Empatec

What Empatec does

Empatec (NV Empatec) is a Dutch social learning company (sociaal werkleerbedrijf) headquartered in Sneek, Friesland, with over 1,100 employees working daily across metalworking, woodworking, assembly, packaging, horticulture, facility services, and reintegration. The company is wholly owned by Gemeenschappelijke Regeling Fryslân-West, a cooperative arrangement among four municipalities (De Fryske Marren, Harlingen, Waadhoeke, and Súdwest-Fryslân), and operates five interconnected divisions: Maakwerk (CNC metal- and woodworking, assembly, finishing, with ISPM15-certified wooden export crates), Verpakken (manual and machine packaging, labeling, repackaging, and e-commerce fulfillment, certified to ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, and SKAL), Dienstverlening (green maintenance, painting, cleaning, paving, WMO home adaptations, and VCA**-certified Fixteams for residential energy renovation), Groeituin (a greenhouse complex in Wier cultivating vegetables and fruit, with employee detachment to external growers), and Pastiel (reintegration, job coaching, absenteeism management, and outplacement for people with employment barriers). Technical assets include CNC metal and wood machines, professional packaging lines with label printers and date coders, spray booths, and greenhouse infrastructure.

Empatec generates revenue through professional-services contracts with municipalities and enterprises, B2B manufacturing and packaging projects, SROI contract fulfillment (where each invoice constitutes proof of social entrepreneurship for tender compliance), managed staffing/detachment (Pastiel remains legal employer), and facility-services agreements. Customers span municipal governments in Friesland, food manufacturers (Cloetta since 1998), industrial clients (Ventura Systems, Oostwoud International, EDNL, Lankhorst Engineered Products, Megahout), horticultural partners (Smeding, GreenMatter), and SMBs requiring packaging or seasonal capacity. The go-to-market is consultative and field-based: clients request an advisory meeting (adviesgesprek), receive a tailored proposal within two working days, and contract on a per-project or per-contract basis with monthly billing.

The business model is anchored by a structural regulatory advantage — public tenders in the Netherlands increasingly require SROI compliance — combined with multi-decade enterprise relationships, a broad municipal shareholder base, and certified processes that create qualification barriers for new entrants. Approximately 800 candidates flow through Empatec and Pastiel annually, and 600+ partner organizations collaborate with the group. Recent strategic emphasis areas include a new Pastiel location in Joure, AI-assisted internal productivity (HR chatbot, Synthesia training videos, generative AI for proposals and translation), circular-economy partnerships, and energy-renovation Fixteams. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; headcount and Dutch SW-bedrijf benchmarks imply annual revenue in the $50M–$100M range, with confidence limited by lack of formal disclosure.

Name

Empatec

Legal name

NV Empatec

Website

https://empatec.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Empatec is a Friesland-based Dutch social enterprise (1,100+ employees, 100% municipally owned) that delivers metal/wood manufacturing, packaging, facility services, horticulture, and reintegration while providing employment to people with labor-market barriers. It serves municipalities and enterprises such as Cloetta, Ventura, and Oostwoud under an SROI-aligned contract model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Manufacturing & Employment Services

NAICS

Professional Employer Organizations (561330), Professional Employer Organizations (56133), Business Support Services (5614)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration (BPACAHAL)

Keywords

• Social employment services
• Contract manufacturing services
• Packaging and assembly services
• Facility management services
• Workforce reintegration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sneek

