Schelde Exotech

Magazine 25th anniversary New location Ready

for the future

Amazing! Congratulations to Schelde Exotech! Find out what a free B2B magazine can do for your business ON YOUR NEW LOCATION AND 25TH ANNIVERSARY greatmagazines.nl

Welcome to Schelde Exotech

Proud! This year, we celebrate no less than two remarkable milestones in our company’s history; the opening of our new location in Vlissingen-Oost and our 25th anniversary. In this magazine, we introduce you to the world of Schelde Exotech. We’ll tell you more about our products and services, our new location, some special projects and our plans for the future.

The success of Schelde Exotech is partly due to our highly motivated staff who give their all every day to meet the needs of our highly valued customers. We are grateful for our wonderful and long-lasting customer relationships, some of which predate the founding of Schelde Exotech in 1998. After all, while we have been in business for 25 years, but the companies from which we emerged have a much longer history.

We cherish our loyal staff and customers and hope to be able to realise many more exceptional projects together. Schelde Exotech is a company to be proud of and we like to share that feeling with you.

Happy reading!

Jos Mols CEO Schelde

Exotech

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Jos Mols | CEO

A complete partner

The unique products and services of Zeeland’s Schelde Exotech are going global. Estimating & Sales manager Arthur Borsboom explains.

The ofﬁcial start of Schelde Exotech was in 1998 when the companies AKF Goes, Schelde Boiler Division and Schelde MTProducts merged under one banner. Schelde Exotech is now part of the global Pressure Thermal Dynamics (PTD) concern, parent company of Verolme, Nordic Custom and Logan Industries, among others. Schelde Exotech is a designer and manufacturer of high-quality products for industry. In its early years, the company was mainly active in chemicals and petrochemicals, but later also

in the fertiliser and renewable industries and as a manufacturer of equipment for uranium enrichment.

Exotic

Arthur: “We do that with both simple and exotic high-performance materials, such as aluminium, titanium and high nickel alloys. The name Exotech is also derived from those exotic materials. Exotic materials are demanding to process and require exotic solutions. That’s

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what we are good at. Customers can turn to us for complex designs and complex welding methods. We unburden our customers by being a complete partner. With our own engineering department, inspection department and project management, we deliver 100% quality.”

A broad basis

Schelde Exotech has a broad customer base and at the same time is highly specialised because the company operates in niche markets. Among its major customers are Dow Chemical, Trinseo, REC, Yara and Nobian. Arthur: “We operate globally and more than 60% of our activities take place outside the Netherlands. Our customers are loyal and always come back to us. Even those from the old Exotech because they know they can rely on our knowledge and expertise.”

Collaboration from A to Z

“Collaboration is unquestionably one of our strengths. This collaboration begins in the quotation phase when, from day one, we work closely with the customer to solve and anticipate their needs. For instance, if we see ways to save money or enhance a product’s safety, we recommend different materials or designs. This collaboration continues throughout the entire process. Recently, for example, we visited a customer in the Middle East who had problems with a reactor. That kind of service is greatly appreciated and deﬁnitely adds value.”

Communication is essential

Arthur is keen to mention another of Schelde Exotech’s strengths: communication. “This means that we actually follow through on all of the agreements we make with our clients. Which is essential, because if we don’t, our clients run into problems with budgets and schedules. In recent years, lean working has deﬁnitely become our guiding principle at Schelde Exotech, allowing us to optimise our business processes and provide our customers with even more added value.”

We believe in collaboration

“In terms of atmosphere and teamwork, Schelde Exotech is a family business. The fact that people work for us for so long shows just how much they enjoy working here. We are proud of our company and the special projects that we, and our customers, work together to deliver.”

|

Arthur Borsboom

Estimating & Sales manager

Lean working is deﬁnitely the guiding principle!

High-proﬁle projects

Schelde Exotech is responsible for a variety of projects in numerous high-tech industries both nationally and internationally. Project managers Frans van Meteren and Wilbert Philippa shed light on some special projects.

Energy and research projects

One of our customers, with whom we have a long-standing relationship, produces raw material for nuclear power plants throughout the world, including in the Netherlands. Frans: “We do a lot of work for them from engineering to making subassemblies. These subassemblies are later assembled in the plants by, among other things, welding and ﬁtting aluminium pipelines. Welding aluminium is highly specialised work for which we have the necessary knowledge and expertise in-house. For the same client, we also partly modelled and produced a plant for producing raw materials for medical and physical research. That was extremely complex and completely new for us, so we were taking a bit of a risk. But the project was a success, and the plant is running according to plan.”

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Projects in 800H

Wilbert: “For a major US customer, we are working on a project that involves manufacturing parts in the nickel alloy 800H. The plant is in America and we are producing components that will be used in existing reactors. Logan Industries manufactures them on site with our assistance. Working with high-quality steel alloys requires meticulous precision because of the tight tolerances. It is an international project in which we’re collaborating with colleagues from our sister companies Verolme, Nordic Custom and Logan Industries. It was our ﬁrst joint project on a scale of this size and we are now all working as one. The expertise here goes far beyond welding. The project’s engineering, logistics, and organisational challenges are enormous, resulting in a lot of dynamics. By the way, the new site in Flushing is ideal for processing these high-quality materials.”

