Soudal
Vic Swerts built his Soudal into Europe’s largest independent producer of sealants, adhesives, and PU foams for both professionals and DIY users. The group is represented in 140 countries with 29 production facilities, but the heart of its operations is still located in Turnhout. There, Indinox is the in-house contractor for all piping work. The piping specialist from Lokeren was also called upon for the new tank park at Plant 5.
“Trust is the foundation of everything here. We get quick approval for projects. But it’s a double-edged blade: they also expect that you’ll deliver good quality for a fair price, and that you’ll be there when issues arise."
SERVICES
At Plant 5, Soudal is currently expanding its production capacity. Eight storage tanks for bulk raw materials were installed, along with 32 buffer tanks for liquid storage. A network of pipes transports everything to the correct location. Although Soudal has its own four-person welding team, they prefer the additional support of Indinox for such projects. “And we've been doing that for nearly 20 years. A true partnership”, summarizes project manager Marc Poppe.
Built on trust
How did the collaboration begin? “Piping is a small world. The plant manager knew me personally, and that’s how we got involved. We started in Turnhout in 2007 and never left. Trust is the foundation of everything here. We get quick approval for projects. But it’s a double-edged blade: they also expect that you’ll deliver good quality for a fair price, and that you’ll be there when issues arise.” The best proof that Indinox consistently meets expectations? “We’ve also worked at Soudal locations in the Netherlands, France and Italy. Soon, we’re heading off to Dubai.”
Involved from the start
According to Marc, this kind of trust-based relationship has a major advantage. “We’re involved in projects from the very onset as a true partner. Soudal handles the engineering, and we use our experience to make it more workable — both during the planning phase and in weekly site meetings once the project is underway.” Indinox has been working on the Licodos project for about four years. It should be completed by summer. In total, the project includes 32 tanks, placed over three floors, each weighing around 3 tons. The tanks will be used for filling smaller batches, transported by AGV’s.
Smooth enough, steep enough
Indinox project manager Sophie Martens oversees the progress of the work. “The tanks are delivered, but we install them and handle all the piping needed — floor by floor. We also install valves, fittings, and instrumentation, along with utility lines for water, cooling water, dry air, compressed air, and nitrogen.” Where possible, production is prefabricated in the workshop in Lokeren. Indinox relies on a fixed on-site team, supplemented with fitters, assemblers, and welders as needed. The piping is made from stainless steel 304. “Nothing too technically complex — the pipe just needs to be smooth enough for the silicone to flow easily. We also take special care while installing the filling lines to ensure there’s enough slope”, says Sophie.
Open to improvements
This is a task Sophie confidently entrusts to Indinox site supervisor Stijn De Vos. He takes us all the way to the top floor of the tank park, where IBC’s are lifted up and down with a special elevator. Smaller quantities are filled from these. Under the structure we spot rounded profiles, “to protect against pallet jacks bumping into the piping”, Stijn explains. The trays on the other side were also designed by Indinox to prevent spills. “That’s what makes working with Soudal so pleasant. They’re always open to ideas for improving production.”
“Always top-notch”
A sentiment that is mutual. Soudal project engineer Joey Mariën explains why Indinox is their top choice for piping work: “Because we can trust that they deliver quality work. That quality, combined with their flexibility in scheduling, means that every project I’ve overseen in my twelve years at Soudal has been top-notch.”
Let’s make your project flow
Need a reliable partner for your piping project? Indinox provides an efficient, hands-on comprehensive approach— from enquiry to execution and follow-up.
