R I J N D I J K Constru c tion •
P&K R AIL •
L E N G K E E K S TA A L B O U W •
H S M S teel S tru c tures •
HSM OFFSHORE •
G O U D A V U U R VA S T S E R V I C E S •
G O U D A V U U R VA S T B E L G I U M •
GOUDA REFR AC TORIES •
G O U D A F E U E R F E S T ( D euts c hland ) •
FIB INDUSTRIES •
A S S E L B E R G S V E N T I L AT O R E N •
ANDUS GROUP SERVING THE INDUSTRY
volume 1 | no. 2 | December 2011
FIRMLY AT THE HELM AND FULL STEAM AHEAD Most of you know that I am an
as you have a clear vision and have
employees who have been chosen
enthusiastic sailor. The similari-
set the right course.
at random. We highlight their
ties between sailing and work are
passions and their dedication to
striking. In sailing the circum-
At the end of the year, the harbour
their jobs as well as a little back-
stances are constantly changing so
is coming into our sights again.
ground to these people. Wonderful
that you are constantly changing
I am able to look back at the
stories that are full of surprises.
the direction of the sails. You
results that we have all produced
have to make sure you have set
in 2011 with nothing but satis-
I take this opportunity to wish you
the best course. Setbacks have to
faction. The figures are not
all a merry Christmas and a very
be overcome and when you arrive
yet completely ready of course,
happy New Year. I am convinced
in the harbour, you feel fantastic.
but we can already say that the
that we will succeed in surviving
In business, conditions are also
turnover for the whole group has
less economically favourable times.
constantly changing. Economy is
increased considerably and that
I have full confidence in our future
like a wave rising and falling and
we can be proud of the results. In
and I foresee a favourable wind for
in recent years one crisis deve-
this edition of Andustry news we
our company. I cannot think of a
loped into another. Companies
give centre stage to our staff: the
better way to sign off.
that are able to adapt adequately to
force behind our company. We
these changing circumstances are
give you the opportunity to make
Tom van Rijn
the winners of tomorrow. As long
the acquaintance of a number of
CEO
COMRADES THROUGH THICK AND THIN Danny Palemans (45) is project manager/account manager at Gouda Vuurvast Belgium. He joined the company in 1989 as a warehouse assistant and then worked his way up through the company. He is currently working at a large maintenance job with Total Oil Refinery in Antwerp. A job of approximately four weeks, where works continue six days a week and 24 hours a day. Danny enjoys this intensive “pushing the boat out” and the team spirit. “When we have to carry out maintenance work
just working. We are also there for each other
mostly already read the night shift reports and I
during a production stop, we hardly set any
in our private lives, in good times and bad. This
start to set up the roster for the day shift. They
boundaries for ourselves ... We just go for it. We
sense of camaraderie is tremendous.”
start at seven o’clock. Then I am busy all day ‘rounding up my sheep’ and making sure that
join our forces in a tightly knit team in order to sort out the job. If I need some of our workers
Shepherd
the evening shift can take over efficiently. At
on a Saturday night, they are there, even though
“My alarm clock goes off at about five o’clock
around half past six in the evening I head home
they may be off. But it’s about much more than
and an hour later I am at work. By then I have
again … I am not allowed to stay on the >>
>> site for more than 13 hours at a
have to go on. You know, one day
time!”
I decided, at the age of 42, to do my first marathon (42 kilometres).
A bit of ADHD
And I did. Nowadays I do one or
A tough day you might say. But
two a year. I am also training for a
then you don’t know Danny yet:
number of different triathlons in
“Depending on my training sche-
places like Mallorca or Lanzarote.
dule, I will then ride home on my
Taking a week’s holiday at the
bike which takes me around 1,5
same time. Brilliant. Although I
hours. On other days I go running,
do sometimes say that when I’m
around 15 kilometres … I am busy
50 I’ll start slowing down. The
preparing for my next triathlon
ladies at work are pretty concerned
actually and I have to train every
about it. What will happen when
day. That’s how you learn what real
someone who is so active is
hard slog is about. I recently had a
suddenly indoors all day long. But
day when I didn’t eat enough and
that won’t happen. I am not made
I hit the wall. You find yourself
for the quiet life.”
