The pivotal role of project coordinationin the success of wide slab floors

EVERYTHING IS ABOUT CONNECTION

At De Hoop Pekso, part of Group De Hoop, everything revolves around connection: between materials, processes and people. The project team around the production and delivery of wide slab floors proves how crucial that connection is. We talk to René Verstraete, Head of Sales, and Johan van Geel, Head of Engineering, about the strength of wide slab floors, the importance of project coordination and the advantages of long-term cooperation with construction companies.

Wide slab floors as the backbone of construction

"The wide slab floor is the ideal solution in many projects," Van Geel begins. "We produce a reinforced precast floor with a concrete shell 50 to 70 millimeters thick, equipped with lattice girders and plate reinforcement. After laying follows the installation phase and then the pouring, with which we create a robust floor that is both soundproof and structurally strong." What makes this solution so powerful? According to Van Geel, it is primarily the customization: "Each slab is specifically engineered. So there are no standard solutions. Our own engineers perform all the calculations. This allows us to respond exactly to the project requirements and at the same time to quickly communicate with the customer."

The role of project coordination

The real key to success, however, is not only in the engineering, but in the coordination. Verstraete explains, "Our project coordinators play a central role between our client, our client's installers and our engineers. This creates a strong commitment, which clearly pays off - especially for complex projects in inner-city areas. Consider logistical constraints, limited storage space and just-in-time deliveries. Our project coordinators ensure that we anticipate these in a timely manner. We go beyond just delivering; we actively think along with our customer and feel responsible for every project."

Collaboration as a foundation for quality

A successful construction project is not a sum of separate achievements, but the result of intensive cooperation. "We consciously invest in long-term relationships with construction companies that also go for quality and continuity," Van Geel states. "Then you know what you can gain from each other. Cooperation then goes beyond just technical coordination. You develop a joint rhythm."

That partnership is evaluated after every major project. "We always ask ourselves: what went well, where can we improve? That learning attitude keeps us on our toes," Verstraete said. "That's how we ensure that we can again make a difference in future projects."

Proud of the result

Whether it is thousands of square meters of wide slab flooring or smaller inner-city projects: "It is special to know that many families live on our floors," concludes van Geel. "That is more than concrete; that is a contribution to residential comfort and quality."