OxGreenfield invests in innovative sun protection with participation in Brel Netherlands

The Dutch investor OxGreenfield acquires the majority of shares in Brel Nederland BV (Brel). The company supplies motors and controls for the automatic operation of sunshades. Sunshades make a significant contribution to reducing energy consumption in modern buildings and are therefore an essential element in the sustainability of real estate. Brel's strong market position and the innovative products it supplies to this growing market have prompted OxGreenfield to make their fourth investment from their second fund. 

OxGreenfield invests in Brel Nederland

Brel – based in Doetinchem – currently sells its products mainly in the Benelux. OxGreenfield sees many opportunities to sell these products to foreign sunshade manufacturers as well. Moreover, Brel has developed an innovative new product in collaboration with Vodafone, under the brand name “Brel Smart Building”. This involves a drive for sunshades combined with a solar panel, making installation much simpler and cheaper as no wiring is needed. This drive is equipped with a SIM card so that building managers and users can centrally control, monitor, and service the sunshades via an online platform. This new product was recently successfully introduced at a leading sunshade trade fair and there is a lot of interest from large customers.  With revenue growing towards € 20 million, Brel is the challenger to large market players, with the innovative nature of the products as its distinguishing feature. The current shareholders of Brel, Reinoud Arts and Erik Budding, retain a large share in Brel and will shape Brel's growth together with OxGreenfield as management.

Market growth driven by energy transition 

The market for drives and controls of sunshades is growing due to the trend towards home automation, combined with the necessity (enforced by regulation) of energy saving, especially in office buildings. New regulations require building managers to limit the CO2 footprint of buildings, to which sunshades make a significant contribution. Scientific studies show that dynamic (automated) use of external sunshades can save 30% of the energy for cooling and 14% of the energy for heating.

Due to climate change, these savings will only increase in the coming decades. Sunshades are one of the most efficient and cost-effective methods for energy saving, and it is therefore expected that more and more buildings will be equipped with automatically operating external sunshades. Preferably with the Brel Solar solutions, battery motors with a solar panel. These require no separate power supply or wiring and are easy to install.

Brel Nederland leads in the development of automatic sunshade operation

Brel has been active in the market for sunshade drives and controls since 2010. It is a  company with approximately 15 employees where imported motors are combined with in-house produced adapters and software and controls developed in the Netherlands. The company has grown strongly in recent years and is an important player in the Benelux. Shareholders Reinoud Arts and Erik Budding are known in the market as pioneers, continually bringing innovations to the market that further develop the sunshade industry. 

About OxGreenfield
OxGreenfield invests in experience, expertise, and dedication to create room for the growth ambitions of entrepreneurs. With a focus on strengthening management, DGA succession, carve out, growth, scale up, and turnaround, the investor primarily targets industrial companies with a technically distinctive character. The partners of OxGreenfield together have an impressive track record. Each with their own expertise, they work together for connection, relationship, énd results. With the participation in Brel, the fourth investment in the new fund of the investment company is a fact.