Gouda – In early October 2009, two international multidisciplinary development teams from technical services provider Imtech will leave for South Africa to contribute to two unique projects in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The projects are part of Imtech’s CSR policy on corporate citizenship. The Imtech teams are involved with ‘The Ubuntu Company’ initiative in Durban and the Energy Issues initiative in Pretoria. The goal of both projects is to save energy, to stimulate awareness about the need to reduce energy use, to increase employment of underprivileged target groups, to protect the environment, to improve regional employment and to create knowledge transfer.

Imtech CEO René van der Bruggen explains: ‘It is quite remarkable for a technical company like Imtech to actively and altruistically support such a huge CSR programme. The goal, as well as helping to solve several South African problems, is to underpin the Imtech CSR policy, to mobilise employees to take on other CSR initiatives, to expand current knowledge surrounding the theme of energy and to present Imtech as a contemporary, socially aware employer. The total investment involved is about 1 million euro. The Imtech teams are coached by various parts of the Imtech organisation before and after their posting. In total, about 25 Imtech employees are involved in this programme.’

The Ubuntu Company
The Ubuntu Company, an initiative of TU Delft and KidsRights foundation, makes trendy designer sandals (or ‘plakkies’ as the South Africans say) that are sold in the Netherlands. In South Africa, ‘Ubuntu’ means community spirit in the sense of ultimate allegiance and optimum relationships between people. In the first year of production, 25,000 pairs of these designer slippers were sold. These ‘plakkies’ are made in a factory in Durban (South Africa), by about 75 formerly unemployed and underprivileged employees. The materials come from old, disposed car tyres, which are often dumped in the countryside. The sandals provide an  income for more than 800 to 1,000 people in total in the townships (slums) of Durban. In addition to suppliers, these include the employees’ family members.

The Ubuntu Company has asked Imtech to solve the following (technical) issues:
• find the best ratio of automation to human jobs for optimum efficiency and maximum employment;
• design a customised machine to cut the soles of the sandals from old car tyres in such a way that each sandal has a recognizable, unique ‘footprint.’

This initiative previously received an Imtech Grant (in the form of a financial contribution) from the UfD-Imtech fund, a support fund from Imtech and a University fund from Delft University of Technology for technically innovative bachelor theses.

Energy issues in South Africa
Traditionally, energy costs in South Africa have been greatly subsidised by the government. For that reason, the country is somewhat behind in terms of energy awareness. Subsidies are quickly being decreased because energy continues to become more and more expensive. This has resulted in an annual price increase of 25%. These higher energy costs can hardly be paid, particularly among the township residents, but also among the middle class. In addition, energy use is increasing due to increasing prosperity, and this frequently leads to blackouts. In social and economic terms, this creates many problems and has a negative impact on prosperity and wellness. Only optimum energy awareness and long-reaching energy savings will make it possible to guarantee the energy supply and keep it affordable in the long run.

In collaboration with the NGO NOVA, which is supported by the Dutch development organisation ICCO, Imtech is beginning a unique initiative for long-reaching stimulation of energy awareness in South Africa. The initiative involves measuring and comparing the energy use of a large number of households in three different social classes (rich, middle-class and poor) in Johannesburg. This will allow Imtech to bring the social classes closer together, something that is not common in South African culture. A low-cost, efficient energy monitoring system that is accessible via internet will also be developed. The objective of the NOVA foundation is to roll out this model on a large scale, in order to provide a contribution to the issues surrounding energy management. Imtech will also study the possibility of converting the energy savings and CO2 reductions achieved into Carbon Credits. These are tradable emission rights, the proceeds from which could be used to benefit sustainable projects and the local population of South Africa. In addition, information relating to energy savings will be transferred and collaborations will be entered into with the local industry that brings energy saving equipment on the market.

At the same time, Imtech is starting a study among dozens of Imtech employees in Europe, the goal of which is to create energy awareness and energy reduction among them. The results of the study will be communicated and shared throughout Imtech. Imtech is also beginning an initiative to make its office buildings energy efficient. This is done using the same technology to measure energy use and increase awareness, as well as by taking energy-saving measures. Finally, Imtech is considering buying the Carbon Credits earned by the NOVA foundation in South Africa, in order to make one or more of its buildings completely carbon-neutral.

Imtech and CSR
In the field of CSR, Imtech wants to do more than is legally required, and is an advocate of a pragmatic approach. In the energy, environment and water markets, Imtech has a revenue of more than 960 million euro (25% of Imtech’s total revenue of 3.8 billion euro). Imtech is also strongly active in CSR. Besides corporate citizenship, this includes ‘green’ energy in its offices, a ‘green’ fleet, investments in ‘clean technology’ (energy, water and environment), socially responsible purchasing, the creation of an international Imtech CSR community and the measurement of the ‘carbon foot print’ of Imtech activities.

Collaboration with SharePeople
Imtech is guided in this by SharePeople. SharePeople brings sustainable businesses in developing countries in contact with professionals and larger European companies like Imtech. By exchanging local knowledge and experience, all those involved contribute to a sustainable society and a better world.

More information

Media: Analysts & investors:
Pieter Koenders
Manager Corporate Communications
T: +31 6 5574 6585
E: pieter.koenders@imtech.eu
www.imtech.eu 

Jeroen Leenaers
Manager Investor Relations
T: +31 182 54 35 04
E: jeroen.leenaers@imtech.eu
www.imtech.eu

Imtech profile
Imtech N.V. is a European technical services provider in the fields of electrical engineering, ICT and mechanical engineering. With over 22,500 employees, Imtech achieves annual revenue of around 3.8 billion euro. Imtech holds strong positions in the buildings, industry and infrastructure/traffic markets in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Eastern Europe, Nordic, the UK, Ireland and Spain and in the global marine market. In total Imtech serves 19,500 customers. Imtech offers added value in the form of integrated and multidisciplinary total solutions that lead to better business processes and more efficiency for customers and the customers they, in their turn, serve. Imtech also offers solutions that contribute towards a sustainable society, for example in the areas of energy, the environment, water and mobility. Imtech shares are listed on the Euronext Stock Exchange Amsterdam, where Imtech is included in the Midkap Index. Imtech shares are also included in the Dow Jones STOXX 600 index.