A reliable partner in concrete and infrastructure projects for 27 years

For more than 27 years, Aelbers has been mediating in civil concrete carpenters and supplying skilled carpenters for complex infrastructure projects. Since this year, the skilled workers for the TriAX construction consortium have been working on the reconstruction of the De Nieuwe Meer junction. 

Our strength lies in bringing together skilled professionals from across Europe, begins Peter van Zaanen, director of Aelbers. “We work with people from Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. Some of them have been with us for around 15 to 20 years, and the first batch of German employees has even retired already. This says a lot about the long-term cooperation and trust that we have managed to build.”

Close cooperation with main contractors

Over the years, Aelbers has grown to become a regular partner for major players in the construction industry, such as Besix, Dura Vermeer, Heijmans, and Strukton. “We have often been working with these parties for decades, on recent projects such as the A16 Rotterdam and the widening of the A1,” Van Zaanen explains enthusiastically. “For the TriAX construction consortium, we are currently working with around 15 concrete carpenters on the Schinkel Bridge. Here, the existing infrastructure is being expanded while traffic, shipping, and bridges remain in operation. This requires a team that is not only technically strong but also has experience with safety and working under challenging conditions.”

Safety and culture

Safety is always our top priority, Van Zaanen states emphatically. “We were the first company in our industry to achieve level 2 on the Safety Ladder, and we have now climbed to level 3. This is not just about technical safety, such as wearing life jackets or working near water, but also about social safety. In toolbox meetings, we discuss topics such as cultural differences and differences in communication. Because what may be a joke to one person can be hurtful to another. By talking openly about this, mutual understanding grows and a stronger team is created. We also discuss these topics with our clients. We help bridge cultural differences, translate documents, and facilitate cooperation between different nationalities. In this way, we get the best out of everyone's qualities and ensure that teams function smoothly.”

More than broadcasting

Van Zaanen: “We don't see ourselves as a traditional temporary employment agency, but as a secondment agency that provides personal attention. Most of our people are permanent employees, and our field staff visit the projects at least once a week. They talk to supervisors and safety officers, deliver personal protective equipment and tools, and, above all, look for areas for improvement. This allows us to stay in constant contact with both our clients and our employees. Our foreman on the project is also an Aelbers Coach, who is experienced and familiar with Dutch culture. He is the first point of contact for our professionals on the project.”

Aelbers complies with all certifications and, according to Van Zaanen, is completely transparent about how it does business and how it treats people. “That is precisely why we are repeatedly asked to work with the major construction consortiums in the Netherlands. We not only build bridges and tunnels, but also sustainable relationships with our employees and our partners.”