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Insiders: Ed Alsemgeest
"When everything is right, I feel proud"
At ALWECO, if your name is Alsemgeest, you’re never the only one. Still, every Alsemgeest is unique. In this edition of ALWECO Insiders, we meet Ed Alsemgeest, project planner and motorcycle enthusiast. The first is his job, the second his hobby.
“I started in 1982 at Ammerlaan Kassenbouw in the screen department,” says Ed. “In 1987, I went solo and worked as a subcontractor for ALWECO. In January 2001, I joined full-time as a project leader.”
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Insiders: Sander Edelenbos
“At ALWECO, you feel real teamwork”
Hands up if you don’t know Sander Edelenbos yet! Great, because in this interview you’ll get to know him. Our Warehouse Manager has been with ALWECO for three years, but it feels like he’s been here much longer. No surprise—Sander is a seasoned veteran in the screen installation industry.
“I entered the screen installation world in 1992,” says Sander. “So I’ve been at it for a while. Back then, I was just looking for a job and thought I’d try this screen work for a bit. But that ‘bit’ has now lasted about 32 years.” When Sander was looking for a good workplace three years ago, he came across ALWECO. “I had worked with John Zwaneveld for years, who has been here in the warehouse since 2014. So I always heard good things about ALWECO from him.”
“Yes, it’s really fun here,” Sander continues. “I know people say that all the time, but here it’s actually true. When you work here, you feel real teamwork. If someone goes to get some fish, they always ask if others want some too. Appreciation is shown, and communication is direct—that’s what I like.”
Insect screen system for frameless windows
Alweco supplies and installs harmonica and folding mesh systems worldwide. We have been doing so for many years, both for glass and foil greenhouses. Due to increased demand for our screen systems, particularly in production horticulture (vegetable and ornamental crops) where many modern greenhouses are built with frameless vents, we have supplemented our existing folding system with an option for frameless vents.
We have designed a sleek, easy-to-install, and innovative window profile that clamps around the ventilation window, to which we can attach our screen systems. To simplify installation, we work with complete prefab guide sets.
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Reference project : Harvest House
''Well, the greenhouse is all set for many seasons of successful cultivation. We get it done!''
The Harvest House growers of Lans have a location in Rilland, Zeeland. There, Lans grows delicious tomatoes at absolute top level on 57,340 square meters.
Insiders : Astrid de Kok
“You really get the trust of the team here”
Astrid was one of the first women to join the office at Alweco, but she definitely stands her ground.
In 2018, she started in the purchasing and logistics department and is now working there with a lot of her own responsibility. And she also takes on part of marketing, such as social media. “Alweco is really a great company to work for,” says Astrid. “Everyone is there for each other.”
Before Alweco, Astrid worked in a butcher's shop. ‘Yes, that was super fun,’ Astrid says enthusiastically. ‘But at some point it was time for something new. A friend sent me the vacancy at Alweco and the informal atmosphere appealed to me. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was interesting enough to give it a try.”
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Reference project : Profit Agro – Arava Desert Israel
''Profit Agro has almost zero energy costs and can grow mangoes in the Arava desert.''
Profit Agro's client in Israel is growing mangoes in the middle of the desert. Crazy? Not if you install the right materials. And that's what grower Itzik Idan did. Now it's a breakthrough innovation!
Insiders : Patrick Zwinkels
“There is always a new challenge to dive into”
Surnames don’t get much more Westland than Zwinkels. And we have one in our finance department. Patrick Zwinkels made the switch from Deloitte to Alweco in 2006. “I was already very familiar with the company when it was still in Monster,” says Patrick. “ALWECO was in my client portfolio at Deloitte, where I worked as an accountant. I had been visiting ALWECO for ten years.”
Patrick now lives in ’s-Gravenzande with his wife and two children. “Yes, in the Zandevelt, a beautiful neighborhood,” says Patrick. “I enjoy playing soccer and tennis, and I regularly go for a run. I also like reading books, especially those by Dan Brown.”
