More than six years ago, Marc Paauw founded Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions, a company specializing in the design and installation of advanced industrial refrigeration and freezing systems, ripening systems, and pre-cooling systems. Over 90% of the company's clients are in the fresh produce sector, particularly logistics refrigeration centers.
Recently, Paauw has completed and launched numerous refrigeration projects at Dutch cold storage facilities. "We are well-established with many large logistics cold storage companies. For instance, we recently completed a project at Varekamp and ERP in Maasdijk. At Dutch Fresh Port, we have also delivered numerous refrigeration installations in recent years. We provided the refrigeration system for AFL Barendrecht's new facility (22,245 m²), are currently building the system at VDH Forwarding in Ridderkerk (30,000 m²), and will start work at Kivits Ridderkerk II (30,000 m²) after the summer. We have a strong presence there. Unfortunately, the available plots are now almost all taken," Marc laughs.
"We frequently work with large companies, which means these are often large-scale installations. Many of these companies build vertically, which requires significant expertise. It is naturally colder at the bottom of a cold storage cell than at the top, and we aim to minimize this temperature difference. Whether a pallet is on the ground or at 20 meters, it must be stored under the same conditions, which demands specialized knowledge. In fact, these high-storage cells are often fully automated, with no manual handling involved."
According to Marc, customer demand has not changed significantly over the years. "However, the possibilities have expanded greatly, which is why good advice is essential. We also see that cold storage facilities are increasingly reserving specific rooms for drying products like ginger, and we provide advice on this."
"Ripening rooms remain in high demand as well. Our systems use natural refrigerants such as ammonia and CO₂, which offer efficient cooling while being a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods. In addition, our service department maintains Freon systems. We also regularly take over customer installations, upgrading them with our own control system, which can save around 20% in energy costs."
Paauw Industrial Refrigeration has 13 direct employees and also works with a flexible team of around 40 people, including freelancers and subcontractors. "We are a very informal company, operating as a unified team, which allows us to accomplish a lot. Teamwork significantly increases our capacity. That said, we are always looking for more staff, especially in service."
Currently, the refrigeration design and installation company from Bodegraven primarily serves Dutch fresh produce companies. However, Marc is open to exploring opportunities abroad. "We are one of the leading industrial refrigeration companies in Northern Europe, so I believe we could help many businesses effectively. In the Netherlands, it is often easy to get quick replacements if you are short on materials, which can be more challenging abroad. But I don't shy away from challenges, and I can certainly see myself exploring international opportunities."
For more information:
Paauw Industrial Refrigeration Solutions
Doortocht 14
2411 DS Bodegraven
Tel: +31(0)172 748228
[email protected]
www.paauw-refrigeration.com