Jochem Van Aken

Exciting News Alert! 🚀 Vandenbussche NV - Bouwonderneming Aalter Construction and Automated Architecture (AUAR) Launch First Robotic Microfactory for Modular Housing Units with an IRS Refurbished Robot. Vandenbussche Construction, in partnership with tech startup AUAR, has opened a groundbreaking microfactory for building modular housing units. Utilizing compact robot cells and AI technology, including an IRS-refurbished ABB robot, they're revolutionizing construction productivity while prioritizing sustainability. According to Kristof Defruyt, CEO of Vandenbussche NV, "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘹 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯." Moreover, Defruyt emphasizes, "𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵." 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬: - Traditional modular housing construction is capital-intensive and environmentally taxing, but AUAR's technology changes the game. - The microfactory in Aalter, Belgium, produced the wooden interior of Ghent's Wintercircus using robots. - The circular nature of IRS-refurbished robots ensures a low carbon footprint, contributing to greener construction practices. - The focus is now on large-scale projects like nursing homes and schools, where efficiency gains are significant. - Flemish Minister for Housing, Matthias Diependaele, praises the innovation, highlighting its role in meeting housing demand. - The microfactory in Aalter is the first of its kind in Europe, with plans for global expansion by AUAR. Exciting times ahead for the construction industry with innovation leading the way towards a sustainable future! 🌟 Video by AVS Oost-Vlaamse Televisie (in Dutch) 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒? 𝐆𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐛𝐞 Click here: https://lnkd.in/d7ps75Zy #IRSRobotics #ConstructionTech #ModularHousing #Innovation #Sustainability

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📈 **Maximize productivity and prioritize employee well-being!** Today we received a video from one of our customers who regularly operates in Belgium, showing how our innovative solutions help them achieve exceptional results. By using our equipment they can work with fewer team members yet increase production, reaching up to 800 meters per day with just three employees! The compact design of our machines allows them to operate in smaller, more efficient setups, reducing the risk of overload. Because they lift significantly less heavy loads, there is a significant reduction in downtime for their staff. 👷‍♂️ Fewer employees, more productivity and less pressure on your team.** Do you value the well-being of your employees, but do not want this to affect productivity? Contact us for more information: 📧 info@railraise.com 📞+31 38 3855449 💻 railraise.com #productivity #wellbeing #innovation #guardrail #railraise

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Completion of the Solprovit plant 🛠 In Hasselt we constructed the first plant in the Netherlands dedicated solely to the production of premixes for Solprovit B.V. The facility features 206 silo bins with a total storage capacity of 8,400 m³. While the sheer size presented a significant challenge for our engineers, the biggest challenge lay in the fully automated container transport system. A silo structure with such a large number of bins inherently involves a complex interplay of forces. This complexity is further compounded when containers move back and forth over the structure, delivering their contents into the silos through floor recesses. This scenario places high demands on both the silo construction and the surrounding steel framework. By performing all calculations for the silos and the steel structure in-house, we delivered an integrated and optimized solution. This approach ensured smart connections and efficient steel usage. Additionally, we considered the most efficient assembly options during the design phase, resulting in a smooth assembly process and making the plant fully ready for commissioning. We wish Solprovit B.V. much success and good production with their new factory! #TSCSilos #squaresilos #steelstructure #animalfeed #premix

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Safety and prevention first: 2 pillars in the design of our equipment!   As every year, FIB Belgium, with its safety committee, has worked on the planification of safety and wellness actions to be tackled internally in 2025. Safety and prevention: 2 pillars that are also part of the design of all equipment that is designed by our team. As a matter of fact, making a good product is possible only when the operators are feeling themselves in safe conditions! And it goes further even with the dismounting or the maintenance of the equipment: who knows for instance that the roof of an open fired furnace made of ceramic fibre is requiring dismounting conditions for the workers like handling asbestos? Those values are so often neglected by many equipment suppliers focusing only on “low costs views” and it is not the first time that FIB Belgium saw “poorly designed equipment” that exploded or created terrible hazardous conditions! Choosing the FIB Belgium solutions also means offering your staff safe working conditions. Is safety not a strong way to keep knowledge in your companies and enhance your social responsibility towards your colleagues and their families? #safety #prevention #FIB #FIBBelgium #steelwire #furnace #galvanizing

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Excellent news: the Dutch government will give priority to the Delta-Rhine Corridor, which includes a pipeline system for green/blue Hydrogen and CO2, between the port of Rotterdam and Germany. Another great step in the European energy transition.

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Schiphol and BAM Bouw en Techniek have begun replacing the climate control systems at Pier E. In this project, using energy efficiently and making the airport more sustainable are key. This collaboration is a step towards taking Schiphol's buildings off the gas grid by 2030. 

