Belgian flooring producer Fingo establishes in Hardenberg

Today, Fingo’s executives Gert van Cauwenbergh and Bert Folbert, along with Alderman Alwin te Rietstap, signed the purchase agreement. The signing took place in the presence of Overijssel Deputy Erwin Hoogland. Oost NL supported the company in selecting its new production site. Construction of the facility will begin in early 2025, with the opening planned for 2026. Fingo’s arrival in Hardenberg will create around 60 full-time jobs and contributes to meeting the growing demand for prefab building materials in the Northeast Netherlands.

A suitable new location in Hardenberg

Fingo is a family-owned company that produces prefabricated flooring elements for residential and commercial construction. The company has a production capacity of nearly 2 million square meters of flooring across four locations in three Belgian provinces. Currently, Fingo employs about 90 people.

Fingo aims to expand production into the Netherlands to supply flooring elements to construction companies in the Northeast Netherlands. While searching for a suitable location, Hardenberg quickly emerged as the ideal choice. Fingo’s executive Bert Folbert stated, “Hardenberg is strategically located at the intersection of the northern provinces, the Zwolle region, Twente/Achterhoek, and Germany.” Oost NL supported Fingo over the past two years in selecting a new location. “Oost NL advised us on various matters and connected us with parties that provided tailored solutions to meet requirements, such as nitrogen deposition. Thanks to their support, we can build this new site in Hardenberg. The Hardenberg municipality also contributed proactively.”

“A valuable addition to the business community”

Alderman for Economic Affairs Alwin te Rietstap is pleased with Fingo’s choice for Hardenberg: “Fingo’s arrival will bring employment to the region, creating approximately 60 full-time jobs. With Fingo, we are also gaining a high-quality family business that contributes to the demand for prefab building materials and thus to the housing construction challenge in the Northeast Netherlands. This makes Fingo a valuable addition to Hardenberg’s business community. We are proud that such a company has chosen Hardenberg.”

“A remarkable family business in a strategic location”

According to Deputy Erwin Hoogland, Overijssel is not only a province where innovative manufacturing industries lead the way, but also the province with the most family businesses. “Fingo will soon be part of this group. I am pleased that we have achieved this through strong collaboration. In Hardenberg, a remarkable family business will emerge in a strategic location, with access to both the Dutch and German markets, and with Overijssel SMEs that can serve as suppliers and customers.”

“Solutions for sustainable building products”

Project manager Peter van Houten from Oost NL notes that Fingo’s activities and products will directly address the housing needs in the region and beyond. “The company is characterized by innovation. At its existing locations, Fingo invests heavily in sustainable production facilities with reduced climate impact. We want to build more but also do so efficiently and sustainably. Fingo offers excellent solutions for the increasing demand for sustainable construction products.”

Smart use of energy generation and consumption

The electricity grid in the Netherlands, including Hardenberg, is under pressure. Through collaboration between the Overijssel province, Tennet, Enexis, and Oost NL, Fingo, with the help of external expertise, developed a plan to manage energy generation and consumption efficiently. “We conducted extensive simulations. By applying the right energy infrastructure, we now have an excellent solution,” says Fingo’s executive Gert van Cauwenbergh.

Collaborating with regional companies

Founded over 75 years ago, Fingo has a family-oriented culture with a warm and human touch. Its core values include collaboration, innovation, and sustainability. Fingo is now led by the third generation of the family: Gert van Cauwenbergh. The company continuously invests in research and development, as well as in improving and simplifying processes and production methods. The company also values strong relationships, both internally and externally, where short communication lines are the norm. Fingo aims to connect with other regional businesses in Hardenberg that align with its operations.