10 kilometres from home and you
A TOUGH LASS IN A TECHNICAL WORLD Rana Verhoeff (34) has been working for RijnDijk Construction Noord in Schagen since 1993. She started working here as an intern during her training as a construction worker/welder. For a long time, she was the only woman in the workshop. An experience that has proven to be very useful today in her role as a works planner. It is a time that she sometimes longs to go back to … “Yes, really. Sometimes I’d really
up an efficient and effective works
like to go back there for a while.
planning system. And I do believe
As far as that goes I’m a bit of a
that the experience I gained doing
narrow-minded specialist, I can
technical drawing work actually
really get pleasure out of a nice,
put me in good stead for this job.”
smooth piece of welding. I started my training doing automobile
Solving puzzles
technology and we were sometimes
“Nowadays, I start work when the
given welding lessons. That’s when
drawing office is ready with their
I thought: Geronimo!! That’s when
work. I transfer the files to our
I switched to ‘metal’. And I’ve
works planning software package
never looked back or regretted my
and I decide which parts go to
choice. It’s just a shame that there
which machine. I then prepare the
particular machine, but what if
daddy are there to help out thank
aren’t more women ready to take
parts lists and order the materials
it’s busy … What do you do then?
goodness. Plus I have a lot of
this step.”
required. The right files are then
It may seem simple when you see
freedom here in terms of working
transferred to the right locations.
it on paper, but believe me, trans-
hours. When things are quiet, I
A little time away
For the sawing machines, the
lating a pack of drawings like this
sometimes leave early, and when
“But I really love my job doing
profiles have to first be ‘nested’ in
into an efficient production run is
things are busier … Well, then
works planning. It’s a job that I
the standard material lengths and
no mean feat.”
we just have to work late, don’t
would never have been able to do
I have to work out the best way of
if I hadn’t spent time working on
producing them. It’s really great
Exciting
great place and I enjoy my work
the floor in the factory. I know
because I want it all to be split up
“I’m not such a puzzle solver at
enormously. And now that we
exactly what can be made on
as efficiently as possible so that
home, where I like to settle down
are part of RijnDijk Construction
which machines. And then there’s
there is as little waste as possible.
to reading: thrillers in the main!
everything runs like a well-oiled
another factor … I also spent a
And steel is really, really hard.
Not that I have such a lot of time
machine. The partnership with
bit of time working for another
Lots of angles and sloping shapes?
for it though because I work 40
RijnDijk Construction is really
company. In 2004 I really wanted
Then you have to ensure that all
hours a week and I have a 3-year
going well and things are a lot less
to do technical drawing work. I
the same corners are ‘nested’ into
old son. He needs a lot of time
hectic, there is more structure in
did that for two years and I came
each other. And then there’s the
and attention. But I’m lucky to
the work flow. That’s good news
back here in 2006. I was given the
machinery: you might normally
be able to combine my work with
because it means I can be more
chance and challenge of setting
have to do something on one
my home situation. Grandma and
efficient with my materials!”
we? It’s not a big deal. I am in a
A REAL PROJECT MAN AND SCREAMING TYRES For Richard van Gelderen (37), site supervisor at RijnDijk Construction Zuid, things sometimes can’t go quickly enough. Risks? Yes, that’s just part and parcel of it. But, not to worry, he’s talking about his passion: Formula 1 racing. What an amazing show! “When you are standing on the side of the circuit, the adrenaline just rushes through your body …” On the construction site however, Richard can’t run any risks at all. Safety is his main priority. “That’s one of the very positive
everything three times over. But
And I was given opportunities and
kind of platform by doing it. Over
aspects of Andus Group: perfect
I think it’s great. I am definitely a
I grabbed them with both hands.
the years I have worked on some
safety statistics. They are comple-
real project person. Building some-
In 2000 I started as a mechanic
wonderful projects in Germany,
tely embedded in us. But when
thing in ten months’ time and then
at RijnDijk Steel Contracting. I
Ireland, Spain, and Sweden. So
you work with other people, you
moving onto the next project. It’s
learned the profession from an
I had years of experience in lear-
sometimes find that they are not
fantastic don’t you think? Today
older colleague. That’s the only
ning things and staying abroad.
as precise about personal safety
there’s a piece of bare ground and
way. Have you ever actually seen
And now I have worked my way
measures as they should be. Then
in no time at all you’ve put up a
an enormous hydraulic platform
up to construction manager and I
it’s very simple. They have to leave
beautiful, completely new building.
in a training course? No, you have
can go home at nights. And that’s
the building site. I have to be able
And I helped to build it.”
to learn how you work for that
not bad either.”
to guarantee everyone’s safety.”
