Stefan Andersson & Willemien Wink - Managing Director A.I. and Manager Project Management, Paques Europe B.V.
For over forty years, Paques Europe has been working in various industries including food processing, breweries, paper, and chemistry. The company, headquartered in Balk, offers installations and processes that purify wastewater and biogas, recover valuable raw materials, and generate new energy. "With decades of experience and, after reorganization, the skills of a start-up, we have focus and new momentum in the company."
Stefan Andersson & Willemien Wink, Managing Director A.I. and Manager Project Management
Paques Europe specializes in technological process design and installation construction in water and gas treatment. Due to stricter EU targets and environmental regulations, companies need to do more in wastewater and biogas purification. There is an increasing focus on recovering residual materials and generating new energy. With its knowledge and expertise, Paques is a key player in the growing demand for sustainable solutions.
Last year, Paques Europe streamlined its operations: production and assembly tasks have been largely outsourced. This reorganization was necessary to keep Paques Europe vital, Stefan explains. "We can now fully focus on project sales and execution. This way, we become a partner for companies in the water market, using innovative technologies to efficiently utilize scarce water."
What makes Paques Europe unique?
Willemien: "Wastewater is increasingly scrutinized worldwide. Discharge requirements are becoming stricter. We assist our clients in meeting the challenge of making their wastewater compliant and recovering substances from it. We offer solutions based on biological processes. Paques' anaerobic water treatment systems produce energy (biogas) from wastewater, purify the water, and enable water reuse. The released energy can be used by the customer in their processes. We encourage companies to recognize and assign value to wastewater. We have a wealth of knowledge and are entrepreneurial in seeking new solutions."
What kind of projects do you work on?
Stefan: "We serve both multinational corporations and regional players. Industries vary from agricultural companies and breweries to paper mills and pharmaceuticals. We have a wide range of orders. Broadly speaking, we distinguish three types of projects. We have a network of partners who purchase installation components from us: our core technology. Sometimes they build the purification plant themselves, sometimes we assist in this. These projects range up to five tons, with an average lead time of nine months. Additionally, there are companies for whom we deliver products within wastewater treatment. We provide end-to-end service to the customer; a process averaging one to one and a half years (order sizes up to approximately 2.5 million). Finally, there are projects where we completely manage the customer's wastewater treatment. This involves order sizes ranging from 2.5 million to around 10 million euros."
What role does your parent company SKion Water play in your vision and operations?
Stefan: "Since 2022, Paques Europe has been part of SKion Water as an independent company. This international platform offers technologies and solutions for water and wastewater treatment for both the public sector and industrial customers. We are attracted to SKion Water being a purpose-driven company. The driving force behind all activities is the fact that water is scarce and will become even scarcer in the future. SKion Water invests in companies and initiatives that promote reuse. This parent company brings together companies that can strengthen each other. In the future, this exchange of knowledge could be of great value to us."
You are looking for people for several operational and commercial roles. Who do you like to bring in?
Willemien: "We are a wonderful company with passionate and competent people (55 FTE) in a growing market. At the same time, there is still much to do as we progress towards becoming a top-level project organization. We are looking for people who are willing to join us on this journey, bringing experience and energy. People who are driven to face our challenges towards the future. Think about translating customer needs into a proposal with a clear scope and concise contract terms. Also, commercial awareness: knowing your contracts and ensuring that we deliver what has been agreed, nothing more and nothing less. Another challenge is translating our customers' requirements into the standards we set for our suppliers. And last but not least: forming a capable and flexible team of people who can build and maintain our installations at customers' sites."
"Experience, by the way, is not primarily about the right education and years of service. This company needs people who can take the lead."
What kind of project managers are you looking for?
Stefan: "Here, a project manager handles multiple orders simultaneously, both large and small. This means you need to be able to switch quickly. In addition, for large projects, you need overview and analytical skills. We work from multidisciplinary teams, with engineers from various disciplines, buyers, sellers, quality inspectors, and project managers. From acquiring orders, engineering, outsourcing production to realization at the customer's site; everything happens within these teams. That's why we are looking for people who thrive on teamwork, and who are capable of managing people. Learning together from completed projects and continuously looking for improvements."
What does Paques Europe have to offer new people?
Stefan: "We are in a phase of entrepreneurship and exploring new paths. At the same time, our history means we no longer have to pioneer the market. This combination of 'old and new' offers plenty of opportunities to develop and shape processes here. You can delve into water purification technology with us, which will become an increasingly urgent global issue. Being part of the SKion Water group also offers various national and international development opportunities."
Willemien, you have been working at Paques Europe for over three years now. What drives you here?
"For me, Paques is an intriguing company that is fully in the process of rebuilding after a challenging period. What inspires me is, on the one hand, the technology our company offers from a water vision perspective. Additionally, I can help shape and realize what Paques has to offer. That is energizing. Here, you don't just make plans, you can also implement them."
"Furthermore, the lines of communication are short. At Paques, people are at the center. Colleagues are approachable and supportive towards each other. We are hardworking, but we are also a friendly company. We have lunch together and an excellent company restaurant."
