Gezel for HVAC+. So don't think of traditional plumbers, but rather specialists in heating, cooling, ventilation, and sanitation. Buggenhout has traditionally been the base of operations, but the headquarters has recently been given a makeover. One that perfectly reflects the direction the company wants to take: to be state-of-the-art in HVAC for industrial companies. And that includes automation. In its new building, Gezel the advantages of combining WAGO hardware and ATS SmartKit software.

In 2017, Daan Goedgezelschap joined his father Hedwig at the helm of
HVAC specialist Gezel . "At the same time, we also became a member of the ATS Group.
In other words, ATS and I together form the fourth
generation of this family business," he says with a broad
smile. After all, the takeover did not affect the identity of
Gezel. "We were able to continue doing what we had been good at for generations
, but thanks to the synergy, we received extra
support, for example for automation projects."

3.5 times as many employees

The right strategy, as the figures show eight years later.
"Due to growth, the number of employees increased 3.5 times. Today
we have a team of about 80 employees with many different skills: control engineers, refrigeration engineers, ventilation specialists, draftsmen,
engineers, etc.," Goedgezelschap calculates. It caused the building
on Beukenlaan in Buggenhout to burst at the seams. "With
a few minor renovations, we were able to gain some space
, but we were looking for a structural solution." A
new building was needed to unlock the full potential of the site
.

New building, new direction

Two years later, it was a reality. Anyone who Gezel into Gezel today,
, immediately understands that Gezel is Gezel your average installation company. The
techniques that are visible in the ceiling of the entrance hall
and in the technical room above do reveal the background,

but at the same time testify to so much more. "We want to take Gezel
in a new direction," says Goedgezelschap. "Until now,
we have served private individuals, companies, and the tertiary market. In the
future, we want to focus primarily on industry.
We believe that with our competencies, we can write the most beautiful
stories there. As a solid SME, we have just the right
lineup: large enough, especially with the support of ATS, to
always have the right knowledge in-house, and small enough to offer the right
quality of service," he summarizes the advantages.

Perfect business card

The new building is the perfect showcase for this.
It was put through its paces at the open house day in early October.
"We had 750 visitors," recalls
Goedgezelschap. "They were unanimously enthusiastic. We at
also feel that this building is on a different level in terms of
commercial opportunities and branding. The extra space gives
oxygen and enthusiasm to our own team, creates a
new dynamic, but also shows our capabilities to future
customers."

State-of-the-art HVAC

At the heart of this story, unsurprisingly, are
the state-of-the-art installation techniques that the building
boasts: a geothermal heat pump, a new
ventilation system, a system for passive and
active cooling, ceiling cassettes withcooling heating and
cooling ... "The starting point was to show how
you can maximize energy efficiency while still guaranteeing comfort
. With additional solar panels, a new
medium-voltage cabin, and charging stations , we have also fully embraced
the electrification agenda." Gezel the solution
and developed a design that fit within a compact technical space
. "Companies appreciate that as well."

Heart and brain

The icing on the cake is the building automation. ATS
took care of that. Goedgezelschap: "A collaboration that actually dates back to my grandfather
. But by being part of the
group, you learn to rely on each other even more." The heart of the solution is
the WAGO PLC, the brains are the SmartKit energy management system.
WAGO Account Manager Koen Peirs: "The strength of our controller is
that it works independently of fieldbuses. Normally, the more protocols
there are in a building, the more connections you have to make
to get all the technologies to talk to each other. Ours, on the other hand, speaks
all those languages, making it easy to bring them together in
one platform. What's more, the web interface also provides initial visualization
without the need for additional licenses. In other words, it's a piece of software in the hardware
.

Robust and reliable

The choice of WAGO is no coincidence. "We have been working together for eight years
. Because buildings are in their DNA and because
offers robust, reliable technology. We have not yet had any
failures," explains Marc Buyle, ATS BU Manager
Smart Building Solutions, about the partnership. For the headquarters of
Gezel , in addition to signals from HVAC technologies, lighting,
access control, sun blinds, charging stations, and solar panels alsoGezel together.
The SmartKit energy management module provides insight
to intelligently control all these assets and energy flows within the company
. "However, users can make limited adjustments locally,
for example to adjust the temperature, lighting, or sun blinds
."

Sustainable future

Buyle strongly believes in energy management and the added value that
the SmartKit offers. "You can use it to monitor a lot of data,
but at the same time optimize the functioning of your building. This will only become more important in the future due to stricter
reporting requirements. You have to learn to balance supply and demand within a building
in order to achieve sustainable techniques." A
trend that Gezel is also seeing Gezel in the market. "The bar is being set higher and higher in terms of legislation and environmental requirements. That
has also fueled our decision to focus on industry. If
you want to continue to offer the quality you are known for, you have to
maintain a sharp focus and dare to stay ahead of the curve. Our partnership
with ATS enables us to do that. It is technically and commercially
the right collaboration," concludes Gezel.