Trusted partner for industrial buildings

In recent years, Altez Construction Group's focus has shifted from agricultural to industrial construction, and production has increasingly come into its own hands. To sustain that growth and evolution, informed personnel are indispensable. That is why Altez recruited new employees in 2023 and also managed to get them working quickly.

Altez was founded in 1991 as Agrinbo and during its first years carried out mainly construction projects in the agricultural sector. Soon the company expanded its services to the production of its own steel structures. As it took on more and more industrial projects and assignments in the horse sector, it renamed itself Altez Construction Group. A 2007 acquisition of Lambert-Geerkens in Limburg expanded the region in which the company operates, as well as its team and production capacity. Today, Altez operates in Benelux, France and Germany. In about ten years, the portfolio evolved from a division with 50% agricultural, 40% industrial and 10% equestrian buildings to more than 80% industrial and a smaller share of agricultural and equestrian buildings. Sales manager Arne Colpaert: "We continue to professionalize strongly towards large industry. For example, since about three years our production has been expanded to include concrete columns. So we are strong in the industrial market in both steel and concrete structures."

Commitment to people

Global crises followed one another in rapid succession in recent years. "Nevertheless, we realized some great projects," Colpaert says. "For example, we are building a large distribution center in Schoten at record speed. We are also busy building for various waste processors and recycling companies. We are active on SME and retail sites for various project developers. In Lier, we delivered a Jumbo store on the former La Rocca site. And in the meantime, we are also building two Albert Heijns in Flanders."

To complete projects of that size, Altez counts on a team of more than three hundred people. That would include an additional fifteen or so colleagues by 2023, no mean feat in the current labor market. The tightness makes it all the more important to keep investing in personnel. Since 2023, Altez has been doing that, among other things, with an online academy. Both starters and experienced colleagues can find videos there about the internal processes. Colpaert: "The videos are made for and by our own people. They not only speed up the training process, but can always be consulted again. This way, employees can always refresh their knowledge. Moreover, through the videos they get to know their colleagues and know who they can turn to with questions."

Sustainability, construction teams and renovation

In 2024, the focus is primarily on sustainability, working in construction teams and the renovation market. Sustainable construction is central to everything Altez does. "For example, we convert outdated sites into modern industrial buildings that meet the latest requirements. We want to keep our projects as environmentally friendly as possible and are increasingly coming into contact with sustainability standards such as BREEAM. More complex buildings are more common, but certainly do not deter us." A good relationship and close cooperation with architectural and engineering firms are essential to bring a project to a successful conclusion together, in a construction team. They attach great importance to this at Altez. "Furthermore, the renovation market is also important. More and more commercial buildings are in need of renovation or conversion. That's why we have a specialized team dedicated solely to such projects. They have the specific knowledge and experience to make those structures like new."