18 minute read
People Planet Profit Bolidt
In the area of sustainability Bolidt innovates and inspires
Ever since its establishment in 1964, Bolidt has been on a mission: the company aims to replace traditional materials with sustainable alternatives. The maritime industry is one of the areas where Bolidt has a string of sustainable innovations to its name. Bolidt continues to fulfil its mission in this sector, through innovations, sponsorship, partnerships and knowledge sharing.
Talk about foresight: ‘People-Planet-Profit’ has been central to Bolidt’s business operations from the start. The mission of the founders in 1964 was to replace traditional materials with sustainable alternatives. What’s more, the company decided on a remarkable strategy: to have complete control. According to Bolidt, it was and still is the best way for a company to work as sustainably as possible. That’s why the company controls the entire production chain, from R&D to installation. Bolidt not only develops raw materials – as natural as possible – for the synthetic systems, but also the equipment used to produce and process these. And because it has control over all aspects, Bolidt can optimally coordinate the entire process and always choose the most sustainable solutions.
Bolidt also works using the LEAN methodology; with this management philosophy aimed at continuous improvement, Bolidt combats waste and eliminates elements that do not offer added value. To reduce the amount of waste, for example, parts of the production process are moved from the production site in the Netherlands to the various construction sites around the world. This saves on packaging material and unnecessary transport. strength and colour-fastness for virtually their entire service life. There’s no better way to reduce our carbon footprint (and that of our clients).
The TU Delft Hydro Motion Team recently visited the Bolidt Innovation Center to share knowledge and exchange ideas. Made up of students, this team – formerly the TU Delft Solar Boat Team – from the Delft University of Technology has pushed the boundaries in the development of solar-powered vessels for 15 years. In 2020 the team took a new direction when they decided to investigate the potential of hydrogen power. Given such an outspoken mission, it goes without saying that Bolidt products are extremely sustainable. In fact, the durability of the synthetic systems has only increased thanks to ongoing innovations. The Bolidt products retain their functionality,
Flying hydrogen boat
One of the work areas where Bolidt is taking the lead in the field of sustainability is the maritime sector. Since its foundation, Bolidt has been involved in the design, development and production of sustainable ship decking. This has resulted in the innovative Bolideck systems that are not only functional, but also an inspiration in the industry. As far as Bolidt is concerned, it does not end here, either, as is apparent from the Maritime Sustainability Report, which focuses on the years 2021 to 2030.
To share its expertise and gain new knowledge, in 2022 Bolidt became a sponsor of the TU Delft Hydro Motion Team. Made up of students, this team – formerly the TU Delft Solar Boat Team – from the Delft University of Technology has been researching how vessels can be po-
wered by alternative energy sources for more than 15 years now. One of the outcomes of this research was a seaworthy vessel powered by solar energy. The students are now focusing on hydrogen as a clean energy source. By using hydrofoils, they have developed the world’s first ‘flying’ hydrogen boat. With this vessel, the team plans to participate in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in July this year.
The TU Delft Hydro Motion Team has set out to chart the possibilities for a sustainable maritime sector and inspire the industry to take steps towards a more sustainable future, a mission that aligns perfectly with that of Bolidt. Bolidt has also been investigating for some time now how a ship’s decking can be used to generate power. Take, for example, the sun decks developed by
Energy-generating dance floor
In the maritime sector, Bolidt is the world market leader when it comes to decking for cruise ships. Bolidt has worked for years with many of the largest shipyards and shipping companies in the world. Innovative systems have emerged from these partnerships, as can be seen, for example, in the collaboration with Meyer Werft. This originally Dutch family business has been around for more than two centuries and is now one of the largest cruise ship builders worldwide.
