In 1971, L. Verbakel B.V. began manufacturing stable fittings and feed troughs from Bert Verbakel’s workshop, which was based at his home. As the company outgrew its premises, L. Verbakel B.V. moved into a factory building on the industrial estate in Nijnsel in 1978, where we are still based today. Over the years, adjacent premises and plots have been purchased and construction has taken place in several phases. The last major refurbishment dates back to 2002, when the offices and the stainless steel hall were completely replaced. As L. Verbakel B.V. continues to grow, and our neighbour Marc Verbakel’s company KLV (Kunststof Lastechniek Verbakel) is also expanding, it has become necessary to replace part of the old workshops with one large new workshop. This hall will be approximately 60 metres wide and 40 metres deep, with a height of around 8 metres at the eaves. We have been working on these plans since 2016.
In early 2018, work began on an internal refurbishment, creating more production space in the permanent hall. Subsequently, around the summer, all the machinery from the plastics department was moved to the stainless steel department. Before demolition could begin, the shipping containers and outdoor stock first had to be temporarily relocated to a storage site on the same industrial estate where we are based. The old halls could then be completely demolished. In early January this year, the foundations and footings for the new hall were laid and backfilled. The firm Hardeman from Veenendaal will then erect the hall.
We expect the new warehouse to be fully completed around April/May 2019. As this new warehouse will primarily be used for storage, our large stock of PE plastic will be stored indoors rather than outdoors, as has been the case for many years now. As a result, the sheets will no longer need to be acclimatised, and we will also be able to hold a larger stock of feed bins, which will improve production and delivery speeds.
To make this possible, we have asked our colleagues for a great deal of flexibility and cooperation, and we are proud that they are fully on board with this. Once the hall is fully completed in a few months’ time, we will be able to look back with pride on what we have achieved together.
