Ghent University

Ghent University recently constructed a new 2,500m² BSL-2 laboratory on their Heymans Campus.
Christophe Tuypens, responsible for building management, sheds light on the importance of cleanability, prevention of bacterial growth, and the search for sustainable materials.

Potteau, the leading Belgian lab furniture manufacturer that fitted the new laboratory, highlights their unique approach, and explains the preference for Trespa^® products.

Christophe Tuypens is in charge of the building and facility management at Ghent University. He comments: “A BSL-2 laboratory’s activity can involve pathogens and infectious agents that potentially affect humans. Therefore, outstanding cleanability of furniture and surfaces is an absolute prerequisite. In addition, materials that do not support bacterial growth are essential. That is why Trespa^® TopLab^®, which we are using for worktops, benches and in some cases for walls and in ancillary rooms, has the ideal material properties”. “We are very familiar with Trespa^® products”, explains Christophe Tuypens.
 
“They are a go-to choice for BSL-2 environments. For certain chemistry applications, we tend to favour ceramic worktops, but in lab contexts where biosafety level 2 is required, Trespa^® TopLab^®
has a clear edge over other alternatives like ceramic, glass or epoxy.
The decisive advantages are the material’s shock and impact resistance, its durability and above all what I call its ‘impenetrable’ finish. This is why Trespa^® TopLab^®
has been used in quite a few facilities across the campus – and why it was very well suited for the new lab at Campus Heymans”.

Trespa’s proprietary EBC technology (Electron Beam Curing) is at the core of the characteristics that define
Trespa^® TopLab^® PLUS ALIGN. It further enhances the specific qualities of HPL (High Pressure laminate), a material already strong and durable in itself.
 
The EBC process results in an exceptionally hard, closed surface finish that does not support bacterial growth.
It also optimises cleanability – and has been rated as “Excellent” for its cleanability properties
by the German Fraunhofer Institute.

As far as laboratory furniture is concerned, Potteau is a household name in Benelux.
A fifth-generation family company, Potteau has been the Belgian market leader in its field of expertise since the 1950s. While sophisticated museum and hotel projects as well as the production of door frames are strong areas of competence, the company’s main focus is clearly on laboratories, which account for over 50% of the activity. Stephanie Cassidy explains: “Flexibility and highly professional execution, from planning to finished installation, are our main strengths.
Our standard range is just the starting point: depending on the client’s needs and expectations, we can go all the way to fully bespoke solutions. This clearly sets us apart from the competition.
 
Interestingly enough, our preference for Trespa is not decisive, even if Trespa^® has belonged to our preferred suppliers for as long as I can remember. All our competitors use Trespa^® products. In the end, time and again, it is our reputation that tips the scales in our favour”. Douglas Vanbeveren adds: “When Trespa is an option, we never need to convince anybody. Trespa is so well known that clients would not say ‘We have chosen HPL’. They just tell us, ‘We want Trespa’. With that said, our highly educated and qualified team makes the difference as well. Many colleagues have been with us for 20 or even 30 years. Whenever needed, they can tap into an exceptional wealth of experience and know-how. This helps us tackle even the most demanding project under ideal conditions”.

Christophe Tuypens underscores: “At the University, as I already pointed out, we are definitely looking into the various potentials for improved sustainability.
This made Trespa^® TopLab^® PLUS ALIGN undeniably attractive from the outset. But initially,
we were somewhat concerned: the product was brand new, and it felt somewhat like a ‘blind test’. It turned out that the material’s characteristics are essentially similar to Trespa^® TopLab^® PLUS, which is why we decided to follow Potteau’s proposal and opt for the new, more sustainable version”. “It has been in use since November 2023, and we are now inclined to consider it again. In the near future, we have several buildings to furnish and more work to do in updating our lab infrastructure”.