Hard work Proud of the projects
“It’s pretty hard work of course. I
Richard is now supervising a
am in my car at half past five in
project at Aleris Aluminium in
the morning and I get home at
Duffel (B), the so-called WABS
six in the evening. But working
buildings. “It’s a great project.
a nine till five job is not for me
We are responsible every single
anyway. I was spoon-fed this
aspect of the job, including the
attitude from very early on. My
civil part. Excavations, foundations,
parents had a bakery. So, when
the 1,500-ton steel construction,
I was young I witnessed them
flooring, E&I, sprinkler installa-
working really hard. I learned
tion, you name it. A whole puzzle
that you have to give your all, that
where you have to keep an overall
you have to dedicate yourself to
view of everything, be able to make
your work. That’s when you earn
the right decisions and check
respect and you get opportunities.
WORLD CHAMPION TO BE? “Before I started my metal trai-
championships so to speak. That
ning, I worked for a while in the
would be amazing.”
building sector, but that didn’t do anything for me. That’s when
Studious
I started welding, and yes, that’s
“I have to say that I have learned
absolutely my thing! To create
a lot here, particularly from Ton
something from a drawing, find
Schouten, who has just retired.
the right way of doing something
But I have only been in training
well, creating a beautiful piece of
for five months and I have already
welding. It’s difficult, you have
completed almost all of my practical
to have a kind of feeling for it I
assignments. That means that I will
think. And apparently I have that.
be able to finish my training early.
Because I am the best in my class
And then I want to go further. MIG
and I have even been selected for
welding, G6, Electrode welding
the VakkanjerWedstrijden (annual
level-4. I want to be able to master
Roy Mandersloot (18) joined P&K Rail two years ago as an assembly
professional competition for tech-
it all. The bigger and more difficult
worker. For the last year he has been working for Asselbergs
nical students). I will be competing
the job, the greater the challenge,
Ventilatoren as a construction worker/welder. Roy has a ‘BBL’
with 285 other young men and
the more I like it. Such a great
apprenticeship. This means that he goes to school two days a week
women from the Netherlands for
profession. But I mustn’t get overex-
to the Gildevaart ROC Midden-Nederland. He gets the rest of his
a place in the final. The best three
cited. Actually I prefer to stay in the
training on the shop floor. But although he is still in training, Roy
can go through to the International
background. I think you have to be
has already set the bar pretty high: he wants to become the best
Skills Competitions, EuroSkills and
able to prove things first, before you
welder in the Netherlands.
WorldSkills for instance, the world
start boasting.”
YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE Sjoerd de Vries (60) is head of the Prefab department of Gouda Refractories in Gouda. He is proud of his ‘own shop’. This is where high-quality products are made that can’t be pressed, such as different types of refractory bricks that are too big or too complicated, where anchors or frames have to be worked into or where only a few pieces are required. It is also a development platform for the laboratory. A close-knit club of people who are apparently mad about refractory concrete. Sjoerd has been working at
Flying and landing hard
Gouda Refractories since 1988.
These characteristics are present
A lot of his colleagues have also
in Sjoerd’s private life as well.
been working in his department
“I always wanted to f ly. And the
for more than ten years. They are
cheapest and most practical way
hypnotised by refractory concrete:
of doing that is paragliding. So,
“It is an amazingly beautiful and
I did that for years. I have done
complicated material that never
at least 200 f lights, but I was
stops surprising you. We never
forced to stop. During a f light on
stop learning here. Every single
Madeira that I obviously hadn’t
day. And we are also constantly
perfectly prepared, I crashed and
looking at how we can make
broke my back. I was actually
improvements. How can we do
very lucky, because I lived to
things more intelligently and
tell the tale and didn’t die. But I
better. It’s really like a kind of
would still recommend paragli-
kitchen, where professionalism
ding to anyone. It is amazing!”
and creativity are the essential ingredients.”
A young man’s dream “My other great hobby is my
Primitive conditions
old Donkervoort S7, my Lotus
“The things that fuel my drive
7. I bought it in 1979 from Joop
are: autonomy, freedom, creativity
Donkervoort himself as a DIY kit –
and talent. In the years before
he was working from a wooden
working for Gouda Refractories I
shed in his back garden in those
travelled throughout Europe for
days. I think I was one of his very
an American engineering agency
first clients. It was a challenge at
and built furnaces and hot dip
the time. Everything was supplied
galvanising lines. That was when
loose in boxes and I had to work
we didn’t yet have blackberries or
out for myself how everything
laptops. When you couldn’t even
fitted together. Even though I had
organise a conference call. No,
paid a serious amount of money
we sometimes had to ask for an
for it. But, it was a young man’s
international call via the switch-
dream. And you have to make
board. That’s when I learned that
these come true!”
exact and detailed preparation is half the job done and I learned what it means to have to come up with a solution on the spot.”
