Vetus is to build a 9,500m² waterfront headquarters in Schiedam in the Netherlands, complete with offices for collaboration and warehouse space to double the company’s current capacity in line with its growth plans. There will be dedicated mooring spaces for Vetus demo boats, and the manufacturer will use the location to conduct in-water tests.
The warehouse will be fitted with automated storage and retrieval systems and will have a greater pallet capacity than the current warehouse. The smart solutions will increase efficiency when it comes to storing processing and shipping products.
A rooftop solar panel array will enable the facility to generate the majority of its energy. Advanced heat pumps will be used to heat the site, rather than natural gas. Due to its design, the facility is expected to be almost energy neutral.
The decision to build the new headquarters comes during a period of strong growth for the company, with sales having increased by over 40% since 2019. Having formed recent partnerships with Yamaha and Mercury, Vetus has launched its E-line and E-Pod electric propulsion ranges.
“After 50 years of Vetus being housed in the Fokkerstraat in Schiedam, it’s exciting to be moving into this impressive HQ in 2024, which will also be our 60th anniversary year,” explained Vetus CEO Marcel Borsboom. “This light, bright, modern facility has been designed with the latest thinking on maximizing staff well-being and effective collaboration, which will make Vetus much more attractive as an employer, and places us in what is fast becoming a marine cluster.
“In recent years, several plots on Havenstraat have been (re)developed into high-quality office buildings and various light-industrial business units, mainly aimed at the maritime industry. Commercial marine companies such as Palfinger, Jumbo Maritime, Wärtsilä and Boluda Towage are already located here.”