Imtech N.V. (IM-AE, technical services provider in Europe and on the global marine market) announces that Her Royal Highness the Queen of the Netherlands has decided to grant Imtech N.V. the right to use the designation 'Royal'.
This special Predicate is awarded today by Mr. Jan Franssen, Queen's Commissioner in the Provence of South Holland, in the presence of Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam. Royal Imtech is now a fact. Imtech CEO René van der Bruggen: 'Naturally, we are proud on the fact that we are allowed to call ourselves 'Royal Imtech'. This forms the pinnacle of 150 years of entrepreneurship, and specifically of the tremendous growth in activities that we have experienced over the past two decades. We have grown from a Dutch company established over a century and a half ago into one of the strongest players in the technical services market in Europe, as well as occupying a top-five position in the global marine market. Our 27,000 employees work for over 21,000 customers. More than 25% of our revenue stems from intelligent, 'green' technology solutions in the European markets of buildings, industry, traffic & infra and the global marine market. Our revenue (turnover) totals over 4.5 billion euro and we have developed an ambitious growth strategy for 2015 that is aimed at generating revenue of 8 billion euro. The designation 'Royal' fits perfectly within this growth strategy. Royal Imtech symbolises the respect, appreciation and confidence of all our stakeholders: our customers, employees, investors, business partners and everyone we work with.'
What does the designation 'Royal' imply?
The designation 'Royal' is a distinction that can be granted to associations, foundations, institutions and major firms. The designation 'Royal' was conferred for the first time in 1806 by King Louis Napoleon on what was then known as the Staatsdrukkerij (State Printing House) and the Netherlands Navy.
To become eligible for the designation, a company needs to be at least 100 years old, to be distinguished in terms of its nature, size and reliability, and to occupy a dominant or highly prominent position in the Netherlands in its sector - and preferably be of international stature. The size of the company, the size of its workforce and its revenue are all taken into account. Its operational management needs to be beyond reproach. The company, its board members and members of its supervisory board need to be of high repute and irreproachable conduct. The Queen herself is the only formal institute authorised to confer the designation. The designation is strictly limited to the organisation in question, entitling it to add the Predicate 'Royal' to its name and include the Royal Crown in its logo. Generally speaking, the Queen confers this designation on only one organisation in each sector.
Rich company history, with a 'starring role' for technology
Last year, Imtech celebrated its 150th anniversary. In 2010, it was exactly 150 years ago that Jan Jacob van Rietschoten put his career as sea captain in the long-haul shipping trade behind him and started working as an independent stevedore in Rotterdam in 1860. He was one of the first people in Europe to use steam power for loading and unloading ships. This formed the start of Van Rietschoten & Houwens, and this, in turn, formed the basis of Imtech today. It also marks the start of Imtech's rich company history, with a 'starring role' for technology. From the first electric railway (1888), the first basic automation on board ships (1930), the invention of energy-saving cogeneration technology (combined heat-power solutions) coupling and decentralised power plants (1935), through to present-day 2011 with 'green' buildings, data centres, ships and high-tech power plants.
From 7,000 to 27,000 employees
In 1967, Van Rietschoten & Houwens was acquired by Internatio. Internatio (established in 1863) and Müller (established in 1878) played a decisive role in the birth of Imtech. In 1970 they decided to merge, becoming Internatio-Müller N.V. The following period was characterised by a series of acquisitions. Around 1990 Internatio-Müller (IM) was a conglomerate of more than 100 companies, of which about 35 were specialists in technology, including Van Rietschoten & Houwens. In 1993, these technical companies were grouped together to form Internatio-Müller Techniek, or Imtech. In 2000 Internatio-Müller decided to dispose of the non-technological activities and to concentrate fully on a single core activity: technology. Internatio-Müller became Imtech in 2001, introducing an ambitious new company that was quoted on the Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam.
Imtech today
Imtech has grown from 7,000 employees (and revenue of 350 million euro) in 1993 to a workforce of 27,000 (and revenue of over 4.5 billion euro) today. This makes Imtech one of the largest companies in the Netherlands. Imtech is currently characterised by strong market positions in North-western Europe and in the global marine market. Imtech offers a comprehensive range of technical services to over 21,000 customers. Imtech is a leading company in the field of 'green' technology, with over 25% of its total revenue relating to sustainable technology solutions.
The designation 'Royal' to be presented in Rotterdam
The conferral of the designation 'Royal' will be celebrated in the Imtech Marine workshop on Sluisjesdijk in Rotterdam. In Rotterdam Imtech has also its official registered office. With over 1,500 employees, Imtech is one of the largest employers in Rotterdam. Our motive for choosing Rotterdam as the location for this presentation is that we wish to emphasise Imtech's typically Rotterdam approach of 'rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in'. Moreover, Rotterdam is where 150 years ago it all started for Imtech, in the marine market. Thus, Rotterdam is the ideal location for the ceremony to take place.