As an Advanced Partner of Siemens for building automation, PCS Automation puts its sustainability vision into practice every day. Not only in projects for its customers, but also in the new building the company moved into last year.
Plans for a new building had been in the works for some time, according to Paul Persy. Since founding his company in 1999, the number of employees and clients has grown steadily. With a team of 26 specialists, PCS Automation serves clients ranging from healthcare institutions to industrial manufacturers and universities. "We had outgrown our old location in Zwijndrecht," says Persy. "We were working in two separate, outdated buildings and wanted to move to one modern space where we could collaborate comfortably and efficiently."
The new building was constructed at De Ambachtenzoom business park in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, the first circular business park in the Netherlands. Every building on the park is built from reusable materials. By opting for construction designed for reassembly, avoiding glue, sealant and synthetic foam and using no composite products, PCS Automation went a step further than its neighbors in sustainability and circularity. "Wood absorbs CO2 and is fully reusable. It is a bit more expensive, but it also has a more premium look and feel. The building is also fully demountable and recyclable."
With 250 solar panels and two heat pumps, the building is virtually self-sufficient in its energy needs. "On cold winter days we still need the electricity grid, but on balance we are energy neutral," says Paul. "Since there is no net metering arrangement for commercial connections, feeding surplus energy back to the grid yields little in return. Batteries for temporary storage are still relatively expensive and there is no manufacturing facility or cold storage warehouse on this business park that could absorb our excess energy. For now, it remains a difficult challenge – and not just for us. I expect we will increasingly move toward local smart grid solutions, where businesses have insight into each other's energy needs and can anticipate demand collectively."
The indoor climate is managed using the latest Siemens technology for HVAC and building automation, with Desigo CC as the building management system and the third generation of PXC4, 5 and 7 controllers. All zone controls are integrated into the climate platforms. Sun shading is automatically controlled based on the sun's angle and solar radiation, while heating and cooling are regulated based on occupancy. "Using ceiling sensors, we count the number of people present in a room. We control the climate based on occupancy, but our employees can also adjust temperature and lighting individually through a smartphone app. We have already deployed this technology in office buildings for our clients as well."
"The strength of the Desigo CC platform lies in its openness," Paul continues. "With its open back-end, you can connect applications and systems to exchange data easily. Through Desigo CC, we map our energy flows and make them transparent for the organization that rents part of our building. This allows us to not only meet regulatory requirements, but also set fair rental rates and minimize service costs."
PCS Automation maps energy flows using the Desigo CC building management system.
Fire safety in the building is also managed through a Siemens system. "If needed, we can also explore smart grid solutions in the future, as those are part of our portfolio as well," says Gertjan Scholten, who works closely with partners like PCS Automation on behalf of Siemens. "We fully support the sustainability that PCS Automation stands for, both in their own building and for their clients. Our partners and we share the same sustainable vision."
July 2026