Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 13th February 2025 Issue no. 1149
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A.I.S.E. invited to open inspiring & sustainable SME HQ
In an inspiring opening ceremony on 10th January, Alexis Van Maercke, director general of A.I.S.E. (the Brussels-based European detergents & maintenance products industry association) had the honour of speaking at the inauguration of the new Spectro headquarters, in Oss, The Netherlands.
Spectro has a proud 60-year history since this family-run company was established in 1963 manufacturing disinfectant products and has grown today into a leading supplier of cleaning, disinfecting and maintenance products for applications in professional cleaning, food hygiene and vehicle care.
Together with founding members of the Metternich family and Spectro employees, suppliers and partners, the inauguration included the local Dutch authorities as well as the Dutch national industry association NVZ - Clean | Hygienic | Sustainable.
The new headquarters is one further step in implementing Spectro's core values of sustainability and innovation. The new building is said to be the most sustainable in the region, having used locally sourced and recycled and circular materials such as steel, concrete and (cradlecore) sandwich panels in the construction. Through the use of renewable energy, emission-free installations, water recovery and attention to biodiversity, the facility will also have the highest attainable energy label (A++++). Thanks to smart construction, the facility was built in less than one year.
"The opening of this new facility by Spectro sends a powerful message to the Dutch and European authorities: despite the numerous challenges that SMEs face in Europe, they remain the backbone of the European industry and are eager to invest," says Alexis. "A.I.S.E. together with its network of national associations, is dedicated to amplifying the voice of SMEs in Europe."
Laurens Metternich, Spectro CEO (pictured), says of the event: "We were very honoured that Alexis wanted to perform the opening. Not only is our new HQ arguably the most beautiful and sustainable building in our industry; it is also a great example of what we can achieve as a forward-thinking industry."
At Spectro, quality, sustainability and costs saving go hand in hand. Sustainability has always been a core value: Spectro has been a member of the A.I.S.E. Charter for Sustainable Cleaning since 2011. Over the years it has won both national and international awards for its innovations in packaging, recycling, and dosing systems for professional products.
During the last A.I.S.E. Board meeting in December, Véronique Willems, secretary general of SMEunited, emphasised SMEUnited's mission: to shape Europe for SMEs and to shape SMEs for Europe. The goal is to create an SME-friendly business environment and ensure that small companies can fully benefit from what the EU has to offer: "It is important that SMEs have the right tools to reap all the benefits that the EU can offer SMEs," she said. "Implementing EU legislation can be a heavy administrative burden for small companies."
Echoing this sentiment, Commission President Ursula Von Den Leyen stated in her July re-election speech that there is no Europe without SMEs. The new European Commission has prioritised SMEs, launching several proposals to enhance their competitiveness, resilience, and integration into key policy goals, including digital and green transitions.
The launch of this impressive new facility will ensure the continuity of this company's journey pursuing sustainable innovation for the industry, with remarkable achievements in sustainable manufacturing, recycling, packaging and dosing systems that have been rewarded both nationally and internationally. Spectro is set to continue its legacy of excellence in the industry, and their new HQ is a testament to their remarkable dedication. Congratulations to the entire Spectro team on this milestone. Here's to a future of boundless possibilities and extraordinary success.
Based in Brussels, A.I.S.E. has been the voice of the industry to EU regulators since 1952. Membership consists of 29 national associations across Europe, 19 corporate members and 23 value chain partners. Through this extensive network, A.I.S.E. speaks over 600 small and medium sized enterprises out of 900 companies that contribute to Europe's economy through employment, research and development.
www.aise.eu | www.en.spectro.eu
16th January 2025