Reference project : Drenthe Flowers
Willie Waninge is the grower of Drenthe Flowers in the beautiful Erica, near Klazienaveen and the German border.
At Drenthe Flowers, a talented team cultivates green and flowering potted plants. They do this at various locations, with a total cultivation area of about 17 hectares. Beautiful stuff!
Recently, one of the locations was newly built, and we had the opportunity to design the screen installation. We recently installed the system in the last section, together with the staff of Drenthe Flowers.
A great job, a pleasant collaboration, and a good execution, in short: Teamwork makes the screenwork!
We get it done.
Reference project : Coagrow B.V.
"COAGROW is completely up-to-date in the field of screening again!"
New entrepreneurs in greenhouse horticulture are something we appreciate. It means new insights, new networks, and new ideas. That's why we are very pleased that we could install a screen system in the greenhouse of green potted plant grower COAGROW.
Insiders : Roy de Jong
“The atmosphere at ALWECO is pleasant, and everyone is equal”
At ALWECO, we get it done. That's why "We Get It Done" is our slogan. But a company is its people. It's our people who get things done, and that's why we'd like to introduce you to our team. This time, it's Roy de Jong, our quotation manager/calculator.
“It’s relaxed working here,” begins Roy de Jong. Roy himself comes across as relaxed. He is a calculator at ALWECO, a position we nowadays also call Quotation Manager. “I do the price calculations for the quotations,” he explains. “The representative gathers the client's requirements, I collect all the input and consult with suppliers about the prices. Since each project is different, it’s very interesting work.”
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Van Heyningen transport
Have you ever seen our enormous caterpillar vehicle driving down the A20 to a project? No? That's right, it’s not allowed. But how do we get all our heavy equipment and building materials from our warehouse in Maasdijk to project locations in the Netherlands and Belgium?
That's where Van Heyningen Transport comes in. Peet and Christa have been handling our transportation in the Benelux for years, and sometimes even to England and France.
Professionals who know how to efficiently and safely transport all those machines and building materials from point A to point B. Loyal and reliable, just the way we like it!
A Case of - Prominent Hoogerbrugge
"ALWECO is no-nonsense, just like us."
Growing loose tomatoes is rare these days. However, Erik Hoogerbrugge of Prominent Hoogerbrugge from Lepelstraat still does it. He follows the traditional cultivation methods but uses modern tools like three CHP systems. Unlit, from December through October and sometimes November.
"We are traditional growers," says Erik Hoogerbrugge, "but we do invest in internal transport, automatic stacking, and a second screen installation."
Erik runs the business with Prominent as a shareholder. "When my brother left the company, Prominent stepped in," Erik explains. "This ensures continuity in the long run, and it's good to be part of a larger whole. We grow exclusively loose tomatoes, a segment that was missing from Prominent. So, it's a win-win."
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Reference project : van Asseldonk Aardbeien
"In Gemert, they are very good at growing beautiful strawberries!"
From German knight orders to the textile industry, there's always been something happening in Gemert for centuries. Another thing they excel at in Gemert is horticulture, and we're happy to lend a helping hand.
Roland and Yvonne van Asseldonk run the beautiful company Van Asseldonk Strawberries on Wijnboomlaan. Originally established by Roland's parents, they started with strawberry cultivation in open fields alongside raising pigs and working outside the farm.
Insiders : Roy Bruggeling
"It's good here at ALWECO."
It's our people who make it happen, and that's why we'd like to introduce you to our team. This time, it's Roy Bruggeling, a work planner and 3D designer. With a brief intermission, Roy has been with the company for over twenty years.
In 2001, Roy joined ALWECO as a mechanic. "Ed Alsemgeest was my previous employer," says Roy. "He presented us with a choice: invest in our own company or all move to ALWECO. We chose the last one, and it was a good decision."
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Reference project : Gebr. van Duijn Westdorpe BV
"A very fine, intensive collaboration that we at ALWECO are very proud of."