CALMTH, WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND A QUICK SKETCH Gijs Kaashoek (44) started work at HSM in 2000 as an engineering manager. He has been director of operations and deputy manager for six years now. His job? It’s very varied. And his private life? What he loves most is his family life, running along the beach and cooking. “No, I’m afraid I don’t collect cuckoo clocks. I just love peace and quiet …” And that is exactly what he exudes. You don’t drive Gijs mad. “My greatest challenge so far?”
am a tender manager, and then
with the client. Everything went
bridge has to work and it needs
There is silence for a moment.
again I put on my deputy mana-
perfect, but particularly because
to look like it does on the design.’
“Yes, sorry, but I don’t think in
ger’s hat. Or you might find me
we did an extraordinary job with
That was it. When someone calls
terms of challenges and pitfalls.
on the top of a platform taking
a very large number of people.
on your professionalism and has
I like it when things are compli-
measurements. And what I like
Or the Bernhard shiplocks. This
confidence in it – it’s a really
cated, if they are complex and if
best of all? The people. The people
job may not have run as smooth
rewarding way to work.”
they are large-scale. And in that
who work in our company, the
as we might have liked, because
respect I am in absolutely the
clients, subcontractors, suppliers.
we had serious discussions with
right place. But to call that chal-
Just name it. They all differ in
our client... But in the end we
lenging? It’s just really great work.
the things they want and demand
managed to sort it out and we
Because it can also sometimes be
from us. We supply fantastic
got a lot of pleasure out of of this
tense. Will I succeed in getting
products of course and that’s
project. And then of course there
everything done in time? Will
important. But the work is always
is a small personal success story …
we make money out of it? These
carried out by people. And that is
a movable bridge ‘somewhere’ in
questions are essential in my job.
an important aspect that needs to
the Netherlands. It was a tender
Because when the purchase order
run smoothly.”
with an architectonic design.
is signed, things are often far
I made a quick sketch myself
from being crystal clear. That’s
Nice work
and submitted it. And I won the
when the adventure begins.” Okay
And if you ask Gijs about memo-
tender. Together with a retired
Gijs, we won’t call it a challenge.
rable projects, a couple spring
architect we defended the project
immediately to mind. And they
pro forma before the Amenities
A jack of all trades
confirm his subconscious focus
Committee and it worked out
“Yes, my work is very varied,
on the people aspect: “The Clyde
fabulously. A great job because
very hands-on. Sometimes I’m
Q4C platform. Just brilliant.”
the municipality gave us the ultra-
a project manager, sometimes I
Why? “Fabulous relationship
simple comment: ‘Just do it. The
JUST THINK ABOUT HOW RICH YOU ARE Ioan Szekely (56) is team leader in the production department of FIB Industries in Leeuwarden. On 3 November of this year he celebrated his 25th anniversary with the company. So many years of loyal service is always special. But for Ioan, it had an even greater significance. This anniversary was also an anniversary of his freedom. Because in 1985, a 30-year old machinist Ioan Szekely – Romanian Kayak champion in the 500 and 1,000 metres and premier division handball player – fled his country and Ceausescu’ s reign of terror. After a great deal of hardship he was finally accepted in the Netherlands. His first job in freedom: production worker at FIB Industries. “Life in Romania was dreadful.
In 1984 I decided to escape with
soldiers: we had set off an alarm
committee from the Netherlands
We had nothing. We lived in
a friend, leaving my wife and son
somewhere. We were sent back
comprising a psychologist and
constant fear, you couldn’t talk to
behind. We got a long, long way.
and ended up in the prison as trai-
people from the Ministry of
your neighbour for fear that they
But five metres from the Austrian
tors. Fortunately an amnesty law
Foreign Affairs and the Ministry
were in the Secret Service.
border we came upon a cordon of
was passed not long afterwards.”
of WVC came to assess us. It was like a discussion to apply for a job.
Slave work
40 of us were invited to come to
“In 1985 I made a second attempt
the Netherlands. The specialists.
to escape. This time I ended up
On 11 February 1986 I landed
in Yugoslavia – in prison again.
in Schiphol and was taken to
I was locked in a cell together
the refugee centre in Apeldoorn.
with 60 other Romanians. It
Everything I owned was packed
was terrible. From morning to
into one plastic bag.
