The man on the cover?

Johan Laurents Nering Bögel is his name, born in 1795 and passed away in 1865. In one of the previous issues of this year, Richard Janssen, owner of Nering Bögel, elaborated on the history of his company. He has owned the company since 2006 and wields the scepter of his "well and gully company" in an authentically Dutch, driven manner.

"Johan Laurents Nering Bögel" was at the time the technician of the then foundry and construction company Nering Bögel. He was a mechanical engineer pur sang, who made an important contribution to patriotic mechanization and industrialization. Fine examples are the steam tools, internal combustion engines and locomotives he developed," Janssen outlines.   

Continuously innovating to stay on top

Nering Bögel's current technical level is on an entirely different plane. Janssen: "Together with our suppliers, we keep coming up with technical modifications that improve existing products. Together with project agencies, architects and clients, we make a case for a solution to a drainage problem in the design phase, and this involves more than just a gully. We are going to portray this different way of technical development in a playful way in 2021."

"Pleasant, Lau!"

Lau is his name, named after Johan Laurents Nering Bögel. Lau is an amiable cartoon, a manhole cover brought to life with a cheerful character. "Lau is our mascot, who will explain in a clear way to the reader what projects, product improvements and applications are coming out of the Nering Bögel quiver," Janssen reveals. 

'Earth Overshoot Day'

Janssen believes that today's times cannot be compared to, say, some 15 years ago. "Let alone when we compare to the 19th century. We truly live in a different world and this new era has what is known as Earth Overshoot Day. With what the entire world population currently produces and consumes in raw materials and energy, we need as many as 1.7 earths, if the WWF's calculations are correct."

Share what you have

"Environment has become a loaded word. Every day we are confronted with the facts about things we have not done well, things we are still not doing well, and pressure is put on us to do well. Fully justified, by the way," Janssen continued. "But what are you doing well as a company and what could be done better? Nering Bögel doesn't just look at what measures can be taken to keep up with the competition when it comes to sustainability. We have a vision of how we can help even more. We like to generate a local, positive impact. For example, not only do we generate our own electricity, but we produce more than tenfold. Partly we make this available i.c.w. with a number of parties to a group of families in Weert who can really use this extra. 

We produce 600,000 KWH/yr with 1,900 panels

To reduce the CO2 footprint, Janssen is currently investing in a project in which Nering Bögel is developing an energy storage unit in cooperation with other parties. "That's quite an investment in absolute terms, but the effect may soon be there. This way we can avoid a lot of CO2-related energy as a company and that feels good." In one of the next editions, Lau will elaborate on this project in a clear way.