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Developing climate-resilient public spaces?🌱 How can we help you? 👋

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I wonder what's is the reason to push the SfB forward and not to embrace the CCS model that is becoming the de-factor standard with so many EU states on board (CoClass, CCI-EE, CCI-LT, CCI-CZ, CCI-SK, etc.)?

🎁 Our holiday gift to you 🎁 https://lnkd.in/e2fzhhg7 Sparkle into 2025 with a winning strategy for your construction site safety and compliance. Conneqtr has teamed up with BauWatch België, BETA GUARD and Heras Mobile Fencing & Security to bring you the ultimate guide to access control in construction. This eBook (📑 available in Dutch) is filled with valuable tips, expert insights, and inspiration. What’s inside? ✅ A detailed look at the current state of access control. ✅ The value of access control in social legislation and worker registration. ✅ Pros and cons of the three main forms of access control. ✅ What does the future hold for access control? Expert insights. ✅ Real-life case studies from iconic projects: The Thermen of Spa, the Oosterweel Connection, and the Europa Terminal. ✅ How innovations like ZEN by Conneqtr can take your access control solutions to the next level. Download our eBook now: https://lnkd.in/e2N_hVVg Whether you're strategizing for 2025 or simply looking to stay ahead in the industry, this eBook has the expert insights and practical examples you need. #accesscontrol #safety #construction #ConneqtrEcosystem #ConneqtrZen #toegangscontrole #bouwerf #Conneqtr #HerasMobile #betaguard #bauwatch #sitesecurity #werfbeveiliging

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🌊 "Floating construction can offer a lot of added value in times of climate change," emphasizes Rutger de Graaf, civil engineer and managing director of Blue21, a Delft tech company that specialises in #floating #urbanisation. ❓ When do you speak of floating construction? And what about safety? ℹ Nationaal Deltaprogramma describes the framework of how the Dutch government, together with knowledge institutes, companies and social organizations, protects the Netherlands now and in the future, against flooding and provides adequate freshwater, #climate #resilient and #water-robust design. 💡 Read on the #Delta News (in Dutch) published below and get #inspired Floating Future Research Project Blue Revolution Foundation INDYMO #floatingfuture #futureisnow #climateresilience #sustainabledevelopment #futureproof #urban #coastalexpansion #Dutch #knowhows #valuecreation #upscaling #innovation #actnow

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𝗩𝗲𝗸𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲! 🛠 On the former football field in Vlodrop, the new Vekoma campus is being built! The construction sign has been unveiled, and the initial work is in full swing. Vekoma is building the future!   Over the years, Vekoma has experienced significant growth, leading to changing logistical needs. Temporary offices were set up following a fire in the early 1990s. These temporary offices lack capacity, have illogical layouts, and no longer comply with current laws and regulations.   Due to the lack of capacity, storage options, and the outdated nature of the current location, research has been conducted to find an alternative solution. Vlodrop holds a special significance for Vekoma, being easily accessible for current employees and providing the right facilities based on location needs.   The campus is renowned for its innovative and high-quality character, mirroring the products it produces. The campus is representative, functional, and reflects Vekoma's identity as "a progressive company focused on providing innovative and high-quality solutions to its customers." In a green, inspiring environment, the campus's role is to support connectivity between employees and production processes.   In addition to developing approximately 300 workstations, two types of production halls will be built, along with a spacious warehouse and a multi-story office building including meeting rooms and a restaurant. All buildings will be equipped with the latest technologies to support employees as effectively, efficiently, and innovatively as possible in their work. By repositioning the headquarters, assembly, and the warehouse, space will be created on the current Schaapweg site. The current offices will be (partially) demolished and rebuilt to accommodate full track production. Vekoma will thus merge two locations (Roermond and Vlodrop), creating one unified site.   Legislation regarding sustainability is being tightened annually. Additionally, reducing the ecological footprint is of general importance. Sustainability will also be a key focus for the new Vekoma campus and the revamped track production location. To determine the level of ambition, Vekoma uses the DCBA method and a comprehensive approach to strengthen this ambition. The potential for sustainability certification will be thoroughly explored, such as BREEAM qualification or WELL certification.   Sustainability is also a focus during the renovation of the current offices into the track production location, with extra attention given to climate control and optimizing working conditions. #vekoma #vekomarides #buildingthefuture #ingenuitythatmovesyou #rollercoaster #themepark #amusementpark #IAAPA

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👉 Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the PEREX center in Namur, where Service public de Wallonie is efficiently managing the entire road network 🛣 and waterways 🚢 in Wallonia in real time. For several years, IMDC has been supporting SPW with the development of Orhyx, an innovative application designed to assist waterway managers in steering critical hydraulic structures like dams, gates, turbines, and locks. Orhyx leverages cutting-edge optimization techniques, combining historical, real-time, and forecasted data to generate precise control strategies for these structures. 🎛 With a user-friendly interface, the system operates around the clock, managed by a dedicated team of operators 👨‍👦‍👦 with hands-on field expertise. Ensuring optimal water level management across a 450 km waterway network with 80 hydraulic structures is key to maintaining ideal conditions for navigation ⛴️ energy production⚡️environmental sustainability 🌿 and safety💦. In one word: impressive! #ExpertsInWater #DigitalTools #Innovation #PoweredByIMDC #WaterwayManagement #Forecasting

