Modern production hall is new milestone for Kempen concrete specialist

Kerkstoel Group is a name like clockwork in the concrete precast and ready-mixed concrete sector. To stay at the top, subsidiary Kerkstoel 2000+ invested in a new production hall this year. "That way we can produce special wall types without putting pressure on the production level," says owner Vincent Kerkstoel

Church Chair 2000+ is today among the European market leaders in precast concrete. The company has specialized in the production of precast concrete floor slabs and double walls. These appear in numerous applications, from simple homes to complex hospitals. The current success story started back in the year 1900, when Leonard Kerkstoel started a building materials business in Heist-op-den-Berg. This year, the Kempen company is adding a new milestone to that history, specifically through the expansion of an automated production hall. In exchange for an investment of nearly 10 million euros, Kerkstoel will receive a 5,000-square-meter hall, located on the same street as the current establishment.

Automation does not mean Church Chair is cutting back on the number of employees. On the contrary: the company is looking for new workers.

Producing special walls

"Construction began in 2018," Kerkstoel points out. "Meanwhile, the factory is operational in one shift. To date, we produce our classic double walls in this production hall, but in the near future we will also start producing solid or full walls. In time, we also want to move into sandwich panels and walls with a textured finish or in color. The plant is specifically designed to eventually produce such more special walls, without putting pressure on production levels.  She will also, of course, offer the ability to produce in two shifts."

Automation

In that new factory, Kerkstoel opted for a high degree of automation and robotization. For example, the steel profiles are not only shuttered, but also stripped by a robot. "Furthermore, the tables we use to make the elements are a lot larger," Kerkstoel says. "This allows us to offer elements in larger dimensions. That creates a profitability gain on the construction sites."

Persuade with history and innovation

That automation does not mean Church Chair is cutting back on the number of employees. On the contrary: the company is looking for new workers, a challenge in the current labor market. Vincent Kerkstoel: "We are looking for motivated employees with common sense, with experience in the construction sector as a plus. With a special website - www.werkenbijkerkstoel.be - we try to bind such profiles to us. There is a lot of competition, but when candidates see, on the one hand, the history Kerkstoel has now built up and, on the other, how we continue to innovate, a 'click' very often follows."

Vincent Kerkstoel: "From now on, we can offer elements in larger dimensions. That creates a profitability gain in the yards."

Supporting customers

What does the future hold for the company? "We mainly want to continue to grow in the area of
efficiency and in the added value we offer our customers," Kerkstoel said. "In the short and medium term, we are mainly focusing on operationalizing the new production hall and working out the ideal product mix for our customers. We are also constantly working on the sales aspect: we determine together with our customer how we can best support them. In addition, we are always looking for opportunities to tap into new - foreign - markets."

"Our customer is the contractors themselves, at home and abroad," Kerkstoel said. "They use our products mainly because of their quality and efficiency. Thanks to the new production hall and the subsequent expansion of our product range, we can support our customers from A to Z for many types of buildings."