Vandersanden invests €35 million in Beek production site
Vandersanden is taking a groundbreaking step in sustainable brick production with its renovated production site in Beek, which has been largely refurbished with a new press, unique drying facility, setting machine and flue gas cleaner. The investment of 35 million euros and an EIA subsidy of 850,000 euros will result in a substantial and sustainable increase in capacity from 25 to 35 million bricks per year. At the heart of the renovation is the unique steam drying technology used during the drying process, which uses saturated steam instead of natural gas. The result is 30% faster drying and a 25% reduction in total CO₂ emissions from the entire factory.
Renovated production site in Beek
The Beek production site has recently been given a facelift. Thanks to an investment of 35 million euros and an energy investment allowance of 850,000 euros, a large part of the factory has been renovated. With an area of 12,000 m² and 40 employees, production capacity has been significantly increased from 25 to 35 million Waal format facing bricks per year, including the narrower S-line. Vandersanden has not only made its site future-proof and ready for further growth, but has also drastically reduced its energy consumption.
25% reduction in CO₂ emissions with steam drying technology
At the heart of the production site's renovation is the unique steam drying technology used in the drying process. Conventional drying chambers use hot air and natural gas; however, Beek works with saturated steam, which is partly generated from residual heat from the kiln and by means of electric heat pumps, making the process more sustainable.
The result is 30% faster drying and a 25% reduction in total CO₂ emissions from the entire factory. Beek is the first brick factory in Europe to apply this innovative drying technique in the brick industry.
"Thanks to this technology, which dries faster and more efficiently and is less harmful to the environment, we are reaffirming our role as a leader in sustainable building materials. At Vandersanden, the focus on climate neutrality is woven into everything we do, and our ambition is to be climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this goal, we are making targeted investments in making our processes, production methods and factories more sustainable. This ambition has also been set out in the Together to Zero sustainability programme, with energy efficiency as one of the four strategic pillars. The renovated Beek site fits in seamlessly with this," says Imko Jurgens, Director of Operations at Vandersanden.
Thanks to this technology, which dries faster and more efficiently and is less harmful to the environment, we are reaffirming our role as a leader in sustainable building materials.
Press contact
Nathali Donatz
[email protected]
+31 6 23 36 73 45
