Heinen: Energy efficiency with Fit 4 Sustainability

Heinen AG has been active in northern Luxembourg for over 30 years. Based in Troisvierges, the company specialises in creating bespoke living spaces and offers a wide range of services, including interior design, layout, building carpentry, custom-made furniture manufacturing, the sale of decorative items, and the development of wellness and outdoor areas.

Employing nearly 70 people, Heinen generates more than half of its turnover from furniture production and interior design, primarily for private clients.

A global challenge: growth, energy and positioning

A recent strategic review revealed that Heinen was not facing a single challenge, but rather a combination of issues linked to growth and market positioning. “As a carpentry business based in Troisvierges, our relatively remote location limits our visibility to potential customers who do not yet know us,” explains Patrick Heinen, Managing Director.

At the same time, production activity has grown significantly, particularly with the installation of new, more efficient—but also more energy-intensive—machinery. “Our existing building, constructed in 1992, no longer fully meets current standards for energy efficiency and technical infrastructure,” says Mr Heinen.

Several options were considered: investing in a new building on the current site, or rethinking the company’s organisation more broadly by separating production and sales activities. “This required an in-depth analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of each scenario, both economically and environmentally.”

Fit 4 Sustainability: a tailored environmental diagnosis

This is where the Fit 4 Sustainability programme comes in. Managed by Luxinnovation, it enables Luxembourg companies to carry out a comprehensive environmental diagnosis with the support of an experienced consultant. This assessment covers:

• Energy audit
• Carbon footprint
• Water balance
• Product life cycle analysis

The added value of an external expert lies in their neutrality, sector-specific expertise and ability to provide an objective diagnosis.

Participating companies benefit from:

• Tailored support from a Luxinnovation-accredited expert
• A comprehensive diagnosis
• Personalised recommendations
• A clear, actionable roadmap
• Co-financing of up to 80% of consultancy costs, depending on company size

“The Fit 4 Sustainability programme enabled us to structure our approach rigorously and to analyse different development scenarios in detail, with the support of the consulting firm Sustain,” summarises Mr Heinen.

The carbon footprint: a key step in the diagnosis

The pivotal stage of the process was the carbon footprint assessment. This tool measures the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by a company’s activities, both directly (from on-site facilities) and indirectly (employee travel, business trips, supplier activity, supply chain, etc.).

“This complex process was a crucial step. It allowed us to better understand our energy consumption and the overall impact of our business, particularly regarding logistics flows and the distances travelled by our materials.”

The synthesis of all analyses and reflections led to the decision to separate Heinen AG’s activities. The company has chosen to maintain—and even strengthen—its production site in Troisvierges, while developing a new sales and showroom centre in Wemperhardt, just six kilometres away, near the border on the main road.

The new location is far more visible and accessible, offering a 600 m² showroom and suitable parking. “This allows us to significantly improve our proximity to customers and increase our commercial potential.”

Concrete energy measures towards autonomy

At the same time, this decision has freed up space at the existing production site, enabling Heinen to optimise and expand its manufacturing capabilities without the immediate need for a new building.

Several concrete energy measures have already been implemented:

• Installation of a transformer to meet increased electricity demands from production machinery
• Installation of charging stations and gradual conversion of the vehicle fleet to electric
• Installation of photovoltaic panels to move towards energy autonomy for both production and mobility

In addition, work to optimise the existing building is underway or planned, particularly regarding insulation and technical infrastructure, to bring the site closer to current standards.

Luxinnovation’s support: a sustainable roadmap

Throughout the process, Luxinnovation accompanied the company in its reflections. “Our exchanges with the agency were part of a positive, ongoing collaboration built on previous projects. The support was structured and pragmatic, providing us with a valuable external perspective and helping us formalise a set of concrete measures,” says Mr Heinen.

The work carried out at the end of the mission, particularly the detailed table of optimisation opportunities, now serves as a genuine roadmap for the company’s future development.

Heinen Joinery is now working to finalise all ongoing projects and continue its efforts towards energy autonomy and process optimisation. “We also want to focus more on our supply chain, identifying, where possible, more local alternatives to reduce transport distances and environmental impact,” says Mr Heinen, who is committed to ensuring the company evolves sustainably in a constantly changing environment.

Would you like to improve your company’s energy efficiency? Discover the Fit 4 Sustainability programme at luxinnovation.lu or contact Luxinnovation for personalised support.