Gebr. van Duijn wanted a second screen installation at their location in Zeeland, near Terneuzen. Of course, we could arrange that.
We took care of the installation of the drive mechanism, while the handy team at Gebr. van Duijn Aubergines managed all the other tasks themselves, under our supervision.
Insiders : John Zwaneveld
"You really need to pay attention in my line of work."
John Zwaneveld counts out some bolts and puts them in a small box. "This stuff is going to...," he says while running his finger over the order list. "Japan. Yes, that's nice, isn't it? What I'm packing here will be in a greenhouse in Japan in a few weeks."
John Zwaneveld is a warehouse worker at ALWECO and essential in delivering high-quality screen installations as agreed.
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Reference project : Red Harvest Middenmeer
"We worked with a tight schedule, a professional and enjoyable client, and from pipe rail trolleys. All the ingredients we thrive on."
A second screen installation works perfectly for energy-efficient and therefore sustainable cultivation. At Red Harvest Middenmeer, they grow cucumbers and tomatoes, and they do it very well.
A healthy lifestyle is a piece of cake at ALWECO nowadays.
Every week, BoereGoed delivers a big crate of fruit from the region. We love it. Bananas, pears, apples, mandarins, kiwis, and occasionally some extras. Absolutely perfect!
Whether it's special ALWECO cycling gear, marathon-running colleagues, or healthy snacks from BoereGoed, we value healthy living. Ultimately, that's why we do what we do: our screen installations help growers sustainably produce their healthy products.
Which we can then enjoy, thanks to BoereGoed.
Full circle. Enjoy your meal!
Reference project : LG Flowers
‘’We are very proud to have been able to take care of the company's screen installations in Delfgauw for such a long time!‘’
Mike and Joyce from By LG Flowers are innovative entrepreneurs. Not only do they grow high-quality gerberas, but they also dare to create new opportunities for their product.
Do you remember it? "Flowers love people.
The slogan from the 1970s is still true today!
ALWECO also loves people, and to throw out another slogan: say it with flowers! With the current global situation, it’s even more important to express our appreciation for one another.
That’s why we bought a batch of flowers from an exporter who couldn’t sell them due to the situation in Ukraine and distributed them among our employees. A small gesture in a turbulent time, reminding us once again: seize the day (and the flowers).
Reference project : Smit Kwekerijen
"We find it fantastic to create a comfortable climate for TV stars—and of course, for the stars of many, many interiors."'
Insiders : Martin Hartsuiker
"If you want to take the next step as a mechanic, becoming a work planner is an excellent choice."
At ALWECO, we are always looking for enthusiastic people who are eager to learn. When Martin Hartsuiker walked in six years ago, we immediately knew we had found a great addition. "I'm really glad I applied for the work planner position at ALWECO."
"My wife pointed out the job opening. I had always been a mechanic, but she said I could do this too. After two interviews, it became clear that ALWECO was very happy with me and gave me plenty of space to learn the job. Yes, that was really great."
Horticontact Gorinchem 2023
"Meeting nice people, shaking hands with old acquaintances, and having everyone with a passion for horticulture in one place. Fantastic!"
Of course, we are also at HortiContact this week.
It remains one of the best horticulture events in the Netherlands. And, as always, our ALWECO stand is a warm and welcoming place. So, stop by for a chat—we’d love to see you again!
You can find us at stand H112. See you soon!
Growtech Turkey 2022
Antalya, Turkey was the place to be last week because of Growtech (one of the largest horticultural exhibitions in the world). Discussions covered topics such as space agriculture, water scarcity, and food security, but also a lot of technology.
And you know what? Even in Turkey and neighboring countries, they have heard of ALWECO screen installations. Nico Niepce discovered this during his visit to Growtech. True quality travels globally, so we were really proud to talk with other visitors at this massive exhibition.
Nico made many new connections, and we are eagerly looking forward to the projects that will come from our visit to Growtech!
Reference project : Luiten Kwekerij BV
"Another fantastic project in a fantastic location, with top-quality products and great people."
