'We go for sustainable'

Van Ooijen Gouda BV specializes in road construction and rail infrastructure. The store of knowledge and experience that the company brings with it does not come from nowhere. Van Ooijen Gouda has passed several generations from father to son, passing on the knowledge to the new guard. Originally a family business, where even now family members still work.

Road construction and rail infrastructure

Asphalting and building platforms we can do like the best. But we also do a lot of other work around that. These include paving, preparing sites for building, installing bicycle parking facilities and fitting platform equipment. We do all this under strict safety, quality and sustainability requirements. Whereas safety and quality have always been an important part of our working days, sustainability is an emerging trend that we are keen to capitalize on. Not just because we want to, but because we think we have to.

Sustainability 

Sustainability is a broad term, covering all sorts of things. Think sustainable energy, less CO2 emissions, innovation, circularity and more. At Van Ooijen Gouda, we are currently looking at where we can take steps in the area of sustainability. Some of these steps have already been taken! For example, we have purchased an electric forklift and small electric equipment and the building is equipped with LED lighting. 

Circular pavers

As one of the first contractors in rail infrastructure, Van Ooijen Gouda used circular paving stones to pave Oosterbeek station. More than 85 percent of the tiles consist of recycled granulate from crushed concrete rubble. These bricks were developed in cooperation with the Dutch Road Construction Purchasing Combination (NiCW).

Paving with vacuum clamp

For paving platforms, Van Ooijen Gouda developed a new way. Namely, a vacuum clamp on a modified track crane (or krol). This allows the work to be carried out mechanically, even the first meter from the retaining wall. Because we do not pave from the platform itself but from the track, the chance of damage and rutting is minimal. It does require some consultation with the supplier. But, if done properly, this method is faster than traditional paving. And, from an occupational health and safety point of view, it is also better. This increases the sustainable employability of our colleagues.

CO2 neutral keet

Since last year, Van Ooijen Gouda has had a CO2-neutral keet. The shed is equipped with solar panels that provide the electricity in the shed. This makes the generator less necessary and reduces our CO2 emissions. Now that's a nice break!

Education of colleagues

An important part of sustainability is training colleagues. After all, they have to make the work. When they understand the importance of sustainability, they are able and willing to implement improvements in their working day. Van Ooijen Gouda conveys this knowledge during toolboxes, but also, for example, makes posters available on this subject.