Two independent players in construction and infra under the same roof

SGS is a world leader in inspection, verification, analysis and certification with a global network of 2,600 offices and more than 93,000 employees. In order to focus more on the needs and requirements of clients in construction and infrastructure, SGS INTRON and SGS Roos+Bijl are pulling together in the Netherlands under the name Infrastructure & Construction. We speak with Ron Leppers, Director at SGS INTRON and Lorenzo van der Bijl, Business Unit Manager at SGS Roos+Bijl, about a collaboration that is intensifying.

From damage assessment and building inspections to cable and pipe networks

It is important to note that both companies operate independently, but when it is possible or necessary, act together on a project. That cooperation stems from the fact that SGS INTRON's work mainly consists of carrying out building inspections, damage assessment and describing associated repair advice, material and product analyses, quality checks, certification of building materials and construction processes and thus takes place at the stage before or after the work of SGS Roos+Bijl. They have underground infrastructure as their expertise and design technical cable and pipeline networks for distribution of energy, data, gases and liquids. If necessary, SGS Roos+Bijl also provides guidance during the laying, relocation or removal of cables and pipelines. It goes without saying that clients who join forces with both companies enjoy the combined strength of expertise.

Strong focus on environment and sustainability

Leppers explains, "SGS INTRON can guide the entire process from research into building materials to the construction of (infrastructural) structures. For large civil works such as locks and water works, we provide, for example, quality control and steel and concrete testing. For example, we were involved in the Afsluitdijk and Nieuwe Sluis Terneuzen. Our work involves aspects such as environmental science, chemistry, mining and geology. We have all the knowledge and expertise for that." SGS Roos+Bijl designs and manages sustainable and high-quality connections for the energy market, oil and gas industry, water companies and telecom parties. Van der Bijl: "We provide the engineering, including all the associated specialist calculations, for the cables and pipelines in the preliminary phase and advise during realization. On infrastructural projects such as the Afsluitdijk and Sluis Terneuzen, for example, we then encounter SGS INTRON again." The cooperation results in total solutions that make the client's life easier. The services touch each other in the areas of engineering, inspection and certification. Sustainability and circular construction are high on the list of priorities. It is precisely because of the power of collaboration that the focus on this can be so strong.

Putting the customer first

Both SGS Roos+Bijl and SGS INTRON have an SME history and as a consequence they have the same company culture, where as always the customer comes first. Leppers outlines: ''We are used to pull out all the stops for our customers. Through direct and short lines of communication and involvement from our organization, the customer always gets the person on the line who has the expertise to answer his or her question." So with SGS being a global organization, it's 'Think global, act local' at SGS INTRON and SGS Roos+Bijl. "I think that is the key to our success," Leppers continues. "Because we take on more together, we are also future-proof." Van der Bijl concludes, "Especially when it comes to the major task regarding energy transition that we face, both below and above ground. The demands placed on energy networks are constantly changing along with the increasing demand for energy.''