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Manufacturing Services (Maakwerk): Metalworking, woodworking, and assembly services billed per project or contract. Empatec outsources production work for companies needing capacity relief, quality metal/wood parts, or serial production. Revenue is generated through service fees for skilled manufacturing labour.
2. Packaging Services (Verpakken): Food and non-food packaging, repackaging, labelling, and fulfillment services. Handles both manual and machine-based packaging operations. Fulfillment services include receiving web shop orders, processing, packaging, and shipping.
3. Facility & Horticultural Services (Dienstverlening & Groeituin): Green maintenance, painting, cleaning, WMO home modifications, and horticultural/growing services. Also includes detachment of staff to client locations for facility management.
4. Detachment / Staffing (Detacheren via Pastiel): Detachment of motivated employees to client locations, either individually or as a group, with or without supervision. Empatec remains the legal employer, handling contracts and absenteeism. Clients gain temporary staff without administrative burden.
5. SROI Contract Fulfillment: Companies and government bodies fulfil their Social Return on Investment (SROI) obligations by outsourcing work to Empatec. Every invoice from Empatec serves as proof of social entrepreneurship, meeting tender and procurement SROI requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Empatec is a Dutch social learning company (sociaal werkleerbedrijf) that provides outsourced manufacturing, packaging, assembly, facility, and horticultural services to businesses and municipalities, while creating employment opportunities for people with labour-market barriers. Its divisions cover metalworking (Maakwerk), food and non-food packaging (Verpakken), cleaning/painting/green maintenance/WMO home adaptations (Dienstverlening), greenhouse cultivation (Groeituin), and reintegration/staffing (Pastiel). Each invoice also serves as verifiable proof of Social Return on Investment (SROI) compliance for clients with social-procurement obligations.

Product overview

Empatec is a social learning company offering a portfolio of services through five business units: Maakwerk (metalworking and woodworking with CNC capabilities), Verpakken (food and non-food packaging, labeling, and fulfillment), Dienstverlening (cleaning, painting, green maintenance, paving, and WMO home adaptations), Groeituin (greenhouse cultivation and staffing for growers), and Pastiel (reintegration and temporary staffing services). The company provides outsourced manufacturing, assembly, and facility services to business clients while creating employment opportunities for people with employment challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maakwerk (Metalworking and Woodworking Manufacturing) Contract manufacturing services covering metalworking (cutting, punching, bending, welding, CNC machining of steel, aluminium, and hardened metals) and woodworking (CNC milling, sawing, planing, drilling, lacquering in dedicated spray booth). Delivered for industrial and food-sector clients including Ventura Systems, EDNL, Oostwoud International, and Megahout.
• Verpakken (Packaging Services) Food and non-food packaging, repackaging, labelling, and fulfilment services performed both manually and with professional packaging lines (label printers, date coders). Includes web-shop order processing, packaging, and shipping. Certified to FSSC 22000, ISO 9001, and SKAL organic standards. Long-standing client: Cloetta (since 1998).
• Dienstverlening (Facility Services) Integrated facility services for businesses and municipalities including professional cleaning, interior and exterior painting, green maintenance (weeding, pruning, mowing), paving, and WMO home adaptations (grab bars, ramps, threshold reducers). VCA** certified for safety, health, and environment.
• Groeituin (Greenhouse Horticulture) Greenhouse complex in Wier cultivating vegetables and fruit, with detachment of staff to external growers such as Smeding Groenten en Fruit. Combines horticultural production with employee development and reintegration pathways.
• Pastiel (Reintegration and Job Coaching)

