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The German family business ELA Container has opened an innovation branch in Enschede under the name 5ahead. The ‘corporate start-up’ will focus from Twente on (digital) innovations for spaces and buildings composed of units, which can be embraced by the parent company. Oost NL, together with Novel-T and Kennispark Twente, supported the company in its establishment and further embedding in the region.
German company ELA Container specializes in spaces and buildings made up of units. The company has around 20 branches worldwide and has developed into one of the leading providers of high-quality, flexible and modular spaces in Germany. ELA Container is active in a wide range of sectors, from industry and construction to retail and hospitality.
New innovations
With 5ahead, ELA Container aims to continuously initiate and implement new innovations in terms of internal processes, technical applications and new business opportunities. Philip Kwiotek, director of 5ahead, will manage the Dutch branch: “For ELA, innovation is one of the core values, the company always wants to stay ahead. In order to make that happen, 5ahead was founded. The name refers to thinking and acting 5 steps ahead.” 5ahead is going to focus on digital innovations in particular. “To give an example, the placement of containers always requires a prior inspection. That takes a lot of time and money. Perhaps one possibility is to carry out those inspections using satellite data or drones. Or optimizing the return process of our units by developing an app. We are going to look into those kinds of issues and bottlenecks,” Kwiotek explains.
Proximity to university
Oost NL supported the company in their establishment in the region. The choice fell on The Gallery on the campus of the University of Twente. “For us, the proximity of talent to the University is of great importance. We are always looking for new, refreshing ideas and we expect to find them in Twente. Oost NL and Novel-T have been able to help us with the first steps by making valuable contacts.”
Bart van ‘t Ende, project manager Tech at Oost NL is happy that the company is settling in Twente: “For the region, high-quality R&D jobs are an asset. It offers perspective for alumni of the UT and it contributes to the innovative character of the region. 5ahead is also looking to collaborate with other companies in the region, making them a valuable addition to the digitization ecosystem.”
