Specialized business clusters, in particular those in the field of ICT, now make up 42 percent of the turnover of almost one billion euros at technical service provider Unica. Thanks in part to acquisitions, the joint turnover of these clusters grew lightly. “We grow with digitizing customers and take the management function even more firmly,” said CEO Jilko Andringa.
In addition to maintenance and management and projects, Unica is increasingly focusing on industrial automation/process technology (Unica Industry Solutions),),, Intelligent building automation (Unica Building Intelligence), ICT services (Unica ICT Solutions), access and security (Unica Access & Security) and design, construction and maintenance of data centers (Unica Datacenters).
With these activities, the technical service provider can grow with their customers who are becoming increasingly digital. This also applies to other areas that Unica is active, such as fire safety, integral energy solutions and management as well as sustainable renovation and new construction of buildings.
Nice balance
Jilko Andringa, the new general director of Unica since 1 November 2024, speaks of a nice balance between projects, management and maintenance contracts and the aforementioned specialisms. With his company he thinks he can respond well to the large market potential in many areas.
The issues with which customers are dealing with are becoming increasingly complex and more comprehensive. “Together with the width of our services, digitization and innovation Unica offer many opportunities to take control of the management function,” says Andringa. He also speaks of a good balance of growth through acquisitions – such as specialist in fiber optic networks Eljes and the Bavak security company – and autonomous growth on his own strength.
Closing customers
Unica ICT Solutions comes to customers through, for example, workplace management or the maintenance of networks in business premises. Once a relationship has been established, things like cyber security and private cloud are entrusted to us faster, says Andringa. From the ‘Building Intelligence’ cluster (intelligent building automation and system integration), customers flow through to a cluster such as ICT Solutions. Integral digital solutions are a growth market.
With Unica Building Services, Andringa thinks it can benefit from stricter legislation for building management systems in 2026 with a view to lower CO2 emissions. Unica also responds to the increasing care among property managers about cyber security.
The same applies to the certainty of electricity supply. Software tools are needed to improve the ‘balancing’ of supply and demand. Moreover, the need for more autonomy and sovereignty of data can increase the question of local data centers that do not share data with non-European partners. Andringa is mainly thinking of data centers that are equipped for the private and hybrid cloud. ‘There are currently many conversations about this in the Netherlands. There is no lack of building plans, “he says.
One billion
The CEO expects to break the turnover limit of one billion this year. With over 4,400 employees, Unica is one of the largest technical service providers in the Netherlands. The business turnover grew by 11 percent to 937 million euros in 2024. The operational result (EBITDA) showed a growth from 13 percent to 117 million euros, while net profit rose by 8 percent to 53.9 million euros.
