Sustainable and future-proof new construction to accommodate production growth

DICTATOR Productie BV, specialist in the noiseless and controlled opening, securing, closing and trapping of doors and gates, has moved into a sustainable and future proof new building on industrial area de Munt in Emmeloord in December 2021. The new building is in a high visibility location along the main road towards Marknesse and Vollenhove and stands out because of its sleek design and stylish illuminated advertising and facade lettering. It goes without saying that numerous DICTATOR technologies have been integrated into the building.

DICTATOR Productie BV's previous premises dated back to 1965 and had been expanded and modernized several times over the years. "Due in part to production growth, this building was reaching its limits," says Technical Director Henry Heidema. "We investigated various options, and an interesting piece of land on the Florijn caught our eye. On December 7, 2020, with the driving of the first pile, construction work started here. With our new building, with a gross floor area of about 5,000 m² on a plot of almost 13,000 m², we are fully prepared for the future. The building has been realized according to the standards of GPR Gebouw, which focuses on the themes of Energy, Environment, Health, Quality of Use and Future Value. In addition, the logistics processes have been optimized and we meet the latest sustainability standards."

Sustainable and all-electric

Thirteen soil loops were drilled next to the building, each about 120 meters deep. A water-to-water heat pump extracts heat from these soil loops, upgrades it to the desired temperature and releases it to the underfloor heating in all rooms of the building, Heidema said. 

"This ensures a constant temperature throughout the year in the new building. In addition, the system can be used in the summer to cool the rooms by a few degrees. Screens are installed in front of all the windows of the new building, which block both light and heat from the sun's
blocking. This allows employees to have a good view of their screens and reduces heating of the building in the
summer occurrence." 

The entire new building functions all-electric, he says. "A gas connection is not present. LED lighting has been installed everywhere, and on the roof there are more than 600 solar panels, which enable virtually energy-neutral production." 

There is an air treatment system in the production halls, which extracts fumes and introduces clean air. Charging stations have been installed near the parking lots for charging electric cars.    

Thoughtful layout

"The new building provides space for a 1,500 m² machining hall, including storage space, where we use modern CNC
processing machines, lathes and robots manufacture our products in an (energy) efficient manner," says Harry Werkman,
 Commercial Director at DICTATOR Production BV. "Right next door is a 2,000 square meter hall for the assembly and storage of semi-finished products." 

At the front, the building provides space for approximately 1,000 m² of modern and sleekly designed offices, spread over two floors. Meeting rooms are also located here, as well as a large room for meetings, courses and product training. In the spacious canteen, employees can have lunch together or a cup of coffee. 

"In the spacious reception hall, a showroom for architects, contractors, installers and carpenters will soon be set up - and in cooperation with an interior designer. Those who want to can additionally see, feel and experience our products during a tour of our premises." 

Full production program

The entire production program of DICTATOR Production BV in Emmeloord has been integrated into the new building; from the door catchers, ADJUNCT chain-mounted door closers, HAWGOOD door spring hinges and door hold-open devices to the spring buffers and HLS catch temperature latches. In addition to these products, the company has a full supply program including compression and tension gas springs (also in stainless steel type 316), smoke and heat detectors, door retention magnets and anchor plates, door operators for swing and sliding doors, door opening limiters, floor springs for heavy doors and hydraulic dampers for mass braking in a wide variety of applications. The high-quality TJSS door closers (also free-running) from Switzerland complete the delivery program.

Because of the clay soil in the polder, the new building was founded on more than 750 piles. Internally, the offices consist of a construction of steel, concrete floors and interior walls of metal stud and glass walls/doors. For the construction of the halls, a combination of steel, concrete floors, concrete parapet elements and a box construction with steel platesn and rockwool insulation was chosen. While the halls are finished with corrugated steel sheeting, the office section was chosen for attractive clean brickwork with tight anthracite pointing. The stylish orange lettering and slogan "Door closing solutions" complete the look.