Local strength, European scale
Walkro operates at several locations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.From these locations, we work daily on processing raw materials, supporting our customers and making our chain more sustainable. Close to where it happens, with an eye for people and the environment.
Walkro Belgium
This company is the origin of Walkro and was founded in 1990 in Maasmechelen by Messrs van der Kroon and 3 Walraven brothers. The company, and thus production, was started in the 1st half of 1991.
Originally, the company started as a phase 2/3 tunnel company with a capacity of 400 tonnes of grown compost per week. Since 1993, phase 1 has also been produced here. In Belgium, this is Walkro's only site that also produces phase 1 substrate. From Maasmechelen, the other Walkro Belgian production site is also supplied with phase 1 compost. Currently, 3600 tonnes of phase 3 compost are prepared at Maasmechelen every week. Part of this is filled into packages that make their way all over the world 50 employees realise phase 1 to 3 production every week. Due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations in Belgium, substantial investments have been made to perform phase 1 composting entirely indoors.
All operational activities of Walkro Belgium are managed from Maasmechelen.
Walkro Netherlands
Walkro Netherlands consists of several locations, including Blitterswijck, Meterik, Horst and Grubbenvorst.
The company was founded in 1963 by brothers Piet and Jan Theeuwen and became part of Walkro in 2000. In the 1990s, major investments were made to cover the entire process in connection with the set requirements for odour and ammonia emissions. Currently, Blitterswijck has several water and acid scrubbers, a biobed and a chimney. These installations should help ensure that production can take place in harmony with the environment. Blitterswijck is also home to Walkro's central laboratory, where more than 600 samples are examined weekly from all sites. Currently, weekly production consists of 5,000 tonnes of grown compost. In Blitterswijck, 95 motivated employees are responsible for substrate production.
Walkro Germany
In 1999, we were the first to complete the box farm and have been filling boxes ever since. At the time, we started supplying grown compost from the parent company in Blitterswijck. The boxes are delivered to the customer when the bud formation phase is complete. The advantage of this way of working is that the grower only has to deal with harvesting mushrooms and selling them. This does not necessarily have to take place in ultra-modern nurseries as Pizlhof takes care of the most critical phase. Due to the low investment in buildings, the cost price for the grower can be very interesting.
In the course of 2002, this part of the business reached full capacity and further expansion was worked on, which was completed in the course of 2003.
After the completion of the box farm in 1999, work started on the construction of the tunnel complex with the intention of being able to work with our own grown compost from 2000. This phase was completed in August 2000 and fresh compost was no longer brought in from Blitterswijck instead of grown compost. Further expansion in the sale of grown compost was also sought and found.
After the completion of the tunnel plant, construction of the composting plant started in the winter of 2000/2001. The first fresh compost could be produced in May that year. This included the whole raw material story with some basic products still being brought in from the Netherlands to ensure maximum security. Further expansion of activities is possible due to an excellent quality of compost and crates which has allowed this company to build an excellent name in a short time. Sales opportunities are plentiful due to its location and the expansion of the European Union.