There is nothing more beautiful than the construction of a new high-quality greenhouse on Dutch soil. The latest technology, right in our own region. We are proud of that. It’s absolutely wonderful that we get to install seven hectares of screen material in the new construction project of Luiten Kwekerij in Pijnacker.
Avsked Wim Vermeulen
ALWECO in Swedish spells W-I-M. Because of Wim, ALWECO has become a household name in Scandinavia. He built ALWECO from Sweden into a successful company with a strong reputation across the region. That’s talent and expertise, and of course, our eternal gratitude.
Today we officially say goodbye to Wim. A long journey together—Wim has been with us since the company’s inception—but every journey eventually comes to an end. Speaking of journeys, Wim and his wife Tanne once emigrated to Sweden for ALWECO. True dedication! Now they are "emigrating" to Spain, where they will enjoy a well-deserved retirement in their holiday villa. Well-deserved indeed!
We wish every company could have a Wim and Tanne because these are the people with whom you can build success. Thank you for all the wonderful years!
Delivering a good screen installation is a marathon, not a sprint.
And at ALWECO, we just happen to have two experts in the marathon...
Roy ran the Leiden Marathon on October 10, and Jeroen ran two weeks later in Rotterdam. The colleagues had agreed that the one with the slower time would treat the other to a high beer. Roy completed his marathon with an impressive 3:40:15, setting a benchmark for Jeroen.
And Jeroen managed to beat that time with an excellent 3:38:46! Both were cheered on by other ALWECO colleagues, of course. We celebrated these great achievements together.
We get it done, even marathons!
Insiders : Anita de Zeeuw
“I love the humour and the sociability”
Recently, she celebrated 12.5 years with us. Our own Anita—the very first receptionist ever hired by ALWECO. Anyone who has ever visited us has met Anita. And if you call us, you’ll often speak with her as well. Always welcoming, always informed, and she knows exactly who you need if you’re looking for something. A bit less knowledgeable about plants, but that’s another story. Today, we’re happy to let Anita have the floor.
A Case of - VDE Plant
“If there’s anything, they’re there for us.”
ALWECO has been collaborating with VDE Plant for decades. The nursery in Woubrugge is a family business, now led by the third generation. “My grandfather started out growing vegetables under flat glass,” says Karin van der Eijk about the origins of VDE Plant. “In the 1980s, my father and his brother took over the business and shifted the focus to potted plants.
I joined the company myself in 1991.” Karin is now responsible for the daily operations of VDE Plant, alongside her brother Edwin and partner Hein Visser.
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Insiders : Karol Kostrubiec
"We make sure everything the customer needs is ready."
Have you ever met Karol Kostrubiec at ALWECO? He works in the warehouse. Cheerful, friendly, and a long ponytail.
Our Polish friend joined us four years ago through a temporary agency and signed a contract to work directly for us three years ago. "My temp agency asked if I could work with steel," says Karol. We’re in the company cafeteria at ALWECO's new facility at Honderdland. "That’s how I ended up at ALWECO."
"Leo saw my work and noticed that I understood it, so he wanted to sign me up for ALWECO fairly quickly. I worked through the temp agency for another year as a sort of trial period, but it was clear. I wanted to work for ALWECO."
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A Case Of : Svensson (Mark van Dijk)
“In this industry, it is important to tell it like it is”
“Together with the installer, we ensure that our climate screens perform optimally for the grower.” This is the essence of the collaboration between Ludvig Svensson and ALWECO, as explained by Mark van Dijk. Mark is the account manager for the Netherlands and Southern Europe at Svensson.
Svensson climate screens are sold through installers and greenhouse builders, and they also advise growers on how to achieve the optimum climate in greenhouse with the climate screens. We speak to him for this edition of A Case of ALWECO.
Strengthening Each Other
Ludvig Svensson has had its own branch in the Netherlands for forty years now. “From the beginning, we have worked with Leo Alsemgeest and ALWECO,” says Mark. “We’ve done many projects together, including international ones, as ALWECO also has a vast network abroad. We strengthen each other because we have direct contact, which always works well.”
