On Friday 10 January, A.I.S.E.’s Director General Alexis Van Maercke was invited to officially inaugurate the new HQ of Spectro in Oss, the Netherlands. Spectro is an innovative and sustainable medium sized enterprise and a member of the Dutch national association, NVZ – Clean | Hygienic | Sustainable. Together with founding members of the Metternich family and Spectro employees, suppliers and partners, the inauguration also included local Dutch dignitaries.
Spectro has a proud 60-year history since this family-run company was established in 1963 manufacturing disinfectant products and has grown today into a leading supplier of cleaning, disinfecting and maintenance products for applications in professional cleaning, food hygiene and vehicle care.
The new headquarters is one further step in implementing Spectro’s core values of sustainability and innovation. The new building is the most sustainable in the region, having used locally sources and recycled and circular materials such as steel, concrete and (cradlecore) sandwich panels in the construction. Through the use of renewable energy, emission-free installations, water recovery and attention to biodiversity, the facility will also have the highest attainable energy label (A++++). Thanks to smart construction, the facility was built in less than one year.
“The opening of this new facility by Spectro today send a powerful message to the Dutch and European authorities: despite the numerous challenges that SMEs face in Europe, they remain the backbone of the European industry and are eager to invest. A.I.S.E. together with its network of national associations is dedicated to amplifying the voice of SMEs in Europe.” Alexis said.
“We were very honored that Alexis wanted to perform the opening. Not only is our new HQ arguably the most beautiful and sustainable building in our industry; it is also a great example of what we can achieve as a forward-thinking industry.” Laurens Metternich said.
During the last A.I.S.E. Board meeting on 4 December, Véronique Willems, Secretary General of SMEunited, emphasised their mission: to shape Europe for SMEs and to shape SMEs for Europe. The goal is to create an SME-friendly business environment and ensure that small companies can fully benefit from what the EU has to offer: “It is important that SMEs have the right tools to reap all the benefits that the EU can offer SMEs. Implementing EU legislation can be a heavy administrative burden for small companies.”
Echoing this sentiment, Commission President Ursula Von Den Leyen stated in her July re-election speech that there is no Europe without SMEs. The new European Commission has prioritised SMEs, launching several proposals to enhance their competitiveness, resilience, and integration into key policy goals, including digital and green transitions.
The launch of this impressive new facility will ensure the continuity of this company’s journey pursuing sustainable innovation for the industry, with remarkable achievements in sustainable manufacturing, recycling, packaging and dosing systems that have been rewarded both nationally and internationally. Spectro is set to continue its legacy of excellence in the industry, and their new HQ is a testament to their remarkable dedication.
Congratulations to the entire Spectro team on this milestone. Here’s to a future of boundless possibilities and extraordinary success.