Factory Preco | Apeldoorn

Precast concrete producer opens sustainable new building in Apeldoorn

In mid-April, Preco (formerly: Cervix Beton) moved into a new, ultramodern concrete plant on the Ecofactorij in Apeldoorn. At the heart of the new building is a 10,000 m² production area, where a total package of precast concrete structural products, particularly for utility construction, is engineered and produced. From structural and non-structural walls to beams, columns, gallery slabs, balconies, stairs, landings and hollow-core slabs. 

"We see the demand for precast concrete products increasing," says Theo Kool, Commercial Director of Preco. "Partly due to the shortage of construction hands and the short lead time of projects. Precast concrete production responds to this optimally, whereby the concrete can be poured and cured more efficiently, more sustainably and under the best conditions. Because our existing rental location in Ede had become too small for this purpose, we decided in 2018 to proceed with the construction of our own concrete plant with advanced, new machinery. In our new concrete plant, we can set up our production processes even better, more efficiently and more flexibly. Moreover, we can operate entirely self-sufficiently and there is sufficient space to offer - under one roof - a total concept of precast concrete products to our customers. From engineering to production and delivery."

"In our new building there is enough space to offer - under one roof - a total concept of precast concrete products to our customers. From engineering to production and delivery."

Proprietary concrete products
The new building naturally incorporates Preco's own precast concrete products. "The production area involves a steel hall with roof and wall sheeting," Kool says. "Surrounding the building is an insulated facade plinth of precast concrete. And the interior walls are also made of precast concrete. The office section, which will be completed later this year, will be made entirely of precast concrete. From the walls and floors to the beams and columns."

At full speed ahead
After commissioning in mid-April, production was immediately ramped up, he says. "For example, we are currently engineering, producing and delivering the precast concrete balcony and gallery slabs for an apartment complex in Amersfoort, commissioned by Bouwbedrijf Kreeft of Ede. In addition, we recently started the engineering and production of the precast concrete products for an apartment complex in Zeewolde, commissioned by Van Wijnen Harderwijk. For Wijnen Bouw in Horst, we are engineering and producing a concrete column and beam construction and stability walls; the first deliveries of which will take place around the construction period."

The new building naturally incorporates Preco's own precast concrete products.

New name and corporate identity
The move was also accompanied by a new name and corporate identity, says Kool. "In April 2018, Cervix Beton's organizational structure changed from one to three board members. At that time, moreover, the desire arose to grow the company into a total supplier of precast concrete structural products - unique in the Netherlands. The first plans for our new building were also forged. In order to make a fresh start here, we decided to attach a new name and corporate identity to our company. However, nothing has changed about the experience we have gained over the past fifteen years."

The "Pre" of Preco stands for "prefab," he says. "Eco stands for a combination of economic and ecological building, but also for the Ecofactorij in Apeldoorn. This new building location was not chosen by chance. It fits well within our vision of prefab ecological building. In our business operations, but also in the process of making concrete, we highly value sustainability. We reuse as many materials as possible and, for example, make concrete with water from our own well."