History
Our history
How we started
REA stands for ‘Regenleiding en automatisering’ (Rainwater Management and Automation) and was founded in 1965 by Siebe Rijploeg. REA started out as a wholesaler and supplier for greenhouse horticulture in the Westland region. It supplied innovative sprinkler systems to horticulturists, which used green pipes and special caps to distribute rainwater evenly over crops.
Solution suitable for the food industry
REA first started manufacturing a plastic rack due to a problem that arose in the butcher's shop of Siebe's uncle. He stored his products on wooden shelves, but these absorbed meat juices and were difficult to keep clean. This is highly undesirable in areas where hygiene is paramount, as it can compromise food safety.
So Siebe's uncle asked if he could do something about it. Siebe came up with a sturdy rack made from round bars, which are very easy to clean and therefore suitable for storing meat. The racks soon proved to be a hit when other members visited the Dutch Butchers' Guild (keurslagersgilde). They ran into the same problem and found REA's solution to be an excellent one, which increased demand.
Product improvement
Siebe refined the design by adding a degree of rigidity to the base material, as the materials are compressed together using air pressure and oil pressure. This gives the storage systems greater strength and a longer service life.
Over the years, REA has greatly expanded and broadened its product range so that not only the food industry but also the leisure and funeral industries can turn to REA for industry-specific hygienic storage products/solutions.
International recognition
Since the 1990s, REA has expanded its market by taking part in international trade fairs in the Netherlands, Germany, Dubai and the United States, among other countries. A solid network of dealers has been built up this way who offer REA products worldwide.
Over the past 25 years, the range has further expanded to include customised solutions for a variety of sectors, including the food, care and leisure industries. Furthermore, we are continuously searching for new applications that meet the needs of various industries.
Timeline of REA
REA expands across several industries and develops products based on specific customer requests. For instance, in addition to the ‘classic’ colour, the ‘design’ and ‘grey’ colours are also launched.
Participation in international trade fairs (Netherlands, Germany, Dubai, America), leading to partnerships with dealers worldwide.
REA moves to new premises in Schijndel. This remains where REA is located to this day.
REA grows and moves to Schijndel, where they continue to develop hygienic racks and storage systems.
Development of a hygienic rack for the butcher's shop of Siebe's uncle, which leads to a wider storage rack system.
Founding of REA (Regenleiding en automatisering), by Siebe Rijploeg as a wholesaler and supplier to greenhouse horticulture in the west of the Netherlands, based in ‘s-Gravenzande - The Hague.