Like Bolidt, Meyer Werft is driven by knowledge and innovation. It is therefore not surprising that late last year Bolidt presented the first Design Challenge Award to Meyer Werft’s concept designer Thorben Stubbe, creator of the innovative concept ‘Algae Lifecycle Floor’
ALGAE LIFECYCLE FLOOR © Thorben Stubbe
Bolidt for cruise ships, which convert solar energy into electricity. By sponsoring the TU Delft Hydro Motion Team, Bolidt aims to to share its knowledge and experience and, in return, gain inspiration from the students. The team has already visited the Bolidt Innovation Center this year to brainstorm on collaboration and possible sustainable innovations. (ALF). This carbon-negative system for the cruise industry is now being further developed at the Bolidt Innovation Center and will hopefully be on board cruise ships in the near future.
hemp fibre and bamboo. The system includes a bioplastic water tank containing live algae, which convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, and Pavegen tiles, which harness kinetic energy from footsteps to generate electricity. ALF can be used in both indoor and outdoor spaces in the form of flooring, partitioning, wind protection or wall decoration. In its inaugural concept, ALF has been presented as a dance floor where people generate electricity with their dance moves. This electricity is used, for one, to power the pumps needed to cultivate the algae. The award was presented to Stubbe thanks to his concept that allows floors and walls on cruise ships to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen while also generating energy, meaning this concept can make a valuable contribution towards reducing the cruise industry’s carbon footprint. And that’s exactly what Bolidt has in mind.
For more information Download the Maritime Sustainability Report 2021–2030 at bolidt.nl.
The Next Generation
Who better to make recommendations about the future than the next generation? And that’s exactly why Bolidt has launched the project The Next Generation. A group of young Bolidt employees and children of Bolidt staff are thinking about the impact that Bolidt can make in the area of People-PlanetProfit. As ‘internal consultants’ they tackle issues from various departments. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the standard against which Bolidt’s initiatives are measured. The Next Generation aims to ensure that Bolidt will continue to be a great place to work in the future too and continue to contribute to a world that is more sustainable.
The spot on the horizon
Setting a safe course based on standardisation and data
When the Wright brothers made the first-ever powered airplane flight on 17 December 1903, they didn’t have a single instrument in the cockpit. They were ‘flying blind’ so to speak. That was well over 100 years ago. On an Airbus, thanks to the vast array of instruments and systems, the pilots can now fly from point A to point B almost literally blind. As a result, flying has not only become safer, we also fly further than ever.
More and more in the world of business is being driven by data. KPIs are drawn up and monitored on every type of dashboard imaginable at every level and in every department. This flow of information allows you to make quicker and more targeted adjustments when a potential deviation from the course is detected. ‘In the beginning we also set our course purely based on what we heard and saw,’ explains Rientz Willem Bol, CEO and owner of Bolidt Group. ‘These days we measure all the key data, which enables us to look further ahead than ever and safeguard our social licence to operate in the future too. And I’m not talking about five or fifty years, but about 500 years from now.’
Together with the CEO and André van Geest, Boeing 737-800 Captain and instructor, we discussed the added value of a cockpit with all the bells and whistles. Rientz Willem also has his pilot’s license. He sets the course for Bolidt. ‘I love adventure and want to discover and push boundaries, but with one important stipulation: everything must be well prepared. This applies both in my private life and with the company. To ensure this I want to have something to hold on to; I need correct, up-to-date information, forecasts and a reliable team with commitment.’
Crew Resource Management
André says that in aviation they talk about Crew Resource Management. ‘The basic ideal is that you use all the resources at your disposal. Your team is just one of those resources. It used to be that the Captain made all the decisions, and if he made the wrong decision, it could have dramatic consequences. As humans we are not flawless. We can be distracted by all kinds of things and also make miscalculations. Nowadays, though there is still a Captain and co-pilot (officially ‘first officer’), decisions are made together and in consultation, with the Captain having the last word.
‘Even if you’re flying with someone who hasn’t clocked up many hours yet, their opinion counts. After all, this person looks at situations from a different perspective than someone who perhaps by now largely relies on experience. We actually no longer talk about Captain and copilot, but rather a “Pilot Flying” and a “Pilot Monitoring”. Both have the same information and can make decisions based on this. If there is a difference of opinion, you discuss this so that you can ultimately make a well-considered decision. However, each pilot has their own area for which they are responsible. For example, Pilot Monitoring is responsible for the radios and landing gear and Pilot Flying for all engine-related instruments. And
The spot on the horizon and beyond
they both have access to all the instruments if needed. Sometimes one of the pilots leaves the cockpit and then the other must be able to continue flying.