Medicinal cannabis project in Portugal
In recent years, we have completed several medicinal cannabis projects on other continents. We have now applied this knowledge and experience closer to home. In southern Portugal, we completely renovated an existing plastic greenhouse. It’s a celebration! With new ALWECO Black-Out screen systems, the optimal climate for medicinal cannabis can be created because to grow medicinal cannabis, you need to achieve total black-out.
Fortunately, this is well-achieved with ALWECO’s Ultra Tight closing profiles, combined with the Ultra Groove and Ultra Delay Slip Block. No light leaks onto the plants anymore.
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Eef van Spronsen 25 years with ALWECO
Anyone who knows Eef van Spronsen knows ALWECO. And anyone who knows ALWECO certainly knows Eef. For 25 years, Eef and ALWECO have been ‘steady as a rock’. This true Westlander joined us on April 1, 1996, and if that was an April Fools' joke back then, he has been keeping it up for quite a long time. So long, in fact, that today we are celebrating his 25th anniversary. Cheers! Let’s party with cake and beer!
Eef came on board with Luc Aalbrecht Horticultural Technology—just as many have joined our company—and turned every screen project into a top-notch job. There is hardly a greenhouse where he hasn’t been to install, check, or renovate our systems.
And Eef is a team player. So much of a team player that he has been sharing his knowledge with new ALWECO technicians for years. Calm, thorough, and reliable, if you’re on Eef’s team, you know the training and team spirit will be in good hands. He’s someone everyone can rely on. As long as he doesn’t have to stay away from home, of course. It’s nice to be able to snore in Breeje Dorrup in ’s-Gravenzande in the evening.
Not only because of that lovely village but mainly to be close to his family. His daughters, two grandsons, and a son-in-law with the best restaurant in town (Restaurant Justin, if you’re looking for a place to eat this weekend), Eef would run through any wall for them.
Eef is someone you can wake up to hang an installation. Or for football, too. He’s truly a gem, a valuable colleague, and someone we hope to enjoy for many years to come.
Insiders: Wim Duijvestein
“In the old greenhouse, you would bump your head against the gutter.”
Wim Duijvestein was once the first customer of Leo Alsemgeest, the founder of ALWECO. That was more than thirty years ago, when Wim was still a flower grower in Honselersdijk. Now, Wim has been working as a driver for ALWECO for three years. “Yes, Leo called me when I sold my garden,” Wim recalls. “He said, ‘Why don’t you come drive the truck for me?’ That sounded good to me; we get along well.”
ALWECO EXPLAINS: Ultra Power Clip
The Ultra Power Clip is a clever solution for optimal fabric closure and guiding the wires. But for us, it’s also a symbol of what you can achieve when you work well with your partners.
Like many ingenious inventions, the Ultra Power Clip is powerful in its simplicity. The clip consists of two parts and can easily be snapped onto a 19mm tube. By letting a piece of fabric run over the tube and securing it with the Ultra Power Clip, you automatically create an optimal closure with the fabric package in the next section.
And all this without creating holes in the fabric!
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Insiders: Jeroen van Gaalen
"When you get a chance, you have to seize it."
Eleven years. That’s how long Jeroen van Gaalen has been with ALWECO. “I’ve actually been involved in screening my whole life, partly thanks to my father,” says the 's-Gravenzander. Three years ago, he joined the management team, covering the European region.
“After elementary school, I went to athenaeum, but school wasn’t really my thing,” he says with a smile. “After the third year, I tried a year of VBO (vocational education), but I preferred working with cacti in Honselersdijk. Thanks to my father, I started working in screening. I loved the freedom that comes with being a screen installer. I started as an assistant installer and then moved up to become a team leader after two years.”
“At the end of 2009, I called Leo because I wanted to grow further, and within half an hour, we had a deal. I became a sales representative at ALWECO. ‘Here’s a car, go drive around and try to sell.’ Yes, that’s pretty great, isn’t it?”