4 minute read
Always on the move
So far, this year has been both extraordinary and challenging for everyone. The COVID-19 crisis, together with the oil price suppression, require a lot from our industry. Family-owned company MEN Techniek deals with this situation by constantly looking for opportunities.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MEN TECHNIEK. For MEN Techniek, this year has been one of making each day count. “The largest part of our work entails welding and we have throughout the years built up an impressive track record in high-quality projects,” states Lucien Tuinfort, owner of MEN Techniek. “This of course helps us with new assignments in the offshore market. We recently carried out several fine projects for, among others, IHC and Royal Roos. Being located close to the port of Rotterdam area helps us to work together with, and for, the many company’s here operating in offshore industry and today, we see a shift in our projects towards the logistic part of offshore operations. Companies need our assistance in (de)mobilising vessels used for transporting offshore wind components. Our expertise in offshore also enabled us to enter the shipbuilding industry. This does not mean that we will be building complete vessels, but we do assist in parts of the construction works and in maintenance and repairs for several shipbuilders.”
Lean and hands-on “As a family business,” Mr Tuinfort continues, “reliability, speed of service, and taking over our clients’ concerns are very important to us. For them, it is good to know that we do as we promise. We consider ourselves a service company, working behind the scenes, but always with the best solution in mind.” According to
For the offshore industry, projects cover an extensive range of activities.
Mr Tuinfort, working hard is still a big part of the company’s work ethos. “We currently have a skilled and motivated staff of sixteen and despite our growth since our start in 2009, the company is still a lean and handson organisation with short lines of communication.”
Extensive range “For the offshore industry,” comments Mr Tuinfort, “our projects cover an extensive range of activities such as sea fastenings, (de)mobilisation of vessels, repairs and maintenance on vessels, pumps, cranes, carrousels and pontoons, as well as exchanging and realigning pumps, gearboxes, motors and appendages, and installing piping, power cables and hydraulic hoses. On request, we also carry out various types of NDT inspections. We can take care of projects onsite or in our workshop, where we can perform tasks like dismantling and assembling, but also the production of smaller pieces. Our new and larger workshop enables us to accept larger-sized projects. Also, with today’s COVID-19 restrictions in mind, the extra space helps us to work safely.” In kind collaboration with one of the company’s business partners, MEN Techniek can now make use of a 160m long quay in the Rotterdam port area for extending its services towards shipowners. With a draught of 9m, the quay can, for example, >>
MEN Techniek can take care of projects onsite or in the company’s workshop.
accommodate most offshore support vessels. “With these quay facilities, we can improve our services in the field of (de) mobilisation, maintenance, and repair of vessels. We can also use a workshop at the quay and upon request, we are able to offer shipowners and contractors fully equipped office facilities.”
Hummingbird MEN Techniek’s logo entails a hummingbird, and Mr Tuinfort explains that this is not without reason. “The hummingbird more or less refers to me,” he explains, “as this small bird is always busy looking for food and flying from flower to flower at a high velocity. I am a small guy and moreover, I am always busy and on the move too, seeking new challenges and opportunities. This mindset really helps us to overcome today’s crisis. Looking again at MEN Techniek’s logo, Mr Tuinfort explains what MEN stands for, “MEN is composed of the three initials of my two daughters Mellody and Naomi, and my wife Emmy, in this case referring to the maritime sector as vessels in the past were often named after women,” Mr Tuinfort smiles.
Out-of-the-box In the last few months, MEN Techniek took the opportunity to keep staff skills up to date. “We organised several courses for our technicians such as Torque and Tensioning, Working with Flanges with protocol, VTw2 (Visual Welding Inspector, level 2), and International Welding Practitioner. We hence used the available time efficiently,” voices Mr Tuinfort. Surviving a crisis also demands out-of-the-box thinking, as MEN Techniek demonstrates. “There is presently a high demand for solar panels in the Netherlands. They are installed in large solar fields and on rooftops of houses and other buildings. We recently started constructing the supporting structures of those panels. In my opinion, the Rotterdam port area with its ample large warehouses and other buildings are an ideal location for generating solar energy that gives us abundant opportunities and it can of course help companies to reduce their ecological footprints.” All things considered, Mr Tuinfort has positive thoughts on 2021. “This year presents us with mixed feelings. Working hard will help us keep our position in the market. We are very confident about 2021. With our diversified market approach, we will be able to keep business ongoing. Several markets are slowly starting to recover as business must go on, and we are more than ready to meet any request from the market.”
