2020 was a year of major investments for perlite manufacturer Willems Perlite in Ghent . A new furnace and matt line were installed in the mill . As a effect , in addition to the well - known perlite blocks , Perlite mats can now also be produced to size and on a large scale .
" The investments are paying off because we can now offer the whole package . More than expected , " says proprietor Sven Willems . " This season we are already in position with many growers . Now that we offer the complete package , we are much less dependent on the substratum on which a grower grows . "
Kurt Lauwers and Sven and Niels Willems in front of the mill in the port area of Ghent where they develop both perlite pots and perlite mats on a large scale leaf .
Busier for longerIn mid - May , it is remarkably busy in the factory . partially because of the investiture in growth , including with the comer of the salesman Kurt Lauwers , but also because of growth in the market . Kurt : " ordinarily the superlative in production is in the stop September - January when raiser prepare and start up their novel crop . This year , however , I have fancy a draw of agriculturalist switch because of the computer virus pressure , so the demand for slabs and blocks is still gamy . "
The oven and the motorcar are therefore still process large quantities of volcanic rock-and-roll every day . The raw material is sort and delivered in big bags . Sven : " That produce an attractive , unvarying intersection . you could see that more and more importance is being attached to that . "
The oven make fun the rock until it puffs , with the end result being the conversant , lightweight ' pebble ' for economic consumption in engine block and mats . In addition , vermiculite , which is used by sowing , cutting , and propagate companies for spreading , is also produced .
The right trackFor the Willems family , include crony Niels as well as Sven , it all started with blocks some twenty years ago . " Our father , who has unfortunately hand away , put us on the right track . He was already familiar with perlite as a filtering aid in mill with liquids . It is a singular stark naked material with unique hairlike properties , which spend a penny wet well dispersed . "
Willems Perlite also start supply perlite in slab to growers this class .
Fine fractionWillems Perlite can offer the perlite in different fraction , both loose and in slabs . Sven : " Many the great unwashed recognize perlite but as a coarse fraction . However , if you desire to make optimum use of this raw fabric , we think you should exploit with a finer fraction . " Kurt adds ; " The growers who started using our slabs this year find that it is an easy substratum with which they can turn as dampish as they need . As a result , we are certainly no longer inferior to other substratum . "
Now that the investment in the factory and with Kurt also in client service are paying off so well so quickly , the Willems brothers have a taste for it . " In the long ravel , we in spades desire to grow further with another oven and strain . That style , we can remain flexible . For the same cause , we also keep large stocks . And that ’s a good matter , " Sven concludes with a joke , " because Kurt moves fast . "
For more entropy : Kurt Lauwers , Sales ManagerWillems PerliteHulsdonk 379042 Gent , Belgium+32 ( 0)473 97 06 85[email protected]www.willems - perlite.com
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