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📈Staying successful in a fast-evolving industry is challenging for a small scale-up. Vertuoza succeeded. Filip Van Innis and Dominique Pellegrino, CEO of Vertuoza, shared their insights with De Tijd In just three years, Vertuoza has grown from 3 to 85 employees and was named Scale-up of the Year! 🏆 Their innovative software is transforming the construction industry, helping SMEs streamline operations and embrace digitalization. #venturecapital #b2bsaas #startup

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Eflute inserts are an effective way to enhance the structural integrity of lightweight printed boxes, the fluted design distributes weight more evenly and absorbs impact, reducing the risk of damage during transit. This reinforcement is especially beneficial for boxes that carry heavy or fragile items, as it helps to maintain the shape of the box and prevents crushing. Furthermore, eflute inserts are lightweight and cost-effective, making them an ideal solution for improving packaging durability without significantly increasing weight and shipping costs. Fine Print can make these inserts to fit any size or shape of box to protect your products. Why not give us a call to see what bespoke packaging solutions we can provide for you.  Find out more about this packaging on our website. https://lnkd.in/ek87-8m4

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When Hélène de Troostembergh asks your vision about innovation in the construction sector, and the next moment you’re in love with an offsite element in Embuild Vlaanderen ‘s Vision Note 😅 But let’s be serious, last week I gave a Lecture about the principals of Light Steel Framing, to the 3th Bachelor industrial engineer at UGent. I started with expressing to the students that the beauty of working in construction, is that there so much room for innovation en improvement in front of us. Each one of them can have a great influence in having a much more sustainable build environment. BuildUp The future of construction! beSteel Light steel framing https://lnkd.in/eRX9miRC

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𝗗𝗲 𝗩𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗹𝘄𝗶𝗷𝗸 𝘅 𝗦𝗸𝗼𝗼𝗻: 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 🚧 🌿 We're happy to share our ongoing collaboration with De Vries Stolwijk B.V., a prominent civil engineering company in Stolwijk, Netherlands. This project, set to span up to 2 years, focuses on the sustainable urban renewal of the Vogelwijk district in Leiden. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: To secure the construction tender, De Vries Stolwijk needed a sustainable energy source. They faced multiple challenges, including noise restrictions, cost efficiency, lack of a temporary grid connection, and specific environmental standards set by the municipality of Leiden. They turned to Skoon for a reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly energy solution. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 🔋 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: using Skoon's Decision Tool to match the right energy system to the project's unique needs, it was decided to implement a Volta Energy NL's 15 kVA hybrid energy system. 🔋 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: the integrated battery pack, foldable PV panels, and a backup diesel generator running on HVO, ensure continuous power supply while minimizing noise and emissions. 🔋 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: our advanced online monitoring tools give real-time insights in energy consumption and performance, providing detailed reports on emissions and cost savings regularly. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀? Read the full story through the link in the comments 🔗 👇 This project is a prime example of how Skoon's software tools optimise energy setups on construction sites sustainably while reducing carbon footprints and meeting regulatory requirements. #CleanEnergy #SustainableConstruction #CarbonReduction #GreenTech

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Many thanks for the dynamic event, Departement Omgeving & Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij ! 👏 Closing discussion: 1) Can Flanders learn from best practices in Wallonia, and how? 2) Does the weight of individual interests inhibit the quality and rate of urban densification projects?

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The #SportChallenge2024 has started! The employees of E.ON Power Plants Belgium accepted the challenge to jointly reach a total of 450 hours of exercise 🚴‍♀️🏃‍♂️ within one month. Cycling, running, rowing, hiking … every minute ⏱ counts and is collected in an app. Eighteen employees will do their best to reach an average of 25 hours 💪 of sport per employee. The challenge will be concluded with a joint cycling tour. This year’s #SportChallenge is dedicated to the Diabetes Liga. A self-developed app will be used to track progress, measure it against our goal 🎯, and calculate the amount of the donation. Type 2 diabetes accounts for more than 90% of all diabetes cases. It can develop silently, with symptoms that remain unnoticed. In many cases, healthy eating habits 🥗 and regular physical activity 🏃‍♂️ can help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Want to learn more about diabetes and reducing your risk? 👉 Diabetes Liga website (in Dutch): https://www.diabetes.be/nl #DiabetesLiga #KnowYourRisk #WEneedsMe #Charity #HSE 

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