Oxygen mixing nozzle projects

Frans: “Under license from Shell and SD Inc. among others, we make oxygen mixing nozzles, a special equipment with inserts in pipes used for oxygen injection. These are complex products because you are injecting pure oxygen into ethylene. It is vital to clean these devices properly because oxygen reacts very easily with all kinds of substances. Based on the needs and requirements of our global customers, we have two basic designs. In China, a transporter crashed into a bridge while carrying a case with an oxygen mixing nozzle. We advised the customer to conduct some tests, and fortunately the oxygen mixing nozzle was undamaged.”

The expertise here goes far beyond welding.

Frans van Meteren | Project manager Wilbert Philippa | Project manager

Grensloos Pluriform is a specialist in digital order-driven and project-based production. Its software helps Schelde Exotech to enable and guarantee growth in e-logistics and e-commerce. Thanks to Pluriform’s unique structure, this ERP software remains forever young.

Grensloos Pluriform Certiﬁed Production Software is a special ERP application. It is built to combine the strategic advantages of ERP with the beneﬁts of Best of Breed. Pluriform’s technology facilitates companies that are in the middle of the business to quickly expand and optimise their organisation.

One central information system

Grensloos (Borderless) Pluriform focuses on organisations that want to work company-wide from one central information system. Pluriform comprises several standard modules such as Purchasing, Sales, Accounting, Projects, Logistics, Invoicing and Stock Management. We combine these with extensive CRM, PIM, HRM and logistics web applications, such as WMS app and a complete Customer Services web portal (B2B).

Procurement

Procurement logistics is a core functionality that automates essential purchasing activities. With this module, we make project-based stocks manageable with material certiﬁcates.

Project Work Order Administration

The Project Work Order Administration module is necessary to apply the Work Order Planning and Work Order app. This means that the Project serves to register master data such as client, framework agreements and administrative settings. To carry out work, Project Work Orders (sub-projects) are registered, for speciﬁc calculations, quotations, planning and monitoring of hours and materials.

Sales app

Smart communication integrated Marketing, CRM, Teams and Sales functionality is part of the ‘Sales & Operations Planning’ application in Pluriform. The Sales app enables professionals to communicate optimally with customers during every contact moment.

grensloos.nl

8 ADVERTORIAL

Grensloos Pluriform software that remains forever young

A unique company to work for

At Schelde Exotech, long-tenured employees are the rule rather than the exception. Employees are incredibly knowledgeable and are eager to pass their knowledge on to the younger generation. Project Engineer Joran Dankaart and welder Rody Sinke, talk about their work and the opportunities for young people at Schelde Exotech.

Project Engineer Joran Dankaart (24)

Joran has now joined Schelde Exotech as a permanent Project Engineer following his graduation internship for the Engineering course at HZ University of Applied Sciences in Vlissingen. Joran: “I am currently working on my ﬁrst project, designing a small set-up for a factory in Poland. I also support the work planners with 3D models. With the varied projects, there is plenty to learn and the new premises provide a neat and future-proof environment for everyone.”

Welder Rody Sinke (20)

Rody completed a vocational training programme in welding and construction and has taken numerous courses in metalworking. For Schelde Exotech, he is taking numerous welding certiﬁcates, which are required to carry out certiﬁed welding work.

Rody: “The work you do here is really unique and can be done (almost) nowhere else. What appeals to me most is the specialist knowledge and how it’s passed on. If I want to know something, I’m given a detailed, clear explanation. Are you a young welder and want to progress in the profession? Then Schelde Exotech is the place to be.”

Are you a young welder and want to progress in the profession?

Then Schelde Exotech is the place to be!

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A location to be proud of

On 2 January 2023, Schelde Exotech opened the doors of its new facility in Vlissingen-Oost. A future-proof building that ﬁts seamlessly with current laws and regulations and the speciﬁc needs and requirements of the market in which the company operates. Technical Director Willem Konings talks proudly about the relocation process and the new premises.

Willem and CEO Jos took the first steps in the relocation process back in 2016. They knew the lease on the Koningsweg site would expire in 2020 and at first focused on a complete new building. Willem: “We also decided to see if it was economically feasible to find and convert an existing building. We explored that in great depth, but in the end it became 100% clear that the requirements the location had to meet in order to supply the products our customers demand were very specific. Then I am talking about requirements in terms of crane load, floor load and the layout of

We aim to work with our partners to

the building. It wasn’t ﬁnancially viable to realise that in an existing building.”

The gentlemen extended the lease until 2023 and, in collaboration with contractor Cordeel, found a suitable site in Vlissingen-Oost to build the new premises. Willem: “In the summer of 2021, we started the construction team contract and before Christmas, all the permits had been arranged and all the blueprints were ready. The ﬁrst pile was driven into the ground in January 2022 and the entire building was erected in ten months. Everything went smoothly and on schedule.”

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‘green’ the entire production chain.

