Aconstruct is currently building a special logistics project for Highfrost in Wevelgem. A high-tech, fully automated frozen warehouse that raises the bar for storage and processing of food products. Logistics TV spoke with CEO Brecht Vermander and Project Manager Mathias Despriet of Aconstruct
“Highfrost symbolizes our anchorage in Flanders,” explains Mathias Despriet. “It is an important reference in a market where performance, precision and implementation reliability are decisive. In addition, it confirms our capacity to realize engineering and construction projects within installations with a very high complexity, in close collaboration with GC Architects and engineering firm Steeland, who were already involved in the design phase.”
“The building was completely designed around logistics flows and automation. In concrete terms, Highfrost is a fully automated high-rise cold store, combined with a fully automatic box picking installation. The central element is a high bay of 44.5 meters high, with 55,000 pallet places and a processing capacity of up to 600 pallets per hour. The box picking takes place in the adjacent low-rise building of 18 meters high, on multiple floor levels, and can be fully automated for up to 3,000 boxes process per hour.”
“The project had to be completed within 18 months, with strict control over planning and technical interfaces. Regardless of the numbers, the real challenge lies in coordination. We integrated a high-rise structure with millimeter precision, a high-performance thermal building envelope, automated ASRS systems and industrial cooling installations, all within a temperature-controlled environment where every detail is crucial.”
“The BIM model plays a central role in anticipating critical interfaces and guaranteeing perfect synergy between construction and process. Due to its scale and degree of automation, Highfrost is today a leading refrigeration installation in the logistics sector.”
“What characterizes A-Construct is that we take global responsibility,” adds CEO Brecht Vermander. “Customers expect from us not just a building, but a reliable solution with control of risks, timing and budget. Our values are clearly reflected in projects such as Highfrost. Proactivity is one of them: we want to see and tackle risks in a timely manner. We also strive for technical excellence and accuracy down to the smallest details. Finally, there is the human factor: working with committed teams, transparent communication and long-term cooperation.”
“This combination makes complex projects predictable. That is our ambition: to be a reference partner in Belgium and France for demanding industrial and logistics projects.”
