AGMI has always had a strong focus on sustainability and innovation. It’s in AGMI’s DNA. Producing traffic signs and wayfinding — AGMI’s core business — in the most sustainable way possible was therefore an obvious choice. From this ambition, AGMI Re-sign was born.
AGMI is redefining sustainability
From ambition to machine
In 2019, AGMI began researching a more sustainable way to remove film from traffic signs. This study was driven by the desire to minimise the environmental impact of its processes.
“We tested various methods to remove the film, including heating, hot-air drying, heat ovens, and chemical removal. However, these techniques did not meet AGMI’s sustainability criteria due to high CO₂ emissions, water consumption, and other environmental impacts,” said Franka van de Gevel, Operations Director at AGMI.
During the search, AGMI came up with the idea of trying high-pressure cleaning. This led to a visit to a yard in Rotterdam to test the method using high pressure. The effectiveness of this approach was confirmed during that visit. High-pressure cleaning proved to be a promising solution and formed the basis for the further development of the Re-Sign production method.
After numerous tests and collaborations with various partners, the AGMI Re-Sign machine was developed. This machine provides an environmentally friendly solution for cleaning signs, using only collected rainwater and high-pressure cleaning. Raw material use is minimised by reusing existing signs, and energy consumption is based on green electricity. All of this contributes to the lowest possible CO₂ emissions. Another important principle in AGMI’s process is that, wherever possible, only non-toxic materials are used.
See here how the process works:
AGMI's sustainability vision
For AGMI , sustainability is a broad concept, says Franka van de Gevel:
“It includes minimising raw material use, considering the depletion of resources, low CO₂ emissions, low water consumption, limited energy use, and minimal impact on people and nature. AGMI strives for as much reuse as possible in a proven, logical way.”
This commitment to sustainability is embedded in all of AGMI’s products and processes.
The proven sustainable solution for signage and wayfinding
AGMI has been certified according to the Cradle-to-Cradle principle since 2013 and applies it across all its activities. The Netherlands faces challenges such as microplastics and the energy transition, and AGMI aims to address these by making its products as sustainable as possible.
Additionally, there are 600,000 surplus traffic signs in the Netherlands. According to Franka van de Gevel, it makes sense to reuse existing signs. “During the development of Re-Sign, it became clear that reusing existing signs was the logical choice. Unlike new (biobased) materials, Re-Sign provides a proven sustainable solution by giving existing materials a second life.”
This vision was confirmed by research from the VNVF, which showed that reuse, unlike producing new (biobased) materials, is the most sustainable approach.
Together towards 100% sustainability
AGMI aims to integrate sustainability into all its products and involve customers in developing smart, reusable solutions. This means AGMI actively engages with clients to find sustainable solutions and implement them together.
Recommendations for sustainability goals
For companies, municipalities, and government bodies, Franka van de Gevel recommends engaging in dialogue with market parties. “There is a wealth of knowledge and expertise among existing players. Make use of this know-how and collaborate on projects. The sooner you connect, the more effective the results and the greater the benefits across multiple areas.”
The door is open
“We invite sustainability managers and purchasers to see the Re-Sign machine in action. We are happy to share our knowledge and expertise. By seeing the machine at work, including its filtration system and electric motor, you can see how we put our sustainability promise into practice,” says Van de Gevel.
Where there's a will, AGMI shows the way
“We are proud of our Re-Sign method and how innovation allows us to produce even more sustainably. By adhering to strict sustainability criteria and collaborating with multiple partners, we have developed an environmentally friendly solution that contributes to a more circular future.”