Philips On Lage Weide, Utrecht

Index

Philips In Utrecht Region

Industrialization In Utrecht

Welding Rods & Welding Bolts

Why Lage Weide, Utrecht?

Philips Lasstavenfabriek BV At Lage Weide, Utrecht

Plan to Relocate All Factory Activities from Croeselaan to Philips Lasstaven, Lage Weide

Lasstaven At Lage Weide Nowadays

Sources

Lage Weide

Related blogs on my website

Philips In Utrecht Region

Philips, the well‑known technology company, began its operations in Eindhoven and later expanded across The Netherlands. The Philips family originally came from Zaltbommel and moved to Eindhoven to establish what would become the famous Philips concern. In Zaltbommel, a lesser‑known branch of the family remained active, but they were not connected to the industrial enterprise founded in Eindhoven. In the Utrecht region, Philips left a clear footprint. The company operated factories and offices in Amersfoort, Baarn, Eemnes, Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Veenendaal and Zeist (Wikipedia, 2026). This blog focuses on one specific location: the Philips factory at Lage Weide in Utrecht, dedicated to the production of welding electrodes.

Industrialization In Utrecht

In the second half of the 19th century, the industrialization of the province of Utrecht began to accelrate, when the construction of railway lines started and the Merwede Canal was dug straight through the province of Utrecht (Verhalen van Utrecht, 2026).

Welding Rods & Welding Bolts

The Lasstavenfabriek in Utrecht produced welding rods (lasstaven). To weld, welding bolts or welding rods are needed. These rods of metal and chemicals are processed during the welding process. By the mid‑20th century, Philips had grown into a broad industrial conglomerate with numerous specialised divisions. Among them were companies dedicated to the production of welding rods, including the factory located at Lage Weide in Utrecht (Usine‑Utrecht, 2026a).

Why Lage Weide, Utrecht?

During Philips’ period of post‑war expansion (1945–1965), the company deliberately chose not to relocate factory workers to Eindhoven. Instead, Philips established new production sites in regions where skilled labour was already available (Usine‑Utrecht, 2026b). For the welding‑rod division, geography offered an additional advantage. Two key industrial partners were located nearby in Zuilen: DEMKA, a supplier of welding wire, and Werkspoor, a major customer for welding rods (Usine-Utrecht, 2026b). When Philips moved activities to Lage Weide, both companies were easily reachable by bridge and ferry, making Utrecht a strategically efficient location. At that time, welding‑rod production still took place in Eindhoven (building SAC), but the entire operation was eventually transferred to Utrecht. A significant step in this transition occurred on 4 July 1947, when Philips purchased the factory building of the Machinerieën‑ en Apparatenfabrieken (M.E.A.F.) at Croeselaan 28–30 (Philips Archives, 2026). This building, acquired from Pintsch (Usine‑Utrecht, 2026c), served as the initial Utrecht base before the move to Lage Weide.

Philips Lasstavenfabriek BV At Lage Weide, Utrecht

To accommodate the company’s growing production needs, Philips relocated part of its operations in 1958 to the newly developed industrial estate of Lage Weide. Two years earlier, in 1956, Philips had already purchased a site of roughly five hectares at Kernkade 18/Neutronweg in Utrecht (Philips Archives, 2026). In 1958, a 2,400 m² building was constructed on this site. It served as a warehouse for finished products destined for the Dutch Philips sales organization and for export. It also housed the processing activities for welding wire — drawing, cutting, and preparing shipments. The warehouse was officially taken into use in March 1959, and it was designed by Philips’ own design department (Philips Archives, 2026). Over time, the location developed into a complete industrial complex. It included office space, production halls for welding rods, a welding school, a laboratory, and a shipping center (Usine‑Utrecht, 2026a). On 11 September 1974, the company name “Lasstaven Fabriek Utrecht BV” was formally changed to Philips’ Lasstavenfabriek BV (Philips Archives, 2026).

Plan to Relocate All Factory Activities from Croeselaan to Philips Lasstaven, Lage Weide

By 1958, Philips Lasstaven already operated a 2,400 m² factory complex at Lage Weide in Utrecht. At that time, however, production was still divided between two locations: part of the activities remained at the Croeselaan, while another part had already moved to Lage Weide. To unify and modernize operations, Philips submitted a request of nearly 9.5 million guilders to the Centrale Budgetcommissie in Eindhoven. This investment was intended to transfer the entire manufacturing process from the Croeselaan to a newly constructed facility at Lage Weide. The new building would be integrated into the existing complex, and space was not an issue, Philips had purchased five hectares at Lage Weide back in 1956. In its letter to the Budget Committee, Philips substantiated the request with detailed figures, an explanation of the need for additional space, and a justification for further mechanization of welding‑rod production (Philips Company Archives, 1961). The plans also included relocating the Belgian production activities from the Lasstavenpark in Wavre to Utrecht. The Lage Weide facility continued to grow. In 1964, the site was expanded further at Neutronweg 11 (Usine‑Utrecht, 2026a).

Lasstaven At Lage Weide Nowadays

In 1985, Philips sold/ transferred its European welding activities to ESAB AB in Gothenburg, Sweden (Philips Archives, 2026). The former Lasstaven complex at Lage Weide is now one of the oldest industrial structures on the estate. As a piece of post‑war industrial heritage, it merits recognition and protection. Today, the buildings function as office spaces and industrial halls for various tenants (Usine‑Utrecht, 2026b). Despite modern use, the complex has retained much of its original architectural character. Key period features remain intact: roof panels, softboard ceiling tiles, a cantilevered façade supported by steel and glass, and elements made from aerated concrete (Usine‑Utrecht, 2026a). It looks modern and contemporary upon entry. The office area has been adapted to meet the needs of tenants in the 21st century.

Sources

Philips Company Archives (1961) Brief aan Centrale Budget Commissie.
Philips Company Archives (2026) Korte kroniek Philips Lasstavenfabriek Utrecht.
Usine-Utrecht (2026a) De Philips lasstaven fabriek “De Lasstaaf” te Utrecht, bezocht op 27 april 2026.
Usine-Utrecht (2026b) De schoorstenen van de Wederopbouw: naar de hoogste constructie van Nederland, bezocht op 27 april 2026.
Verhalen van Utrecht (2026) Stille getuigen van de industrialisatie, bezocht op 27 april 2026.
Wikipedia (2026) Lijst van Philips vestigingen, bezocht op 27 april 2026.

Hartelijk dank aan Koninklijke Philips N.V. / Philips Company Archives voor het ter beschikking stellen van archiefmateriaal over de Lasstaven-fabriek in Utrecht.