Complete PE range for underground infrastructure

For more than 30 years, Van Kaam has distinguished itself with a complete range of plastic materials for underground infrastructure. In a market that has proved rather volatile in recent years, Van Kaam has managed to hold its own excellently. An interview with Rogier Brandenburg, strategic buyer at Van Kaam about the family company's unique proposition.

"First we had corona, now it's the price increases and scarcity of raw materials that we have to deal with," Brandenburg states. "That brings quite a few challenges for me as a buyer, both financially and logistically. Thanks to our unique proposition and complete independence, we are free to choose suppliers. We have an immense number of purchasing channels, which enables us to switch quickly and eliminate risks as much as possible. Also for our customers. We therefore have an extremely wide range with many (special) items in stock, including beautiful couplings by George Fischer. In addition, we are - in the Benelux and northern France - Service Center for PlastItalia welding cabinets and you can come to us for sales and rental of infra-related tools."

Anticipating calamities

In addition to a large standard range, Van Kaam also specializes in custom work. "Our people in the workshop master all facets of plastics technology from mirror welding and extrusion welding to socket welding," Brandenburg continues. "On any calamities our colleagues in the workshop can quickly anticipate." If by chance we don't have a product in stock, we still provide a solution, adds his colleague Ad van Kaam, responsible for the warehouse and logistics at Van Kaam in Zaandam. "Thanks to our years of practical experience and extensive know-how, we can always work towards something and arrive at a suitable product. That's really where our strength lies, thinking along in solutions. Especially in emergencies that is appreciated. Everything we sell we can also assemble if required and even mirror weld in the field with our mobile welding station." 

Second warehouse 

Recently, Van Kaam opened a warehouse in Zevenhuizen, South Holland, from where they also deliver - if in stock - within 24 hours. "We believe we can serve our customers in the region even better with this second location," says Brandenburg. "Also from Zevenhuizen we drive two rounds daily to deliver to our customers on location. There is also a fixed daily route between our main warehouse in Zaandam and the warehouse in Zevenhuizen, so customers can pick up orders at a chosen location somewhere in between. A nice way to accommodate our customers in terms of travel time." Van Kaam also supplies complete projects, of course. "We are now working on the renovation of an ice hockey rink in Thialf, for which we may lay the complete piping system," says Ad. "It involves a huge system of PE pipes through which coolant passes. Actually comparable to an underfloor heating system only a bit bigger and colder," he laughs.