Compaxo’s new floor: hygienic, durable and installed in one week by Ruys

Compaxo, a family-owned company based in Gouda, has the ambition to be among the best food producers in the Netherlands. The recent renovation of its slicing department highlights this commitment. Within just one week, the 1,500 m² area was fitted with a new Margia Crete floor by Ruys Vloeren. A large-scale project where every aspect of food safety mattered — and the result is best described as: “Wow!”

Compaxo has been active since 1896 as a meat processor, but now also produces vegetarian, vegan and hybrid products. The company places high importance on CO₂ reduction, sustainability and food safety. “We have strong ambitions: we want to be among the best in the Netherlands,” says Production Manager Jeroen Tuiloo. “That means investing in people, processes and the environment we work in. Renovating the floor in our slicing department is a great example of that.”

Meeting the highest quality standards

“The existing floor no longer met Compaxo’s high standards for food safety,” Jeroen explains. Production Coordinator Alex Goedemondt adds: “In a slicing environment where thousands of kilos of meat are processed daily, everything must be right — from the machinery down to the floor. So we looked for a flooring solution that could be installed quickly without compromising on quality, hygiene or durability.” After a tender process, the choice fell on the Margia Crete floor from Ruys Vloeren.

A food-safe floor

Margia Crete is specially designed for renovations in the food industry, where time and performance are critical. It cures within 24 hours and offers excellent resistance to moisture, chemicals and extreme temperatures. The floor is durable and easy to clean. A fine granite grain finish gives it a hygienic, professional look. For this renovation, Compaxo opted for an installation with a slope and stainless steel drains, ensuring efficient water runoff after cleaning — as required by HACCP guidelines.

A carefully planned approach

Alex and Technical Team Leader Leslie Smitskamp managed the flooring project. Together they ensured thorough preparation. “The department is filled with heavy machinery. At first, we considered removing them entirely, but that turned out to be unfeasible — some weigh up to 3,500 kg. Too much work, too much risk. Lifting them was also not an option. Instead, we moved some machines to an empty cold store and completely wrapped others in plastic.”

Before relocating or wrapping the machines, new drains were installed in the floor. “That part was challenging for both staff and surroundings,” Alex explains. “Excavating the drains caused vibrations, but fortunately these didn’t affect our sensitive weighing systems.”

A floor with the WOW factor

The project was prepared in late 2024, and the new floor was laid in a single week in March 2025. Leslie adds: “We mapped every machine and every detail of the department beforehand. On Saturday, we disconnected, relocated and wrapped everything using our own team. The floor was poured under and around the machines. A precise job — only possible thanks to good planning and collaboration with Ruys Vloeren.”

Letting go

At the end of the day, the work site was handed over to Ruys Vloeren. Leslie (left on photo) remained on-site over the weekend to coordinate technical tasks. After that, it was time to let go. “That’s not something we’re used to,” Alex admits. “We’re always in production mode. Suddenly you start to wonder — will it turn out as planned? But when the new floor was revealed a week later, everyone said: ‘Wow, this looks amazing!’”

Cleaning began as soon as it was safe — by hand, using hygiene wipes, since water could not be used before the floor had fully cured. Once the floor was ready, Leslie and his team reconnected all the equipment. “Thanks to our thorough documentation, everything went smoothly.” Production was back at full capacity by Monday. Alex: “Because we built up extra stock the week before the renovation, we were able to meet all our delivery commitments.”

Achieving results together

Despite the challenges — including noise, vibrations and logistical puzzles — Alex and Leslie look back positively on the cooperation with Ruys Vloeren. “It was intense and required constant coordination, but we shared the same goal: deliver a floor in one week that will last for years. And we succeeded.”

“We’re proud of what we achieved together. It was a big job with a great result,” say Alex, Leslie and Jeroen. And true to Compaxo’s nature, they’re already looking ahead. This pain is behind them — on to the next challenge!

www.compaxo.nl

www.ruysvloeren.nl

Photos: ©Fred Libochant Fotografie