What once began in the shipping industry in Amsterdam is today Van West Koeltechniek in ‘t Harde.
The company has a long history and in 2023 will have existed one hundred years.
Owner Luke Blauw’s vision is not big, bigger, biggest, but steady growth.
After his studies, the down-to-earth entrepreneur decided not to pursue a career in science and took over his father’s company in 2020.
Hard work he learned from him.
Luke: “You have to dare to take steps, invest and not cut corners.
From the Randstad to the Veluwe
Van West Holland used to make engine parts for shipping.
At some point cooling technology was added for engines and later also on board.
For example, water coolers for the North America line.
The cooling technology branch split off to Heerde in 1971 and later to ‘t Harde in 1998.
What exactly does Van West Koeltechniek do?
‘We make customer-specific coolers, or custom coolers in series production. We are in the small refrigeration business where you have to think of coolers for coffee machines, beer kegs, drinking water and juice dispensers. We’re working more and more towards customer-specific coolers and saying goodbye to our own range of coolers,” Luke says.
Multiple roles
Luke has multiple roles within his company.
‘I visit existing and new customers a lot. I do the hiring of new employees and the finances myself. I take on marketing with an outside company. Occasionally I rotate in production when needed. I do all kinds of things, which makes my job versatile,” Luke says.
Security and constant delivery
Van West works a lot with regular clients.
‘That is also really our goal. We prefer to work with framework contracts. That is advantageous when buying parts and that ensures reliable and constant delivery to the customer. There’s a win-win in that. To continue stable growth, we continue to attract new customers. With new customers, it often takes some time before new series arrive. We first develop a prototype that takes a few months, then the customer tests the prototype. If the customer is satisfied, then a small trial series of ten to twenty pieces comes out. After incorporating feedback from the field, then comes a larger series. This is often already a one-year process. Ultimately, the idea is that we continue to deliver the right quality to the customer which ensures a long-term partnership,” Luke explains.
Investing in marketing, sustainability and employees
‘Recently we have focused on marketing which ensures that customers can find us easily online.
We are also making Van West Koeltechniek future-proof by further improving our internal production processes.
This is an ongoing process.
Within our two production lines we have been busy for one and a half to two years with the transition to a more environmentally friendly refrigerant as a result of new legislation.
The new refrigerant R290 (propane) is more efficient and therefore more energy efficient and better for the environment.
Finding new suitable employees is currently the biggest challenge.
We are looking for motivated people who are handy and can already work well in assembly, for example.
Furthermore, we train personnel ourselves and they eventually follow external refrigeration training from within the company.
Help in more European coverage
‘There is now a complete streamline in the company.
From marketing to modernizing the production lines.
The company has become more independent and I am proud of that,” Luke says enthusiastically.
He looks to the future with optimism.
Some time ago Luke approached Han Smidt, international business consultant at Kennispoort Regio Zwolle.
Luke: ‘We were looking for ways to find new customers outside the Netherlands, since our customers were mainly in the Netherlands. I wanted more European coverage and Kennispoort helped us with that. Students conducted a business scan. The result of the business scan was an extensive information report from which a list of potential customers abroad emerged. Meanwhile we have contact with several companies in Germany and we hope to make nice steps there.’
Need help?
We are here for you!
Luke and his colleagues can be reached by phone or email and will be happy to help you get started.
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