LOMMEL - Today, the first stone of the new production complex of JUMA Beton NV is being laid. JUMA Beton NV specialises in the production of prefab concrete elements for both industrial construction, offices, apartments and road construction and is currently one of the market leaders in the production of concrete and spiral and straight staircases.
The new complex is being built in Lommel in Limburg, around 10 km from the current (and future) production site in Balen, and will be operational in September 2008.
This expansion will ultimately create approximately 200 extra jobs in the region.
Symbolic stone laying
In the presence of Lommel’s mayor, Peter Vanvelthoven, and alderman for the local economy, Walter Cremers, the first symbolic stone laying will take place today for the new production complex of JUMA Beton NV in Balen.
The stone laying will occur by means of the placement of a concrete column for the first phase of the new construction project.
Flemish government
JUMA Beton NV is very glad that it is able to establish itself here and provide employment for 200 people. It was suddenly confronted with the totally unexpected exercise of a pre-emptive right by the Flemish government, even though a building permit had been granted and work had already started. This came as a complete surprise. It is hoping that the NV Scheepvaart will sympathise with the local entrepreneurs who will use the waterway and also want to know their investments are secure. It assumes that the municipality will also take some responsibility in this matter. JUMA Beton NV would never have made this investment here if someone had said that the site in question could and would be the subject of the exercise of a pre-emptive right. This matter must be cleared up in the near future; we are the losing party in this!
Tripling of production volume
The construction of the new complex means an expansion of 35,000 m² in production and storage capacity. All halls will be provided with rolling bridges over their entire length and solar panels will be fitted on the halls’ roofs. There will also be a collecting basin for rainwater, so that this water can be re-used via a treatment plant in production. The cost of the entire investment project in Lommel will exceed EUR 25 million.
“Thanks to the rising demand for prefab concrete elements, the capacity of our current site in Balen has been fully utilised, and we’re not currently able to adequately capitalise on our customers’ demands. Investing in an extra production facility will allow us to triple our volume and offer the best price/quality with short lead times,” says Tom Vennekens, Technical Director of JUMA Beton NV.
Extra jobs
The expansion will create around 150 extra jobs in the region. Furthermore, the investment will also create around 50 additional jobs with suppliers.
In particular, there is an immediate demand for labourers and engineers.
Construction in 2 phases
Construction of the new complex and associated offices will be done in two phases.
In the first phase, production halls totalling 17,500 m² will be built, in which prefab beams, columns, prefab elements for road-building and pre-stressed beams and girders will be produced.
Pre-stressed beams and girders are a new product for JUMA Beton NV, but are technically ready to go, partly due to the product development of its sister company GOUDEZEUNE. This production will begin in September 2008 and will be fully operational by the beginning of 2009.
The second phase, scheduled for 2010, consists of further halls with again a total area of 17,500 m² for the production of walls, balconies and special elements.
This is also where the new prefab concrete elements will be developed.
Long-term vision
In time, activities at the current site in Balen will be concentrated on the production of spiral and straight staircases, an activity in which JUMA Beton NV is one of the market leaders on the Belgian market.
Since the new location is not far from the Netherlands and Germany, these markets will also be utilised. The company obtained the KOMO certificate in 2007 for this.
As a result of the planned investments, JUMA Beton NV is aiming for a turnover of EUR 30 million from its 2 production sites by 2012 with a total of more than 250 employees.
BACKGROUND
JUMA Beton NV
JUMA Beton NV is based in Balen and evolved from a small family business into a modern SME that currently employs approximately 100 people. In 2003, the family business was taken over by the Belgian construction group
VALERES. JUMA Beton NV possesses the latest technologies for custom-made prefab concrete products for the building of public utilities, industrial construction and road construction. Since August 2007, most production has been both BENOR and KOMO certified, and JUMA Beton NV holds the legally required CE label for beams and columns.
In 2006, the firm won the “Company of the year” prize awarded by VOKA Kempen.
In 2007, JUMA Beton NV achieved a turnover of EUR 10 million. With the gradual start-up of the new site in Lommel as from September, a turnover of EUR 17 million will be the target for 2009.
For more information about JUMA Beton NV: www.jumabeton.be
VALERES
VALERES, with its headquarters in Antwerp, is a leading Belgian construction group with local construction companies in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Belgium, which specialise in industrial construction projects. These are concerned with the construction of shell to turnkey projects from 500 m² to 50,000 m², in both steel and concrete.
Finally, VALERES also has a portfolio of project developments in these countries, as well as in Eastern Europe.
In Belgium, the group is mainly active as a prefab concrete supplier with JUMA Beton NV in Balen, CONDECO NV in Diksmuide and GOUDEZEUNE Beton NV in Kemmel.
The VALERES Group employs more than 500 people. The expected turnover for 2008 is EUR 150 million.
END JUMA Beton NV
