The outlines of Scherpenhuizen’s new building are clearly visible. In the second half of March, the new building of the sales organisation from Eindhoven will be delivered. And manager Martin Scherpenhuizen is looking forward to that moment. “We currently have our trade placed in five storage locations. The new building was just very much needed.”
Breeam-Outstanding
With the new building, Scherpenhuizen has aimed for the highest possible sustainability with the Breeam-Outstanding score. That score is not easily given. The new DC is completely illuminated with LED lighting and does not have a gas connection. The cooling is powered by solar panels, allowing the company to be self-supporting for the largest part of the year. There will be charging points for electric cars. The high-quality residual heat from the cooling is used in the crate washing plant, the low-quality residual heat is used to heat the offices. The grey water (rain water) is reused and the foundation of the building is a combination of recycled soil and ground debris from the previous building. Last but not least, the roof will feature a bee hotel, keeping the canteen’s honey supply level.
“Apart from some supermarket DCs, we will have the most sustainable building in the Dutch fresh produce sector and of Eindhoven,” Martin proudly explains. When asked for his motivation to achieve the highest possible, he answers: “It is in our genes. This certificate will not result in more sales or higher prices with our retail customers, we just want to work as sustainably as possible, and we want to create a pleasant workplace for our employees. That will result in a profit in the end. We only make investments when they are economically sensible, and all of these investments have realistic cost- recovery times.”
Facts
The DC has a total floor space of 40,000 m2, consisting of a 34,000 m2 hall and a mezzanine of 6,000 m2. The building has as much as 57 docks. In the building are 20 empty container loading and unloading belts, two palletisers with a capacity of 60 pallets per hour and a bell pepper box washer with a capacity of 100 boxes per hour. The CO2-neutral office has an area of 3,250 m2, and all this on a plot of 70,000 m2. The building will have 450 lockers, 200 m2 of sanitary spaces, 200 m2 of conference rooms, a canteen of 450 m2 and an outside terrace of 150 m2. “That will be my favourite place,” Martin laughs.
While Scherpenhuizen was mostly known as a greenhouse vegetable specialist in the past, the company has taken its first steps in becoming a total fresh produce supplier in recent years. “Our new building allows us once again to centralise our logistics operation and production processes, and to be more efficient. To us, the importance of our staff, our customers and our cultivators comes first. As we say internally: cultivator is king, customer is emperor!”
For more information:
Martin Scherpenhuizen
Scherpenhuizen
De Keten 15
5651 GJ Eindhoven
Tel: +31 (0)40 25 84 684
Fax: +31 (0)40 25 84 612
www.scherpenhuizen.nl