Koninklijke Vezet
Every day, 1.5 million kilograms of fruit and vegetables are delivered to Royal Vezet, where they are processed into salads, stir-fry mixes, ready meals and a wide range of other fresh products. As the company continues to grow, work is well underway on a new production facility in Warmenhuizen. We take a closer look at the mechanical engineering side of the project, where Indinox, working closely with Grandis Engineering, has installed several dozen kilometres of pipework, together with compressors, pumps and tanks. With the two companies having worked together for more than 22 years, their combined knowledge and experience are proving invaluable in tackling the challenges along the way.
"One of the biggest challenges was dealing with changes"
SERVICES
Driven by growing demand from its customers Albert Heijn and Delhaize, Royal Vezet needed to expand its production capacity. Its parent company, Kramer Food Family, is making the construction of the new facility in Warmenhuizen possible, directly opposite the ‘old’ factory. Jean-Paul Jansen, Project Manager at Kramer Food Family, explains: “We started the preliminary studies, initial designs and budgeting at the end of 2023. A year later, in September 2024, the main contractor, Unibouw, signed the contract for the construction of the new production facility, where automation plays a key role. We are now in the final months of the project, and the collaboration between all the parties involved has been very positive.”
Project kick-off
Jansen is referring, among other things, to the mechanical engineering work being led by Grandis Engineering. One of the first tasks on site was installing the underground pipework, which had to be completed before the concrete could be poured. Bram Deij, owner of Grandis Engineering, explains: “I have been working with Marc Poppe of Indinox for more than 22 years when it comes to pipework installations. He is involved from the design stage onwards, helping us think through the best solution for the project as a whole. That gives me the assurance that I have a partner who can select the right piping materials, understands the food industry and its stringent requirements, and delivers a very high standard of welding and installation.”
Changes along the way
The layout of the existing Vezet Noord factory has been shaped by a long history of successive expansions. For the new Vezet Zuid facility, the design takes a more structured approach, with the pipework following a logical route from pre-processing through to the finished product. As part of the production process, the pipework is used to transport water, steam and compressed air. Indinox is also responsible for supplying and installing the associated boilers, compressors and tanks. From a building services perspective, the scope also includes wastewater and HVAC pipework. Marc Poppe: “One of the biggest challenges was dealing with changes. At the start of a project like this, the production process has not yet been fully finalized. That means new insights emerging during construction have to be translated into changes to the design. The impact can be considerable. Just imagine what happens if a floor drain needs to be moved to a different location when the pipework, concrete floor and connections are already in place.”
Progress on site
The men walk proudly around the construction site, where a significant part of their work is now hidden beneath hundreds of square metres of concrete. Some of the pipework is visible on the pipe bridges, which route the lines overhead. Here and there, pipes protrude from the ground, ready to be connected at a later stage. At the side of the site stands a large tent where sections of pipework are pre-assembled before being taken to the construction site for fast and efficient installation. It is a project to be proud of.
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