Annual report 2012 - VDL

Society
We support dozens of initiatives to promote technology and engineering education, such as the High Tech
Automotive Campus in Helmond and the Dutch Technology Week in the Brainport region Eindhoven. Our
aim is to generate enthusiasm for technology among children and youth, and interest them in learning more
about pursuing a technical career. Secondary goals are to emphasize the importance of craftsmanship and
improve the image of industry in general. We also support mainstream education with financial aid, the use
of machines, robots, etc. and the sharing of expertise from within our organization in the form of lectures
and guided tours. We seek contact with the educational institutions and local governments in all the regions
where our companies are located, with the aim of achieving constructive cooperation. We are also connected
to the region in other ways. Not only in economic terms – as an employer, we provide jobs – but also by
supporting sporting, cultural and social activities and associations.
Production processes
The way we see it, corporate sustainability begins with the basic principles of “good housekeeping”. This
includes turning off lights when unneeded (for example during the break in the factories), not leaving
machines and computers on standby unless necessary, keeping doors and windows closed when the heat
is on, separating waste at the source, etc. Other areas that have our constant attention are reuse of raw
materials (especially plastics), collective transport and reduction of the use of hazardous substances,
switching to safer alternatives when possible. We even go a step further by purchasing energy-efficient
machines, cooling machines through ground loop heat exchange and using residual heat from the
machines to heat the buildings.
Example of sustainable building techniques and investment
In 2012 we started construction of a new factory for VDL Weweler at the Ecofactorij industrial estate in
Apeldoorn (the Netherlands). This industrial estate maintains strict sustainability standards and seeks to
minimize energy consumption. Only companies that meet the demanding requirements may locate there.
VDL meets those tough sustainability requirements, both for construction and production. In terms of the
construction we have made maximum use of sustainable building materials. In the interest of energy
efficiency, the floors in the dispatch department are heated using the residual heat from the production
process. With regard to the production process, VDL Weweler has always invested heavily in the
continuous development of its processes and products, both in terms of time and money, with the
objective of reducing material consumption, energy needs and environmental impact. A perfect example is
the innovative use of lighter materials and advanced heating technologies in the new production process
which have enabled us to eliminate one heating step, resulting in energy savings of more than 33%.
Because we use less material, we are also able to utilize a different curing method that has a much lower
environmental impact.
35