SOCOTEC has bolstered its presence in the Dutch Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) market with the acquisition of Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers. This strategic move enhances SOCOTEC's service offerings and positions it strongly within the construction and infrastructure sectors across the Netherlands.
SOCOTEC aims to lead the industry in testing, inspection, and certification services, focusing on the entire lifecycle of built environments.
Inpijn Blokpoel at a Glance
Established in 1975 and headquartered in Son, near Eindhoven, Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers employs over 100 professionals and reports an annual turnover exceeding 12 million euros.
Situated in Son, Waddinxveen, and Groningen, the company is prominent in geotechnics, geophysics, and environmental services, aligning closely with SOCOTEC's global objectives to address environmental, energy, regulatory, and digital transitions in construction and infrastructure.
The firm specializes in geotechnical and environmental consulting using advanced ground investigation tools and operates a state-of-the-art laboratory. Inpijn Blokpoel provides consultancy in areas, including building foundations, construction pits, drainage, and wind turbines, as well as geotechnical supervision and monitoring during construction.
Market Expansion and Synergies
Inpijn Blokpoel's clientele includes contractors, property developers, structural engineers
Inpijn Blokpoel's clientele includes contractors, property developers, structural engineers, major engineering firms, private individuals, and particularly Dutch water boards, leveraging its specific expertise in dykes.
This core expertise in geotechnics complements the Hanselman Group, acquired by SOCOTEC in August 2021, which offers services in claim management, construction site nuisances management, and technical inspections in the real estate market.
Enhancing Brand Reputation
"We are thrilled to have Inpijn Blokpoel as part of our group. Inpijn Blokpoel's brand reputation in the Netherlands and entrepreneurial culture fit extremely well with our organization and internationalization strategy," stated Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the SOCOTEC Group.
"Also, Inpijn Blokpoel broadens our service offering following the acquisition of Hanselman Group. Even if they will remain independent, both companies will be much stronger together and will support the development of the SOCOTEC brand in Europe," he added.
With a combined turnover of €25.0 million in the Netherlands, SOCOTEC has become a key player, offering an unparalleled range of services to the Dutch construction and infrastructure markets. "Inpijn Blokpoel complements our existing network of pan-European experts in geotechnics and monitoring across France, the UK, Germany, and Italy, from which I expect great technical synergies as well as commercial benefits," Montjotin noted.
Aligning for Growth
Erik Geurtjens, Managing Director of Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers, expressed enthusiasm about joining the SOCOTEC Group, noting, "Joining the SOCOTEC Group is a great opportunity for our organization, our people, and our customers."
Geurtjens highlighted the advantage of SOCOTEC's technical support, which enhances their ability to mitigate geotechnical and environmental risks, always prioritizing economical and sustainable solutions. Looking forward, Geurtjens anticipates expanding their market reach and better serving their clients throughout the complete project lifecycle.
With the acquisition of Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers, SOCOTEC is strengthening its position as a key player in the Dutch construction and infrastructure TIC market and is expanding its service portfolio to better serve its customers.
The ambition of the group is to become the premier company in testing, inspection and certification services in the construction and infrastructure sectors, alongside the lifecycle of any built environment.
Key player
Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers employs more than 100 people and has a turnover of over 12 million euros
Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Son, close to Eindhoven, Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers employs more than 100 people and has a turnover of over 12 million euros.
With three main locations around the country (Son, Waddinxveen and Groningen), it is a key player in geotechnics, geophysics, and environmental services, some of the core services of the SOCOTEC Group whose global ambition is to meet the growing challenges of environmental, energy, regulatory and digital transitions in the construction and infrastructure sectors.
Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers is a specialist in the field of geotechnical and environmental consultancy services using the most modern ground investigation equipment and a cutting-edge laboratory.
Consultancy services
Consultancy services are provided in the areas of building foundations, construction pits, drainage, wind turbines, logistics centers, structural damage analysis, geophysics, dykes, etc. During the construction phase, full geotechnical supervision and monitoring can be supplied.
Inpijn Blokpoel’s clients are contractors, property developers, structural engineers, large engineering companies, but also private individuals, and of course most Dutch water boards, given its specific know-how in the field of dykes.
Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers’ core expertise in geotechnics is highly complementary to the Hanselman Group acquired by the SOCOTEC Group last August 2021, as the company offers technical expertise for claim management, construction site nuisances management, and monitoring services, as well as technical inspection in the real estate market.
Brand reputation
"We are thrilled to have Inpijn Blokpoel as part of our group. Inpijn Blokpoel’s brand reputation in the Netherlands and entrepreneurial culture fit extremely well with our organization and internationalization strategy,” said Hervé Montjotin, CEO of the SOCOTEC Group, adding “Also, Inpijn Blokpoel broadens our service offering following the acquisition of Hanselman Group. Even if they will remain independent, both companies will be much stronger together and will support the development of the SOCOTEC brand in Europe.”
He continues, “With a €25.0m of combined turnover in the Netherlands, SOCOTEC is now a key player in the country and the only one able to offer such a range of services to the Dutch construction and infrastructure markets.”
“Finally, Inpijn Blokpoel complements our existing network of pan-European experts in geotechnics and monitoring across France, the UK, Germany, and Italy, from which I expect great technical synergies as well as commercial benefits."
Joining the SOCOTEC Group
Erik Geurtjens, Managing Director of Inpijn Blokpoel Engineers, added: "Joining the SOCOTEC Group is a great opportunity for our organization, our people, and our customers.”
“With the support of SOCOTEC and its technical expertise, we will be in an even better position to accomplish what we have been striving for as a team, over the last 45 years: to minimize the geotechnical and environmental risks for our clients when developing projects in the construction and infrastructure sectors, always looking for the most economical and sustainable options.”
“In the near future, we will be able to expand our market further, serving our customers throughout the entire life cycle of a project.”
