Relocation of Royal Talens

During the summer holidays of 2025, Royal Talens relocated from a historic building in the city center of Apeldoorn to a state-of-the-art new facility in Apeldoorn-Noord. The Industrial Relocations department of Koninklijke Saan, specialized in complete factory relocations, managed this project. We spoke with Corné Knapen, who was ultimately responsible for the relocation at Royal Talens.

High-quality drawing and painting materials

Royal Talens produces high-quality drawing and painting materials for artists, hobbyists, creative professionals, and children of all ages. The company in Apeldoorn was founded in 1899 by Marten Talens. Talens products quickly gained recognition internationally. In 1927, a new office wing was added to the existing factory. This remained the headquarters of Royal Talens until 2025. A new building has now been constructed in Apeldoorn-Noord, where both the factory and office have relocated from the historic city-center location. The distribution center is also located at this new site.

Ready for the future

The new facility is fully future-proof. There are 1,500 solar panels installed on the roof, supplying energy to the factory and electric vehicle charging stations. Two wells, each 200 meters deep, provide heating in winter and cooling in summer. The building has achieved a BREEAM Excellent certification, making Royal Talens the most sustainable paint factory in Europe.

Specialized work

Relocating an entire factory with office facilities is a major undertaking. Saan Industrial Relocations specializes in this type of work, with well-trained staff and all the necessary equipment. How did Royal Talens select Saan? Corné Knapen explains:

“During an online search for industrial relocation companies, both locally and nationally, combined with personal experience, we created a shortlist of potential movers. We defined the scope and asked the selected parties to submit proposals. Saan came out on top. I had also worked successfully with Saan at a previous employer.”

And how was the collaboration?

The collaboration generally went well. The preparation phase was somewhat unsettled due to a change of project managers at Saan. At the start of the relocation, the new building was not yet fully completed, requiring additional flexibility from the movers. This was handled effectively, and through close coordination, work continued as efficiently as possible.

What was the reason for the relocation?

At the old location, there was no longer any room for expansion, which was necessary to support the company’s growth ambitions. Additionally, a production facility—with its associated logistics movements and potential disturbances—is not ideally suited to a city center or residential area.

What will happen to the old building?

The main building is considered industrial heritage and will be preserved. Initially, it will likely continue to be used as office space. Later, it may be converted into residential units. The remaining buildings will be demolished and replaced by a modern urban district combining living, studying, and working.

What was relocated?

The move included the entire office with approximately 100 workstations, around 20 production lines and 10 filling lines, laboratories, the technical services department, the Experience Centre, the entire warehouse and our art collection.

Did the relocation go according to plan?

Overall, yes. Everything had to be relocated within a tight timeframe, and this was achieved. Restarting the machines required an additional week beyond the original schedule, which was considered acceptable.
“Through thorough preparation, strong collaboration, and flexibility, a major project was completed within the set parameters. I believe this is something we can all be very proud of together.”