Brick manufacturer Vandersanden celebrates its 100 year anniversary
Brick manufacturer Vandersanden is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. Vandersanden's story grew from a modest field kiln in Kleine-Spouwen, Belgium, to a large family business and one of the largest and most sustainable brick manufacturers in Europe.
Innovations such as Pirrouet® and RoboBrick® make Vandersanden a true sustainability pioneer in the sector, and its ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 has been officially laid down in the “Together to Zero” programme. ‘Together, we have been building greatness for 100 years. Together with our employees, customers, suppliers and partners, we want to continue doing so for the next 100 years,’ says Johan Deburchgrave, CEO of Vandersanden.
A century rooted in the earth
The story of Vandersanden began in 1925 in Kleine-Spouwen, Belgium, when Jaak Vandersanden started a modest field kiln. A century later, the family business has grown into one of the largest and most sustainable brick manufacturers in Europe. The fourth generation of Vandersandens has been active for some time, while the fifth is quietly being prepared for the future. Vandersanden's growth is due to more than just entrepreneurship: it is the power of people who, shoulder to shoulder, build something bigger every day. With attention for each other, for well-being and for the world of tomorrow.
"Jaak Vandersanden lit the first spark of passion 100 years ago, and that fire has never been extinguished. Our success lies in our vision for the future. Where others saw bricks, we saw the future. Vandersanden is not just a brick manufacturer, we are a family business with a mission. And that mission is to build a future full of craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability," says Johan Deburchgrave.
Jaak Vandersanden lit the first spark of passion 100 years ago, and that fire has never been extinguished. Our success lies in our vision for the future. Where others saw bricks, we saw the future.
Pioneering innovations such as Pirrouet® and RoboBrick®
In recent decades, Vandersanden has succeeded in transforming the passion and craftsmanship of brick production into sustainable and future-oriented innovations. In 2023, for example, the family business launched the very first CO2-negative facing brick, Pirrouet®, on the market. One tonne of Pirrouet® absorbs 60 kg of CO2 during curing, and the brick is not fired thanks to the use of carbonation technology.
The launch of RoboBrick®, a customised industrial facade system for the automated bonding of brick slips that saves up to 60% in raw materials and energy, is another of Vandersanden's most talked-about innovations in recent years. Vandersanden has also continued to make its production processes more sustainable in recent years.
"As part of our 100th anniversary celebrations, we introduced the concept of “from fire to vision”. This symbolises our passion for taking action and our vision to create something meaningful. We are proud of what we have achieved over the past decades, but we are hungry for more. We are far from finished with innovation and sustainability. Our focus on climate neutrality is woven into everything we do. Our ambition is to be climate neutral by 2050," says Johan Deburchgrave.
We are proud of what we have achieved over the past decades, but we are hungry for more. We are far from finished with innovation and sustainability. Our focus on climate neutrality is woven into everything we do. Our ambition is to be climate neutral by 2050.
Climate neutrality by 2050
The innovations achieved are proof that Vandersanden is investing purposefully in making its products, processes, production methods and factories more sustainable. In 2022, Vandersanden officially set out its ambitions for climate neutrality in the “Together to Zero” programme. The programme is based on four strategic pillars: product transition, energy efficiency, energy transition and Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS).
"By developing new, innovative products, we are contributing to the reduction of primary raw material use, energy consumption and CO2 emissions. We are taking our customers, suppliers and partners with us on our journey to a completely neutral footprint. For 100 years, we have been building a sustainable future with passion, craftsmanship and vision. What started with a modest field kiln has now grown into a leading innovator with a clear ambition: to be climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this, we want everyone to jump on board. Because we have been creating the most beautiful things together for 100 years, and we want to continue doing so for the next 100 years," concludes Deburchgrave.
Press contact
Jenny Parker or Jess Vogt at Wildwood Plus - +44 1293 851115