late in the night we worked like slaves. All because we wanted our
Keeping the balls rolling
freedom … But, to cut a long story
“I started integrating into Dutch
short, we were finally recognised
society, but I wanted to do some-
by the UNHCR as refugees. A
thing! >>
>>
for jobs – I have still not received
Moving
was as though she had arrived
Because I had played handball in
a reply from most of the compa-
“All in all I was given a new life
in paradise. A whole store full of
Romania, I asked if there was a
nies I applied to – and I travelled
25 years ago. I want to forget the
things! And so many different
handball association. Yes. I was
to and from Apeldoorn for my
first 30 years. The Netherlands
types of cheese. But that’s not
able to play with Achilles and we
handball. My travel costs were
and my colleagues at FIB have
what this wealth is all about. It
immediately became champions.
paid. Until the Hellas ’57 asso-
given me a wonderful welcome.
is the freedom to think and say
Leeuwarden was then ready to
ciation from Leeuwarden heard
Dutch people are very helpful in
what you want, to go and stop
take on our group with A-status.
about me. I was invited to do a
all respects. But they perhaps do
where you want, to live the way
We were given an appartment
test and I transferred to them.
not realise just how rich they are.
you want. That is what being rich
and were able to apply for an allo-
There I met someone who put in
My mother still lives in Romania.
is about.”
wance. In the evening I studied
a good word for me at FIB. And
She is 87. She has been to the
Dutch because I absolutely
that’s when my freedom really
Netherlands twice. The first time
wanted to be able to speak the
began. And I was able to bring my
I took her to the supermarket
language. I had started applying
family over.”
and she couldn’t stop crying. It
PLATFORMS AND MILLS HAVE TO KEEP TURNING Vincent van Dinter (28) has only been working at HSM for four years, but he already has a whole career behind him. From his first internship in Norway (“the coldest winter in 40 years”) to works planner, from project engineer (Gaz de France) to construction supervisor and now construction manager. He’s clearly got the wind in his sails … And that also gives Vincent the chance to be one of the few remaining active millers in the Netherlands! “Yes, I have had an enormous
safely so that the helicopters can land
when I was 18, I passed the test.
amount of luck here. A fabulous
on it, you have to make sure all the
I was allowed to operate the mill
company with a great mentality
lights work, etc. Everything has to
myself. But, I had no mill of my
where everyone is committed to the
be connected up and tested. That’s
own. Until I came to Puttershoek.
people who have to do the real, heavy
pretty hectic. There is not a single
After an application procedure with
work. Extremely business-like and
minute to stop and breathe. Its go,
the foundation that owns the mill, I
practical, but with a strong bond
go, go. Pretty exhausting. But you get
was able to start. I have been doing
between us. It’s no surprise therefore
an enormous kick when a monster
it for ten years now and it’s fantastic.
that we have a sort of HSM motor-
like this, out in the middle of the sea,
I am busy renovating the mill and
bike club here. Each year we go for
works exactly the way it should.”
restoring it as much as possible to
a week-long tour through France,
its former state. I am always busy
Ireland, Italy, England or Scotland.
A great piece of heritage
working outside on it and I love
Looking at beautiful things and
“So, it’s just heaven when I can go
being out in the elements. But I also
getting to know each other better.”
to ‘my mill’ during the weekend.
find it very important to be keeping
A corn mill in Puttershoek that
a part of tradition alive, a tradi-
What stress!
dates back to 1836 and is one of
tional craft. Something we should
“It’s good to take a moment to relax,
the 1,100 mills still in existence in
never lose. Mills are our roots, the
because there is sometimes a certain
the Netherlands out of an original
economic engine of the Golden Age!
amount of necessary stress that
11,000. I am the manager of this
That’s why I am a member of the
goes with the job. After you have
mill and every Saturday you will find
Board of the Guild of the Voluntary
built such a stunning platform for
me in the mill. It all started actually
Millers. In order to generate enthu-
instance, there is always another
when I was 11 and I visited a mill
siasm among more people and
phase following on its heels. And
in Maasdam with a friend. I hung
to help them with their training.
that’s perhaps the best part. The
around, gave them a helping hand,
But we should take note: there are
transport to the North Sea and the
and learned how a mill worked.
more mills standing still in the
installation. You have 24 hours to
When I was 16, I started training
Netherlands than there are that turn.
get the platform up and running
to become a voluntary miller and
And that’s a terrible shame!”
Andustry news IS a n A NDUS G R O U P p u b l i c a t io n Andustry news appears several times a y e a r. T h e p u b l i c a t i o n a i m s a t k e e p i n g employees, clients and suppliers informed of developments within Andus Group.s
ED I T O R I A L C O M M I TTEE K r i s Rooi j akk e r s Li n d a Dam s Ni e l s Wi b i e r
L A Y - O UT a n d P r o d u c t io n BURE A U H O W
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