currently happening.
next to each other. Safety always
finally a high-bay warehouse. This
trical installation, smoke and heat
Many different disciplines interact
comes first here.”
is in fact a huge rack construction
exhaust systems, doors, fire walls
that is integrated into the building,
and fire extinguishers form a part
and this calls for good coordina-
A serious warehouse construction
in which hundreds of 25-ton rolls
of our scope. And of course we are
to be coordinated carefully. Every
will be stored automatically. The
in close contact with the suppliers
morning we have a site meeting
“A number of different buildings
steel construction weighs about
of the process installation, such
1500 tons, all exclusively engi-
as Vollert (Germany), who supply
neered and produced by our people
the machines for handling the
in Schagen. It is very precise work,
rolls and demand strict tole-
in which we were also able to
rances for our steel constructions.
make clever use of the laser robot.
Communication is the keyword
Because there is not a lot of space
for this project. We hope to be
on this site, we work with a daily
able to finish the assembly before
delivery system on flat racks. An
the summer holidays, after which
efficient solution.”
we can look back satisfied, as
tion. The various schedules need
things are running well. This is in
Turnkey
part because of our professionals
“RijnDijk Construction is entirely
on-site, who are visibly motivated.
responsible for the factory buil-
Our client Aleris certainly agrees
dings. Not only the steel, but also
with this. “
the foundations, among them 365
JUST BRINGING A PLATFORM OUT TO SEA At HSM Offshore a lot of magic tricks have been performed over the last few months. This is at least what it looks like to the layman. Two large projects have been delivered: ‘Thornton Bank’ and ‘Conwy’. Huge thousand ton constructions have come out of the production hall, were put on a barge and assembled at full sea. The project was successfully completed thanks to a large amount of expertise and meticulous preparation. quay, crawling along at minimum speed. An amazing moment for all those who worked on the project for months.
Well thought-out “But then? First we wait for high water! And at the quay a barge is ready for us. A 90x30 meter barge in the case of Thornton. The trailers, carrying 2,000 tons, drive onto the barge. Everyone can Thornton Bank is a strip along
imagine what will happen next:
the Belgian coastline where 54
at the ends of this f lat f loating
windmills are being built. At
barge, an enormous weight all of
HSM it is the abbreviation for
a sudden pushes it down. But of
the ‘High Voltage Station’, which
course this has been anticipated,
was completed in March 2012.
as the air chambers in the barge
A 2,000-ton electricity substa-
fill up or empty out one by one,
tion, measuring 45x32x20 meters
keeping the barge level. When the
(lxwxh). Conwy project stands for
multi-wheels are fully on the barge,
Conwy Wellhead Oil platform,
the platform is attached to the
which was installed in the Irish
suspension plates, after which the
Sea. This consists of a topside
‘wagons’ can drive back to the quay
measuring 29x24x21 meters, a
and the platform can be welded on.
jacket measuring 18x18x45 meters
Ready? In Thornton’s case yes, but
and a so-called hang-off module,
for the Conwy project the jacket
which will later be fastened to
was added onto the barge. Then we
an existing platform, at about
wait for the towboat, who will take
12 kilometres from the new one.
the entire construction to its desti-
Foundation poles will also be
nation, where the final assembly
supplied and these will be taken
takes place. Also a great adventure,
into the bottom of the sea through
as the journey across the Irish Sea
the jacket legs, with a total length
was not entirely smooth: a storm
of about 75 meters. Total weight:
rose up! This is when HSM starts
about 2,500 tons.
working at full speed. A place of refuge was found in Falmouth.
Step by step
When the weather cleared up, the
These constructions alone are
module was lifted onto the quay
fully worth devoting our attention
in Liverpool, while the jacket was
to, as they are true examples of
installed. Try arranging all that
craftsmanship. But how are these
and finding a space for it all! But
huge constructions transported to
all of that went smoothly and the
their final destination? That too is
project was delivered on schedule.
impressive. To begin with, multi-
Well done!”
