Platform for the food and beverage industry
Every day, 1.5 million kilograms of fruits and vegetables are delivered to Koninklijke Vezet, where they are processed into products such as salads, stir-fry mixes, and complete meals. Due to the company’s growth, work is currently underway on a new production facility in Warmenhuizen. We’re taking a closer look at the mechanical engineering aspect of the project, in which Indinox, in close collaboration with Grandis Engineering, installed several dozen kilometers of piping in combination with compressors, pumps, and tanks. Since the companies have been collaborating for over 22 years, they are able to tackle challenges with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Due to growing sales from its customers Albert Heijn and Delhaize, Koninklijke Vezet was forced to expand its production capacity. Parent company Kramer Food Family is making the construction of the new facility in Warmenhuizen—across from the ‘old’ factory—possible. Jean-Paul Jansen is the project manager at Kramer Food Family: “We began preliminary studies, preliminary designs, and budgeting at the end of 2023,” he explains. “A year later, in September, the contract was signed with general contractor Unibouw for the construction of the new production facility, where automation plays a key role. We are now in the final months of the project, during which the collaboration among the various parties involved has been very pleasant.”
Jansen is referring, among other things, to the mechanical engineering portion of the project, which is led by Grandis Engineering. One of the first tasks on site was the installation of the underground piping, which had to be completed before concrete pouring could begin. Bram Deij, owner of Grandis Engineering: “I’ve been working with Marc Poppe of Indinox for over 22 years when it comes to piping installation. He’s involved right from the design phase, helping to determine the best solution for the project as a whole. This ensures I have a partner who can select the right piping materials, has knowledge of the food industry and its associated strict requirements, and, above all, delivers very high-quality welding and installation work.”
The layout of the existing plant, Vezet Noord, has been shaped by a history of expansions. For the new plant, Vezet Zuid, the design focuses on a logical flow of piping—from pre-processing to the final product. In terms of the production process, this involves the transport of water, steam, and compressed air, for which Indinox also supplies and installs the associated boilers, compressors, and tanks. From a building services perspective, this is supplemented by piping for the sewer system and HVAC. Poppe: “One of the biggest challenges was dealing with changes. At the start of the project, the production process had not yet fully taken shape, which meant that new insights had to be translated into design changes during construction. That impact can be significant; just imagine what has to be done if a drain needs to be moved to a different location while the pipes, concrete floor, and connections are already in place.”
The men walk proudly across the construction site, where a significant portion of their work lies hidden beneath hundreds of square meters of concrete. A small portion is visible on the pipe bridges that carry the piping overhead. Here and there, pipes protrude from the ground; these will be connected at a later stage. Off to the side stands a large tent where components are pre-assembled before being transported to the construction site for quick and straightforward installation. A project to be proud of.