‘In addition, of course, we also have to deal with the cabin crew and passengers. Before the flight there is always a crew meeting with an extensive briefing about all flight conditions. What weather can we expect? Will there be stops along the way? Is there anything we need to know about the passengers? During a standard and in the air? How busy is it? Can we take off or land? Or should we perform a go-around or even divert to another airport?’
That’s how Rientz Willem sees it too. ‘I do set the course, but I rely on the people in my organisation while underway. Everyone at Bolidt knows our course. We all work the same way based on the same information. Each department has its own objectives and responsibilities. The teams know what information is needed, what we measure and how, and each team carries out their day-
flight, we communicate with the team in the cabin every twenty minutes about standard events like “unfasten seatbelts” and the start of the landing, as well as about any matters that need attention. For example, if a passenger falls ill we have to decide whether we need to make an emergency diversion. We also depend on outside information, from air traffic control at the departure and destination airports. What are the conditions on the strip to-day operations on their own. At every level, we discuss the state of affairs every day and any departures from the norm that require action. The more experienced you are, the better you can take corrective action independently. We escalate at specifically defined moments when business-critical issues arise. people in the field; this way we know what’s going on each and every day. We also collect information from the market, such as feedback from our clients, laws and regulations, new government requirements regarding safety, the environment and sustainability, and other developments with a direct or indirect impact on our mission. This way, in the event of sudden changes you can make adjustments along the way. With the arrival of Covid-19, we saw a key market, the cruise industry, almost literally disappear. That was a real “Mayday moment” when we had to drastically adjust our course. And that’s why it’s so important to have a “diversion plan” that looks beyond the short term. If you know what your objective is in the long term, you can make more informed decisions at times like that.’
Dashboard and scripts
‘So a dashboard in your company is also a kind of cockpit?’ ‘Absolutely!’, says Rientz Willem. ‘And especially if you set it up in such a way that every team can quickly and easily understand the current status and the impact. At Bolidt we almost all work according to the same standards and use
the same methodologies and instruments. Naturally, we don’t have two people in one cockpit. A company consists of various departments and teams. And actually, every department or team has its own dashboard showing the key data. We have also shaped a general dashboard in the form of a traffic light model in a central location where we monitor, at a higher level, all business activities across all teams, discuss the status and look ahead. This is possible because we have defined leading and lagging information.’
‘In principle, a cockpit always has the same six-pack of gauges: an airspeed indicator, altitude indicator or artificial horizon, altimeter for altitude above sea level, vertical speed indicator, heading indicator or compass, and a turn coordinator that indicates whether a turn is being made at the standard rate’, André explains. ‘In addition, each type of aircraft has its own specific systems and instruments for additional functions, such as communication with other aircraft. Furthermore, for 99.9 percent of the system deviations there are standardised checklists and procedures describing step by step what to do if a red light comes on somewhere. We always follow these when a situation like this arises, even when you think you already know how to handle the situation. In addition, as much of the critical information as possible is shown in a visual, easy-tounderstand manner. For example, the maximum temperature of the engine is not indicated with a number, but rather a red line that simply must not be exceeded. In emergency situations, you can see the critical situation at a glance and take action without having to think too hard or make calculations. ‘The two pilots continuously communicate aloud with each other about the status. You can only do that while you are flying if communication is standardised as well. Every pilot around the world basically communicates, in English, using the same standard messages and commands. There are, however, differences in laws and regulations between the United States and Europe, for example. And communication about procedures can differ per airline or language.’ team-specific data. Rientz Willem takes the comparison a little further: ‘In addition, we have standardised an increasing number of activities so that employees can quickly and easily take over each other’s work. We also make use of visualisations, for example concerning the phase a project is in or the status of a task. Like in aviation we, too, work with scripts. Though we don’t have crew meetings, we do have daily and weekly stand ups. Every team worldwide applies the same
concept. If there are any issues or major problems, these will be discussed and, based on impact,
André van Geest
Bolidt also works using standard data throughout the company, supplemented with department or
insight and experience, will be either addressed and resolved immediately or escalated the same day so that a plan is drawn up.’
