From red to blue
is a leading company in agricultural machinery. It is a true family business that has existed for 243 years. In 2018, Lemken acquired the Dutch company Steketee, a prominent name in crop care machinery such as plows and seeders. However, the building and production and logistics spaces that Steketee had in Stad aan ‘t Haringvliet did not meet Lemken’s standards. The search for a new location began, and Lemken moved forward decisively, resulting in an impressive new building in Dinteloord, expected to be completed in March 2024. Quadrant4 was responsible for the interior design. Nicola Lemken (7th generation owner), Ina Högele
(project manager), and Iljan Schouten (head of the crop care business unit and managing director of the Dinteloord location) from Lemken reflect on this journey along with Eric de Vetten from Quadrant4.
Nicola: “I’ve been with the company for twenty years. As a board member, I am interested in the construction, structure, and design of our locations, with a focus on creating pleasant working environments for all our employees.”
Ina: “I’ve been with Lemken for fifteen years, initially in HRM and in recent years in project management. This new location is my first major project, and I eagerly seized the opportunity.”
Iljan: “I joined Lemken in 2018 and started thinking about a new location for Steketee in 2021, especially since the lease there would end in the summer of 2023. We spent a year planning and a little under a year on
implementation. And here, there was nothing at all yet...”
Nicola: “It’s a total transformation, especially for the employees here. A new factory, a new brand, a new color (from Steketee red to Lemken blue), and a new logistics concept. We looked at what people really needed and anticipated as much as possible. We want employees to feel at home and comfortable, wanting to stay with Lemken. It makes sense because much of the know-how resides with them. We want to retain the people and their experience for Lemken.”
Iljan: “A condition was that we wouldn’t build too far from Steketee’s previous location due to employees’ travel times. We succeeded, and being more easily accessible, we are also attracting new employees.”
Nicola: “We happened to see a design by Quadrant4 at a business meeting. It appealed to us because it was not dull but fancy and innovative. And affordable. We then visited several buildings designed by Quadrant4.
Quadrant4 thinks carefully about structures, walkways, and functions. I think that’s important. Their own office also has a pleasant atmosphere. And in the end, it’s human work. You have to click. We had that, so we went into business together.”
Eric: “We started with the interior but quickly took on more tasks such as audiovisual installations and loose
furniture. We listened carefully to Lemken’s people. Only if we understand their way of working, we can deliver the best interior design. Transparency is key.”
Ina: “What I particularly liked is that Quadrant4 consistently gave us choices between more expensive and less expensive options for interior design. This way, we could easily determine what was suitable for Lemken and at the same time, manage the budget well. The workshop with Steketee/Lemken employees, where we mapped out their wishes, was also very valuable.”
Nicola: “At our office in Haren, Germany, Quadrant4 took on the interior design of the third floor. And they made a beautiful proposal for our main location in Alpen, where, in addition to the office part, we may want to create a training center, a showroom, offices and sanitary facilities. But we still need to finalize that.”
Eric: “We are proud that we won this pitch. We collaborated with our new German partner GJL+ architects. They know the German regulations. That is indispensable. And from our DNA, we add something truly distinctive.”
Iljan: “I have been working in both countries for a while now. It’s incredible how much we can learn from each other. I experience that every day. You get the best of both worlds. Isn’t that great?”
Nicola: “What I’m especially satisfied with? Well, that we are a team, that Quadrant4 listens well, and that they are willing to change something (quickly) if we find it necessary.”
Ina: “For me, Quadrant4’s flexibility was of great value. I quickly got answers to my questions, and they provided me with valuable advice. We progressed rapidly, and Quadrant4 kept up well.”
Iljan: “What appealed to me were the many photos and beautiful 3D animations of our new building. Quadrant4 is very good at that. It gives you the right idea and feeling of how it will be.”