A quality improvement

The new location is a NZEB building, meaning that it is a nearly zero-emission building. Willem: “The building is completely gas-free, with LED lighting and solar panels, and the office building has underfloor heating and a heat recovery system. The production halls have insulated floors and infrared heating. We’ve made a significant improvement in terms of quality, which is clearly paying off, especially given today’s energy prices. For employees, the indoor working environment has also vastly improved. Previously, in cold weather, the temperature inside the facility was sometimes lower than the temperature outside. Now it is pleasantly warm inside and the excellent ventilation and the welding fume extraction setting provide a healthy and pleasant working environment.”

Future-proof

Schelde Exotech’s environmental footprint has improved to the point where it has been awarded a silver medal by Ecovadis, a collaborative platform that assesses companies’ sustainability performance. Willem: “We comply with all Dutch laws and regulations and strive to work with our partners to ‘green’ the entire pro-

duction chain. Besides the sustainability beneﬁts, Willem points to the great advantage of having their own site. “We can express our company identity here. We are proud of our company and enjoy sharing that with everyone.”

Current market developments are working to the company’s advantage. There are already plans for expansion at the new location...

Willem Konings | Technical Director

A customised production site

Schelde Exotech’s new ultra-modern production site meets the very latest requirements and is ready for the future! The location is ideally suited to the company’s activities. The successful construction team for the customised production location comprised Cordeel, Bouwraadhuis and Barth Installatietechniek.

Schelde Exotech has expanded rapidly in recent years. The current location in Vlissingen could no longer accommodate the company’s operations, so the construction team was tasked with ﬁnding a solution for the cramped quarters. The construction team included: Cordeel for structural design & construction, Bouwraadhuis for architectural design and Barth installation technology for building-related and process installations. From start to ﬁnish, everything went as planned. The new VlissingenOost facility was completed four weeks ahead of schedule, at the end of 2022.

The ﬁrst steps

The process began by looking at existing premises in the area that were for sale. Following discussions with Schelde Exotech it was discovered that their speciﬁc production requires customisation and that none of the available facilities met the company’s needs. The next step was to investigate the feasibility

of a new building, which resulted in a plan for the new facility that provided everything the company required. Schelde Exotech’s Jos Mols and Willem Konings immediately recognised the potential of a new facility and approved the plan. The ﬁrst step was to select a construction team, which then reﬁned the plan before applying for an environmental permit.

About Cordeel

Cordeel construction company is an independent family business with a rich history dating back to 1934. The company is active in numerous sectors including industrial & petrochemical, logistics, ofﬁce construction and civil and hydraulic engineering. Cordeel completed the building in a brief 10-month construction period, with a stunning end result. This accelerated completion time is due in part to the construction method. The shell of the ofﬁce is made entirely of prefabricated concrete from their own factory in Temse, Belgium.

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About Barth Installatietechniek

Barth Installatietechniek acted as both consultant and installer on this project, with the goal of completely relieving Schelde Exotech of all concerns. The company designs, builds and maintains installations for all types of buildings in the utility and logistics sector, as well as in ofﬁces and schools. All installations in the ofﬁces and production areas of Schelde Exotech were developed by Barth Installatietechniek. This includes the complete medium-voltage connection. The rapid construction period was made possible thanks in part to the excellent collaboration of all parties.

Developed in BIM

To ensure the proper coordination of all construction disciplines, the entire design, including structural elements and installation, was worked out in advance in a BIM (Building Information Model) model. Potential ‘clashes’ in the model were optimised in the preliminary process. Thanks to BIM, the client was able to take a virtual tour of the new building. And thanks to BIM, the construction process went faster, smoother and with fewer errors.

The plot allows for future expansion. This was factored into the design at an early stage. Designers Jeroen Brouwer and Mike Tevel of Bouwraadhuis: “The new facility is a functional structure with a sleek appearance that meets the most recent requirements. The façade, a striking feature in robust concrete, gives the building a distinctive identity.”

cordeel.nl

bouwraadhuis.nl

barthinstallatietechniek.nl

Ready for the future

With its new ultra-modern production site, Schelde Exotech is ready for the future!

• The building houses several production halls, a welding hall and a conditioned clean room.

• The ofﬁce contains spacious work areas that accommodate the engineering and work preparation departments.

• The lean spaces are linked to the ofﬁce.

• The open structure with spaces where people can consult and share ideas en sures short lines of communication between the departments, in keeping with Schelde Exotech’s corporate culture.

To the future

Schelde Exotech is looking forward to a bright future. With so many exciting projects and a future-proof location, it couldn’t be any other way. CEO Jos Mols talks about the plans for his successful company.

“We’re in a booming market,” Jos says. “Right now, there is so much work that we already have plans to expand at our new location. The increased volume of work is due in part to our customers’ expansion, as well as the overall energy transition and CO2 issue. Factories are being retroﬁtted to be more energy efﬁcient and have less CO2 emission Customers know they can rely on us for specialised knowledge and experience in this area.”

“At the same time, we’re seeing the emergence of hydrogen plants, and are deﬁnitely going to play a role in that. It is also vital that we share our specialised knowledge and experience with the next generation. As a manufacturer of industrial equipment, it takes several years to learn the tricks of the trade, so we’ll invest even more heavily in that area. We are ready for the future!”