First-Case and Elektro Actief: making energy work together

They are the engine of our connected world: datacenters. Here, it all comes down to one thing: continuity. Even a brief power interruption can have major consequences. First-Case responds to this with reliable solutions for backup power. The Wateringen-based company found in Elektro Actief the right partner for safe and expert installations.

The collaboration is characterized by a shared vision and short lines of communication. Ad Smulders, founder of First-Case, says of this: "I love 'partnering'. We're in a very big pond full of fish. If you do it together, you get further than as a one-man band. Communication is excellent and we can learn a lot from each other." Sven den Exter, project manager at Elektro Actief, likewise emphasizes that the two companies are well attuned to one another: "We strengthen each other and really complement each other."

Full-service provider

First-Case is a full-service provider specialized in complete installation projects within critical IT environments. From finding the right solution to transport, placement, and maintenance: the company takes care of everything. "We maintain close contacts with suppliers, transporters, and specialists, so that projects run entirely according to the client's wishes and on schedule," says Ad.

First-Case has focused in particular on emergency power supplies and cabling in datacenters. Among other things, the company supplies advanced UPS systems (Uninterruptible Power Supply). A UPS ensures that power outages or disturbances in the electricity grid are absorbed, allowing systems to continue functioning without interruption. Precisely in datacenters this is essential: when systems go down, accounts and web servers can immediately become unreachable. "Thanks to a UPS, the power supply is taken over instantly, preventing downtime and allowing critical business processes to continue undisturbed," Ad explains.

International player

Once started from a garage, First-Case has grown into an international player in datacenter solutions. "At our current location at Schipluidenseweg 13 in Wateringen, we're starting to bump up against the limits of our capacity," Ad notes. The First-Case team consists of seventeen permanent employees and a flexible pool that can grow to as many as seventy people on large projects. The company works for a wide range of clients — from government buildings and schools to Big Tech firms — and delivers projects in the Benelux and beyond. First-Case is regularly active in metropolises such as Berlin and Frankfurt. "Our assignments often have an international character. On location, we look for strong partners," Ad explains.

First-Case is about to take an important next step into the future together with newly appointed director Olivier van de Weerdhof and an investment company. The goal is to deliver even more service and to expand its range of activities, together with its partners.

Pilot project

The collaboration between Elektro Actief and First-Case began in mid-2025 with a pilot project: the installation of an energy storage solution at Smulders' home. That project was a success and formed the basis for a structural partnership. "Our in-house installer stopped providing service both privately and commercially, after which Elektro Actief came into the picture."

Battery market

Today, Elektro Actief also supports First-Case in its transition toward a net-zero-energy (NOM) business premises. The two companies are likewise joining forces in promoting battery storage. According to Smulders, that market is in the middle of an important transition: "The battery market is a major renewal market. Many systems are being replaced by new ones." Within that development, First-Case and Elektro Actief see great potential in the Sigenergy brand. "They are the frontrunner in smart software. These battery systems use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄), a very safe, stable, and cobalt-free variant of lithium batteries."

Whether it concerns datacenter solutions, sustainable business operations, or advanced storage systems: together, First-Case and Elektro Actief make energy work.