wheel trailers are driven under the platform, four rows with 22 axles per row. Connecting the axles alone takes up two full days. Then the module is lifted onto its support and put on weighing jacks. Here the exact weight and centre of gravity are determined, which is extremely important for further transport. Then the multiwheeltrailers leave to the load-out
Photography: C-power
A MATTER OF TRUST Everyone will understand that a large company like Andus Group will have a considerable amount of banking activities to perform. There are of course the day-to-day payments in Euros, but also foreign currency transactions. Financings will be taken out, but money is also put aside. Bank guarantees are requested and interest is received and paid, to name but a few examples. And we are of course not talking about small amounts, when we consider an annual turnover of 200 million Euros. A good relationship with the bank is therefore crucial. Mr Frans Cuppen, director Corporate Clients at ABN AMRO Southern Netherlands is fully aware of this. are favourable. A bank will always
Andus decided to hold a ‘beauty
company with an amazing track
try to find a balance here. How far
contest’ among a number of
record. So many take-overs, all
can and dare we go?”
banks. We applied and came
of them successful. It is truly
up with an offer. I am proud
a traditional Dutch company:
Moving from crisis to pride
that Andus Group is once more
down-to-earth and solid, with
“Andus Group suffered conside-
among our clients. Such a beau-
a small team at the top, no
rably from the banking crisis.
tiful company; this also ref lects
frills and with a great portfolio.
They used to do business with
favourably on us”
Therefore we said yes without
Fortis and, after its decline,
hesitation, but under certain
with ING and ABN AMRO.
Plenty of space
conditions obviously. And it
Mr Cuppen: “The relationship
Then Brussels came up with
“What it boils down to is that
works, this is becomes very clear
between the bank and a company
the additional requirement of
Andus Group wanted f lexibility
when we look at the Van Voorden
such as Andus Group is very
ABN AMRO having to separate
and freedom in financing. As I
take-over. As a bank we were not
intense and must be based on
its corporate clients. The entire
said, room for entrepreneurship.
involved in this acquisition, but
mutual trust. A bank needs to
portfolio was sold to Deutsche
And they have negotiated this
we will fund it, simply because it
believe in a company, in the entre-
Bank. Well... Andus Group all
extensively. I can tell you that no
is yet another jewel. Andus Group
preneur. It must be bold enough
of a sudden had to deal with
other client has as much freedom
was able to negotiate quickly with
to provide room for entrepreneur-
yet another bank. That is truly
with us as Andus. But the
full discretion and they closed the
ship. There is clearly an area of
inconvenient. You can bet that
message was simple: ABN AMRO
deal. They acted as true entrepre-
tension here, as we also need to
they were not happy with Dutch
trust us. And we gave them this
neurs and this is exactly where
make sure that the risk to the
banks at the time. Anyway, after
trust. Not because of their honest
their strength lies. ”
bank is limited and the returns
a number of intense meetings
faces, but because it is a great
WORKING ON THE LARGEST SMELTER COMPLEX IN THE WORLD EMAL (Emirates Aluminium) is a state-of-the-art six square kilometre aluminium smelter complex, built in the Khalifa Industrial Zone in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi. The site is now being extended (Phase II). Currently 750,000 tons of aluminium are being produced annually and with the introduction of Phase II annual production will be raised to 1,300,000 tons. Thereby EMAL will become the largest single site smelter complex in the world. Gouda Refractories has recently obtained an order to supply refractory bricks and castables for the construction of the new anode baking furnace, the largest of its kind in the world. This is a highly prestigious project
complex in which, according EMAL
A mountain of it
That is a considerable amount.
and an order that the entire team at
‘not only extremely high-quality
During the next six months,
To be precise: 1,100 containers!
Gouda Refractories can take credit
aluminium is produced, but it is
approximately 22,000 dense
Gouda Refractories also handles
for. Together they have made sure
also produced according to the
refractory bricks, 2,300 tons of
transportation of the order. The
that another great order is added
highest environmental standards
insulating bricks and 3,000 tons
materials will be delivered to the
to the reference list. It is fantastic
and health and safety standards’.
of castable will leave the factory
site. That beats having a pizza
gates at Gouda and Geldermalsen.
delivered at home!
to be able to work on a unique
ANDUSTRY NEWS IS A N A NDUS G RO U P P U B L IC AT I O N Andustry news appears several times a y e a r. T h e p u b l i c a t i o n a i m s a t k e e p i n g employees, clients and suppliers informed of developments within Andus Group.s
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