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OPI
THE NETHERLANDS Christiaens Group expands
Christiaens Group, acknowledged worldwide for its turnkey projects and ma- chines, is steadily strengthening and expanding its market position. In China, for example, but also closer to home, at its own premises. A discussion with
sales manager Roland van Doremaele. By Roel Dreve
The new halls start to take shape (July 2014).
Christiaens requires almost no introduction. In the mid-1970s, the Christiaens brothers founded their company in Melderslo. In subsequent decades, they acquired various businesses active in con- struction, engineering and installation. Since 1995, the company has operated under the name Chris- tiaens Group and realises turnkey projects for the mushroom sector all over the world. The company
has been located on Witveldweg in Horst since 1 January 2003, where initially the three divisions Ma- chines, Construction and Controls were housed in separate buildings. However, continuing expansion means the company is now literally bursting at the seams.
Growth factor According to sales manager van Doremaele the order book has been growing beyond expectati- ons since the beginning of this year: “Everything suddenly seems to have taken off in 2014.” The company previously saw a peak in growth around 2008, when financially the wind was in the sails – for the mushroom industry as well. The economic downturn brought Christiaens’ activities back to what van Doremaele calls ‘a lower, but good level’. So what is behind today’s explosive growth? Van Doremaele points to five direct reasons. “First of all, due to heavy competition, many of our clients can no longer postpone making investments, and this year banks – globally – have been more willing to grant loans than in the past. In addition, the ma- jor players have consolidated; mergers have taken place, such as Monaghan, that took over companies including PrimeChamp. After these mergers, the companies build tunnels, for example, to achieve self-sufficiency.” The demand for better food qua- lity is rising worldwide, leading to modernisation projects, such as at Phillips Mushrooms in the USA. The higher production after these investments is also an added bonus. “And finally, the market is growing – or growth is predicted – as in China.” Van Doremaele also names some more fundamen- tal reasons behind Christiaens’ growth. “Today’s clients want peace of mind, a convenient solution. They are looking for knowledge and experience; they don’t want to reinvent the wheel. As far as that goes, deciding to offer turnkey projects back in 1995 was certainly the right decision for us. These projects now comprise a significant proportion of our turnover, and some of our competitors have taken the same route.” An additional factor he men- tions is that Christiaens offers ‘tried and trusted concepts’ for the construction of compost plants and farms designed in the ‘Dutch’ style, a system that has earned worldwide fame. “Naturally we be- nefit from that reputation, but we are also - partly- responsible for its success in the first place.”
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