Shurgard: short turnaround times, hard deadlines

“The founders of W4Y, many colleagues, and I previously worked at a Grontmij business unit,” says consultant Robin de Groot, one of the employees from the very beginning. “At the start fifteen years ago, many clients also switched over. Often, they are still clients.” Like De Groot, Erik Huffermann focuses, among other things, on installation technology in utility projects. “If you do your job well, trust develops and clients are loyal. Cold calling is then often unnecessary.”

First email

W4Y also values ​​sustainable relationships with employees and partners. De Groot: “I sent one of my first emails to Lammert van Ekeren at Van den Pol. At the time, we worked together for retailer C&A. Lammert is still the contact person; that underscores the continuity of our connection. His colleagues have also been working at Van den Pol for many years.”

Together for Shurgard

The business relationship continued in 2025 at Shurgard, the largest business storage provider in Europe. “Van den Pol was involved in the Shurgard locations in Eindhoven and Zaandam,” says Huffermann. “In the first case, it involved the expansion of an existing Shurgard location; in Zaandam, it concerns complete new construction next to an existing facility. Van den Pol realized, among other things, the electrical installation, LED lighting, fire alarm systems, and data facilities. Under their direction, Warmtebouw handled the mechanical installations.”

Crucial commitment

Projects for Shurgard feature short lead times and tight deadlines. “The first customers are already at the doorstep the day after completion.” This calls for reliable construction partners who can adapt quickly, De Groot emphasizes. “If someone falls behind schedule, it has immediate consequences for other parties. Commitment is crucial, where you help each other as much as possible. That way, deadlines are always met.”

Grid congestion

Conceptually, a lot is fixed at Shurgard, according to Huffermann. “Think of components and materials. But there is ample room for Van den Pol’s expertise. Like in Zaandam, with a solution to circumvent the impact of grid congestion.” In this case, power consumption is measured continuously. If a peak threatens, some heavy power consumers are automatically switched off for a certain period.

Smarter installation

What changes do both advisors see in their profession? And what does this mean for installers? “Thinking along regarding efficiency and savings is becoming increasingly important, as is smarter installation – think of prefab.” To monitor and control energy consumption, further integration of electricity and water is desirable. “There is certainly still gain to be made there, with grid congestion as a major trigger.”