Circular business practices are a collaborative effort

In the field of (waste) water, industrial plastics play a prominent role. Nijhuis Industries has been successfully collaborating with Profilplast in this area for years.

Profilplast, based in Sittard, is a leading wholesaler specializing in plastic piping systems and semi-finished products. With a stock of more than 90,000 items, they deliver daily with their own trucks in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. For example, for a water treatment or innovative dosing installation, the company has various plates, pipes, fittings, valves, and instrumentation in stock. Frank Snellings, a sales engineer at Profilplast and dedicated inside sales contact for Nijhuis for over 5 years: ‘In addition to a wide and deep product range with A-brands, we specialize in plastics. We have extensive knowledge of the chemical resistance, temperature, and pressure load of many industrial plastics. We translate this knowledge into benefits for the customer.’

Sustainable solutions

Nijhuis provides solutions for sustainable water use and resource recovery, considering contemporary challenges where sustainability is crucial. Profilplast aligns perfectly with this. Olaf te Meij: ‘Plastics are often a more sustainable choice than traditional materials. They have a longer lifespan, lower CO2 emissions, and are often fully recyclable. Besides being a cost-saving solution, this also often means a sustainable solution.’

24-hour delivery

As part of the collaboration, Profilplast keeps many plastic products in stock for Nijhuis Industries. Frank Snellings: ‘We know exactly what and how much Nijhuis Industries needs and when it needs to be available. Developing new solutions, such as custom-made connections or tailor-made diameters, doesn’t take much time. We can realize this within a month or, if necessary, within a week. That is very fast.’ Te Meij adds: ‘To enable service technicians to work efficiently, we put together service packages for each order. We pack everything neatly in boxes per location. If desired, we label each item individually. This fits seamlessly with our full-service concept: in 90% of cases, they can be on-site within 24 hours with the right materials. Everything is arranged with one click of a button.’

Role in the supply chain

Profilplast believes it is important to continue thinking about its role in the supply chain. Snellings: ‘Plastics have a negative connotation in public opinion. Think, for example, of the plastic soup. Even though industrial plastics have nothing to do with this, it still affects our industry. That’s why we communicate a lot with our partners about sustainable aspects such as ecological footprint and recyclability of products. We notice growing openness, a sense of responsibility, and awareness among customers and suppliers. Circular business practices are a collaborative effort. We are happy to take on this challenge with Nijhuis!’