Quantifiable outcome

• Ruim 1.100 medewerkers dagelijks actief in productie en dienstverlening
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PastielcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPastiel is the reintegration company within the Empatec group. It guides people with greater labour market challenges toward regular paid employment, covering reintegration, job coaching, absenteeism, and outplacement. Pastiel also handles employee detachment (detacheren) to client sites. It operates locations in Sneek, Franeker, Joure, and elsewhere.
• WurkjouwerminorOthersWurkjouwer is listed alongside Empatec, Pastiel, and Fryslân-West as one of the organisations under the shared privacy policy, suggesting a related entity within the Empatec group or regional network.
• Fryslân-WestcoreOthersGemeenschappelijke Regeling Fryslân-West is the joint arrangement between municipalities De Fryske Marren, Harlingen, Waadhoeke, and Súdwest-Fryslân. It is the 100% shareholder of Empatec and oversees tasks related to subsidised employment.
• Gemeente HarlingencoreOthersMunicipality that partners with Empatec for green maintenance, WMO home adaptations, and social employment programmes. Empatec provides regular maintenance of municipal green spaces and home modifications for residents.
• Gemeente Súdwest-FryslâncoreOthersMunicipality that collaborates with Empatec for green maintenance, brugwachters (bridge guards), WMO adaptations, Fixteams for energy renovation, and social employment.
• Gemeente WaadhoekecoreOthersMunicipality that works with Empatec for brugwachters (bridge guards), green maintenance, and Fixteams for energy renovation.
• Gemeente De Fryske MarrencoreOthersMunicipality that partners with Empatec for brugwachters and green maintenance via Dienstverlening.
• CloettacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCloetta, the iconic confectionery factory in Sneek, has partnered with Empatec since 1998 for hand and machine packaging of confectionery products. The collaboration is local, flexible, and has grown over more than 25 years.
• Ventura SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVentura Systems (Bolsward) designs and produces door systems for public transport buses sold worldwide. Empatec produces wooden export crates for these door systems at its Franeker location, with new machines, roller conveyors, and air lines installed.
• EDNLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDNL, founded by Niels de Bree and active in the elevator industry, partnered with Empatec years ago for the production of alarm systems. Empatec produces 'green metal boxes' (spreek-luisterverbindingen) for elevators including assembly work, with a long-standing collaboration.
• Oostwoud InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOostwoud International is a leading producer of metal furniture and storage solutions. Empatec produces metal components for postkasten (mailboxes), droogkasten (dryers), and bores tubes. The collaboration spans multiple decades.
• Smeding Groenten en FruitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSmeding is a local grower that partners with the Groeituin for detachment of Empatec employees and horticultural collaboration. Empatec employees are also detached to work at Smeding's site.
• BryzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBryz is an employment agency that works with Empatec to detach cleaning staff to client locations. An example is Bianca, who works via Bryz at tennis club NOMI.
• De Klamp van AlliademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn the Ventura project, Empatec makes new wooden crates while De Klamp of Alliade repairs used ones. This partnership gives materials a second or third life.
• VSO SinnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSO Sinne is a school for special and secondary special education for (very) difficult-to-learn youth. It collaborates intensively with Empatec to provide long internship periods where students can develop and potentially transition to employment contracts at Empatec.
• Freonen fan Fossylfry FryslânminorOthersEmpatec is a member of this Friesland-based network working on energy transition and sustainability goals.
• Circulair FrieslandminorOthersEmpatec is a member of this circular economy network in Friesland, collaborating with like-minded organisations on circular ambitions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WerkPro: Friesland-based social enterprise (sociaal werkbedrijf) operating manufacturing, packaging, and reintegration services for people with distance to the labor market. Directly comparable to Empatec in geography, mission, and service mix.
• Caparis: Heerenveen (Friesland) social enterprise offering packaging, assembly, metalworking, and reintegration. Same province, same sheltered-employment model, and overlapping client verticals as Empatec.
• Pantar: Amsterdam-based social enterprise providing packaging, printing, assembly, facility services and reintegration to corporate and government clients. Closest large-scale direct peer in the Dutch SWB landscape.
• Diamant Groep: Dutch social enterprise group offering packaging, assembly, and reintegration across multiple regions. Directly comparable mission-driven business model and service portfolio.
• Ditzies: Utrecht-based social workplace providing packaging, assembly and facility services, with reintegration programs for people with labor-market barriers. Same operational model and target customer base.
• SWB Midden-Limburg: Midden-Limburg social enterprise delivering packaging, production, and reintegration services to municipalities and businesses. Closely mirrors Empatec's combination of manufacturing and sheltered employment.

Broad incumbents

• Randstad: Largest Dutch staffing and detachment provider. Overlaps with Empatec's Pastiel detacheren and employer-of-record motion but operates at national scale and without the social-employment mission.
• Adecco: Global staffing and workforce-solutions incumbent. Comparable to Empatec's Pastiel detachment business but competes in the broader commercial labor market rather than the social-inclusion niche.
• ISS A/S: Global facility-services provider covering cleaning, maintenance, and workplace services. Direct competitor to Empatec's Dienstverlening division at the enterprise-buyer level, though without the social mission.
• CSU Total Care: Large Dutch cleaning and facility-services provider. Comparable to Empatec's schoonmaak and dienstverlening offerings for enterprise and government clients in the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Empatec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1316893
• Instagraminstagram.com/empatec_nl
• Xx.com/Empatec

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empatec