Penko Engineering moves to Ede
Following the acquisition of Netherlands-based Penko Engineering by the global American company Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) in 2004, ETC`s unfailing commitment to developing the Penko weighing and dosing instrumentation and measurement business, continues at full speed - even during a recession.
The new two-storey building includes 3370m2 of factory space and 1280m2 of office space, surrounded by parkland in Ede, just 5 km from original home of Penko, which for the last 30 years has been in Veenendaal, central Holland. The new building represents an investment of more than 5 million Euro by the American parent company.
Penko`s General Manager, Pekka Sundstedt explained, `When we started the process of looking for larger premises, some factory buildings we saw locally were either too small or did not have the facilities we needed to improve production efficiency, material handling and were therefore unable to meet our need to improve logistics and efficiency. Working closely with the business developer and architect for the new building, we were able to meet these requirements and all our environmental and energy concerns.
The new facility will provide improved materials handling and routing for increased production efficiency, better storage for components and finished stocks, improved showroom and training facilities (for discussing special project requirements with clients), and much improved employee facilities including more car and cycle parking. Lena Sundstedt, Project Manager for the new building added, `They will be able to enjoy a comfortable cafeteria with an outdoor patio. The new offices will provide plenty of space and light, and we are investing in new workstations that will be set up for a easy communication, good workflow and company structure.` The warehouse will be updated with a sophisticated barcode scanning system and cycle counting procedures in place, with materials being stocked within the production lines to improve efficiency and handling.
The Dutch industry publication, Nederlandse Procestechnologen announced in April 2009: `Not hindered by the bank crisis, recession and difficult times, the manufacturer of industrial weighing systems Penko, will move to new building at the end of 2009… the American mother company predicts a positive future.`
Work started on 5th January this year and is right on schedule. The building process is going very well; the frame was completed in March and the watertight roof was sealed at beginning of May. Production floors are completed as well as the office floors. In the next couple of weeks we will see the offices taking shape. The handover date is confirmed as October 30 by the builder, Kelderman Bouw, which means that Penko employees shall be settled into the new building by mid November.
