Cooling Insulation Company (Koel Isolatie Maatschappij, or K.I.M.) Netherlands specializes in the construction of insulation systems. The family business from Apeldoorn, a town in The Netherlands, is building cold rooms and conditioned spaces for companies in the food, distribution and transportation sector.
In the world of refrigeration, Rc values are of great importance. The Rc value indicates the density of insulation panels. The higher the value, the more energy is saved. And that is important for investments. If an investment meets a certain minimum U-value requirement, a company can receive subsidies from the government.
Gerard Scherff says that K.I.M. is currently the only company in The Netherlands equipped with a TNO certificate for this very job. This distinguishes it from other companies. Also the fact that K.I.M. is a family business makes a difference according to Gerard. "Today it is a trend to hire subcontractors. However, we are still working with our own assembly workers and that is widely appreciated. It gives a committed and reliable impression, and has done so for over 45 years."
Gerard notes that many growers postpone new investments in these tough economic times. Despite this, the company contracts the business it needs. Gerard explains that the company works with a special insulation and vapour-tight seal between panels that are specially designed and developed for cold-storage warehouses. "Many regular panel suppliers do not venture there. But it is of great importance that the panels are hermetically finished and adhere to strict standards. Much depends on the way in which the panels are attached. So postponing investments might not be such a good idea in the long run. We put quality above quantity."
g.scherff@kim-nederland.nl