Training
Training and continuous development are essential both in aviation and in a company that wants to continue to guarantee safety and agility. ‘Technology is constantly developing, and procedures, with regard to safety and security for example, are also constantly changing. In practice, pilots train and check their knowledge and skills twice a year. Every six months, every pilot undergoes retraining in the simulator to refresh their knowledge and experience. Once a year we are checked by the authority that issues our pilot’s licence. The training programme is designed such that all systems of an aircraft are covered over a three-year period.
Trainee pilots start their simulation training by looking outside and observing some of the gauges. It’s important that they first get the feeling of flying. Then the windows are blinded so they can learn to fly with instruments alone. After that, more and more non-standard situations are introduced during the training, as well as specific systems for each type of aircraft . You may only take your first flight once you know all the systems and procedures and common situations. Then you will apply them under the guidance of a trainer. And in the end it’s all about accumulating metres, or flight hours actually, initially on short, noncommercial flights. Reality can never be fully simulated though. ‘Based on their training, every pilot in the team can read the instruments and manage the flight on that basis. If something changes in a certain type of aircraft, if a new instrument is added or the philosophy behind a certain protocol changes and this requires different actions, then all pilots must be trained to deal with this change.’
‘At Bolidt, the Lean & Learn philosophy and methodologies have been very helpful in getting us to where we are now. We expect everyone in our company to know and understand this,’ says Rientz Willem. ‘Many of our people at every level have followed training for this. New and less-experienced employees are also coached in this way of working in their day-to-day activities. You learn best by doing and by experiencing the benefits in practice. We also ensure that staff receive refresher training and hone their skills and knowledge on a regular basis. Through our Academy we organise several days a year to practice, share experiences and learn from each other and to reorient based on the insights gained.’
André says in conclusion: ‘We could never go back to the situation the Wright brothers were in, flying blind, with no instruments at all. And especially not if you intend to fly a plane full of passengers safely over the ocean.’ ‘Or if you want to grow a company sustainably, without having to let people go if you suddenly have to deviate from your course’, adds Rientz Willem. Both agree on this: precisely because of all the tools and data we now have at our disposal – the automation and standardisation of actions based on years of experience and research – we are able to look beyond that spot on the horizon.
The Bolidt Innovation Center
Click here for a preview of the Bolidt Innovation Center
Bolidt is a pioneer in every sector in which it operates and focuses on innovation to enable its clients to excel in their profession. The drive to innovate has resulted in numerous groundbreaking, sustainable materials now used worldwide. Ours is a strong, enduring story, one that is too interesting to simply read about or hear told: you have to see it, feel it, experience it. And this is all possible at the Bolidt Innovation Center. Here we show how materials are made antibacterial at a microscopic level, how floors join up seamlessly with tiles, drains and skirting, and how materials are subjected to relentless mechanical testing, with the ‘Pounder’, for example, which is used to test the strength of the materials. But there’s much more too. You can put on VR glasses and virtually look over the shoulders of Bolidt staff working on projects around the globe. In the transparent R&D centre you can see Bolidt technicians at work; they are also ready to answer all your questions and explain everything in depth.
If you are not able to visit us, you can also sign up for a virtual tour. Our hostess will take you along a number of highlights in the centre, assisted by a ‘segment expert’. During the tour we tell you all about the possibilities within your industry and answer any questions you may have. Your colleagues are also welcome to join the virtual tour.
Sign up here for the Virtual Tour
Bolidt Synthetic Products & Systems
P.O. Box 131 3340 AC Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht The Netherlands export@bolidt.com www.bolidt.com
Bolidt Innovation Center
Noordeinde 2 3341 LW Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht The Netherlands experience@bolidt.com www.bolidtinnovationcenter.com
