KORTRIJK, Belgium, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Lapauw International, the Kortrijk-based company that was taken over by Philippe D'heygere in the summer of 2010, has scooped a mega-contract in Saudi Arabia. The counterparty is the renowned BinLadin Group, a construction company based in Jeddah, with subsidiaries and outstanding references across the Middle East.
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The BinLadin Group has ordered sixty Combi 2000 type industrial washing machines from Lapauw. The machines are designated for a new compound to be built for pilgrims on their way to Mecca. "This is the largest contract that has ever been signed in our sector," says Philippe D'heygere on behalf of Lapauw International. "In fact, here we are writing more than a little bit of history. It is positive that, thanks to this contract, we are starting co-operation with a construction group that might also do business with us elsewhere." This commercial deal was preceded by nine months of negotiations through Lapauw's sales office in Dubai. The sixty industrial washing machines will have to be delivered by the end of this year.
Lapauw International has a consolidated annual turnover of 20 million euros and has already delivered machines to over one hundred countries. The successfully completed Saudi contract has a counter value of 3 million euros (or 4 million dollars) and therefore immediately accounts for one-sixth of the annual turnover. "Our comprehensive order book, including deliveries to the 6-star Burj Al Arab hotel and the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, both in Dubai, and the superior technology of our industrial washing machines have made the difference," D'heygere says. "International competition, however, was quite harsh. Basically it boils down to this: The buyer clearly opted for the high quality of our industrial washing machines and was apparently willing to pay the price for that."
Lapauw International, formerly a family business founded in 1945, was sold to Philippe D'heygere (formerly of Stow International) in the third generation of the company. His efforts to transform the "Sleeping Beauty" Lapauw once was into a dynamic, aggressive company have proven highly successful. D'heygere focuses on innovation, as well as strong international management. Lapauw International has the technology at its disposal and also presents itself as a "Top Quality Development and Production Unit" which employs around one hundred people.
