faq

Frequently asked questions about
sheltered workshop De Kemphaan

A sheltered workshop is a social enterprise that organizes genuine economic activities while creating tailored work for people with a significant distance to the labor market. In practice, this means: we deliver goods and services like a “regular” company, but our primary goal is sustainable employment and support for our employees, not profit maximization.

Sometimes the image of simple work or occupational therapy still lingers but today, sheltered workshops are full-fledged production and service partners with modern machinery, strict quality agreements and employees who are capable of much more than one might think at first glance.

Because the government supports part of the labor costs, we can invest extra in guidance, training, and adapted workstations.
This creates jobs that match the capabilities of our people, and you as a customer receive professional custom work with clear social added value.

De Kemphaan offers a wide range of services: textile processing, die-cutting, milling, lasering, gluing, assembly, packaging work, recycling/upcycling and on-site enclave teams.
We work on one-off projects as well as structural, long-term assignments and contribute ideas regarding practical and technical implementation.

Any enterprise – from SMEs to large players – can collaborate with De Kemphaan, in sectors such as textiles, logistics, food, non-food, construction/industry, retail, and the circular economy.
We provide added value for companies looking to outsource manual or repetitive tasks, set up circular projects, or requiring extra capacity.

We focus on industrial and technical textiles with 35 textile employees and 80+ industrial machines: stitching and finishing of technical textiles such as filters, tarpaulins, industrial cloths, cushion covers, mattresses, medical textiles (e.g., comfort covers and circular packaging), military textiles, duvet covers, cleaning mops, and PVC-coated materials. Textile conditioning, cutting, textile welding, and laser cutting of fabric are also part of our core business.

Well-known realizations include sample books (die-cutting, beveling, edging, gluing), folding/packaging with quality controls, and circular upcycling such as workwear into backpacks, tent fabric into fitting room curtains (for A.S.Adventure), banners into functional bags.
We do not handle clothing, fashion, or garment manufacturing such as prêt-à-porter.

Our Industrial department performs shaping work in various materials: die-cutting, milling, cutting, chopping, and simple processes such as gluing, drilling, or sawing. We produce components, displays, sample boxes, shipping cases, and other custom solutions according to your specifications.

Yes, we provide assembly and mounting of products, disassembly, quality controls, packaging of food and non-food, order picking, and the assembly of product kits or gift sets.
Our teams are accustomed to working with specific instructions and quality standards, ensuring the end result integrates seamlessly with your processes.

With enclave work, a team from De Kemphaan performs tasks within your company, at your own site, under our supervision.
This is ideal for activities you prefer to keep in-house but for which you need extra hands and structural support.

Yes, within our Projects department, we can provide e-commerce fulfillment: storage, order picking, packaging, and shipping.
We are happy to think along with you regarding the logistical flow and the most efficient way to process your online orders.

De Kemphaan works with clear work agreements, internal controls, and trained supervisors who coach the teams.
We follow sectoral quality standards and invest in modern infrastructure and machinery, for example, for textiles, die-cutting, and milling work.

We are strongly committed to the reuse of materials and circular projects, such as the processing of used workwear, tent fabric, banners, or other residual streams into new products.
This helps you reduce waste and creates a concrete circular story for your customers, with an added social impact.

By entrusting assignments to De Kemphaan, you create sustainable jobs for people with a distance to the labor market and help break down prejudices regarding occupational disabilities.
At the same time, you collaborate with a professional production company that focuses on training, guidance, and growth opportunities for its employees.

Usually, we start with an exploratory conversation, followed by a test assignment or pilot project.
Based on that, we make clear agreements regarding volumes, delivery times, quality requirements, and price, so you know exactly what to expect.

We work on small batches and one-off actions as well as large, ongoing volumes.
In consultation, we examine what is feasible and align capacity and planning with your needs.

That depends on the complexity and volume of your assignment, but we always strive to be as flexible as possible.
It is best to contact us in a timely manner so we can reserve capacity and work out a realistic schedule together.

You can contact us via the contact form on the website, by email, or by telephone, with a brief description of your project.
We will then contact you to discuss the details and, if necessary, plan a visit to De Kemphaan or your site.

De Kemphaan is located in Hamme (East Flanders) and works for customers throughout Belgium and sometimes beyond.
Depending on the assignment, we can perform work in our workshops or via enclaves at your location.

Yes, a tour is often the best way to get to know our people, departments, and possibilities.
Contact us to make an appointment; we would be happy to show you how we work and what solutions we can offer for your company.

Our rates are market-compliant and competitive: you pay a fair price for professional custom work, comparable to other production and service partners in Belgium.
Because as a sheltered workshop we receive support through wage and guidance premiums, we can deliver high-quality work at a competitive price per hour worked.

Thanks to the system of collective custom work, De Kemphaan receives, among other things, a wage premium and guidance premium for target group employees.
This support compensates for additional costs and any lower productivity, so that you as a customer can count on a good price-quality ratio without having to apply for subsidies yourself.

The price depends on the type of work (textiles, die-cutting and milling, packaging, enclaves, e-commerce), the volume, the complexity, and any material costs.
We always prepare a customized quote based on a clear task description and – if necessary – a test assignment or pilot project.

Yes, before the start of a collaboration, you will receive a transparent quote with hourly or unit prices, any startup costs, and agreements regarding delivery and quality.
This way, you know exactly what your project will cost and you can compare the collaboration with other solutions (internal staff, temporary workers, other partners).

Sheltered workshops are accustomed to handling peaks, troughs, and seasonal work flexibly.
Together, we examine whether a fixed price per piece, per hour, or per campaign (for example, a loyalty promotion or seasonal project) is most beneficial for your company.