we rather call it sustainable entrepreneurship

More efficient use and sustainable water management are critical to address the growing demand for water, threats to water security and the increasing frequency and severity of droughts and floods resulting from climate change. Each year, Aalberts piping systems delivers over three hundred million meters of pipes and connections for the hygienic distribution of drinking, potable and waste water. Our solutions ensure clean water and sanitation for millions of households worldwide and focus on efficient water use and water savings. For example, the Airfix vessel, an expansion vessel for domestic hot water that saves up to 1,200 litres of drinking water per household per year when installed. The materials used in the distribution systems are of a significant importance. A high potable water quality begins with the planning and the selection of the right material. Chemical substances must not be present in concentrations that are harmful to human health. For example, lead in drinking water can be harmful for humans and more in particular for children. We address such topics by offering lead free piping systems, for example from lead free alloy or composite. Obviously, our piping systems have all major national and international quality certifications and approvals in this respect, such as NSF/ANSI, KIWA, DVGW and qualify for green building rating systems like LEED, DGNB and BREEAM. In addition, we offer technologies to protect and improve water quality including filtration, purification and softening.

Climate change and urbanisation reinforce the need for more energy efficient, comfortable and healthy buildings and smart, sustainable transportation. Space heating and cooling is accounting for a substantial part of the energy consumption in buildings. From the heat source to emitter, to distribution of heating or cooling, Aalberts hydronic flow control and Aalberts integrated piping systems cover a broad spectrum of mission-critical building technology systems that make residential, commercial and industrial buildings eco-friendly. Our technologies provide improved energy efficiency through hardware products such as balancing valves and air dirt separators. But also by digitised products and services, such as intelligent thermostats, smart radiator heads and remote services. Our air and dirt separators for example, can save up to 15% in energy consumption when installed. Intelligent thermostatic heads, balancing valves, underfloor heating, expansion vessels and manifolds are other products that will make heating and cooling in buildings efficient by at least 20%. Aalberts is partnering with its customers to engineer solutions that offer optimal efficiency for new build as well as for renovation. Our piping systems complement the hydronic flow control technologies as key parts of hydronic systems for large residential, domestic, commercial and industrial buildings. We facilitate the growth of renewable and low carbon energy use with our technologies. We empower the energy transition by providing solutions needed for renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, heat pumps and hydrogen installations. For example, expansion vessels for solar powered installations or a thermal battery for domestic water, powered by solar. Our fittings and piping systems have a very high temperature resistance and are therefore suitable for use in solar installations. In addition, we have a wide range of technologies for district heating and underfloor heating. In 2022, Aalberts hydronic flow control contributed to the realisation of approximately one million installations operated on renewable energy. Also in our sustainable transportation end market, creating energy savings is high on the agenda. We engineer mission-critical technologies for e-mobility, with electric cars, e-bikes and e-scooters becoming increasingly important across society. For e-mobility we provide solutions such as surface treatments for electrical car parts and lightweight aluminium battery housing for e-bikes. For the maritime transport sector our measurement systems enable ships to significantly decrease their fuel consumption and maintenance costs. For example, our high-tech propeller thrust sensor enabling shipowners to save up to 15% on fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

With the advent of super-fast 5G networks, internet of things will further accelerate technological breakthroughs for smart homes, autonomous driving and industry 4.0. Breakthrough innovation is necessary to address large-scale challenges such as ageing economies and climate change, while new, digital solutions are also targeting minor challenges making life easier, for example, through simplifying digital payments or streaming. Aalberts advanced mechatronics delivers leading-edge innovative, tailor-made and future-proof technologies, enabling the roadmaps and manufacturing challenges of high-tech customers. From mechatronic systems, to motion and fluid control in high-end machines and process installations, environmental control solutions, ultra- high purity liquid and gas supply systems and ultra large and accurate machining. With our technologies and innovations, we are part of the high-tech infrastructure needed for technological breakthroughs. These breakthroughs enable the manufacturing of low carbon technologies and the world’s shift towards decarbonisation. We continuously focus on long-term innovation and disciplined investments in R&D.

Climate change and resource scarcity reinforce the need for solutions that improve energy efficiency, lower waste and make materials more lightweight and durable. These solutions are crucial for the transition to more sustainable transport by land, sea or air. Aalberts accelerates the transition towards sustainable transportation by engineering mission-critical technologies for the electrification of vehicles, from valve engineering for battery cooling to surface treatments for electrical car parts. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and complex, every single component needs to work and needs to work together. We respond to energy & resource scarcity by making materials more lightweight and durable. Lightweight materials are an important enabler of sustainable transportation. Aalberts surface technologies partners with leading industrial customers worldwide to develop, produce and finish functional and highly durable surface designs of metals through sophisticated heat and surface treatments. The improved strength and stiffness of the materials improves product quality and reliability, while extending the entire lifetime of the manufactured parts. We also develop and produce high-tech, lightweight aluminium and magnesium components that are both strong and light. They are of great importance for sustainable transportation in the automotive, e-mobility and aerospace industries. For electrical vehicles surface technologies play a role in noise reduction, lightweight constructions to extend the range, safety measures and extension of service life due to lifetime extension of components, such as increased corrosion protection. Aalberts hydronic flow control and Aalberts piping systems also apply these lifetime, quality and reliability improvements to their products and innovations. In eco-friendly buildings, longevity of components matters and corrosion protection is important. Our R&D departments engineer with a ‘fit to last’ strategy, focusing on maximising lifetimes of components and solutions.