Interview with Marc Dimmers
“We continue to improve ourselves”
Master minds look back
A quarter of a century full of challenges, innovations, successes, highs and lows, and countless extraordinary people. There is no better opportunity to look back on 25 years of Henkelman than with some of Henkelman’s master minds. In this second episode Technical specialist Marc Dimmers.
Professionality
Marc started at Henkelman in 2000, but has been working in this industry since 1983, in the beginning as a summer job. Due to the various positions that Marc has held, he is a pivot in the Henkelman organization in his current position as a technical specialist. Marc says: “I provide technical support to all departments within the company, which makes my position very varied. For example, I advise the purchasing department when making decisions about parts for our machines, and I support the sales department with, for example, new applications and certifications.
I also enjoy the many trips that I can make in my position and the major trade shows where Henkelman is exhibitor. Among other things, I am responsible for the set-up and dismantling of the booth. I am also often present at the booth during the show to speak to our customers. A great opportunity to receive feedback from our distributors in the technical field. Fortunately, things have changed at the shows compared to the past. In the early years of Henkelman we walked around the show with a bowl of water to do the dishes. These days it's all a lot more professional."
Standardization
In the technical field too, a lot has changed over the years, Marc continues. “When I started at Henkelman in 2000, we produced maybe 5 machines per week, now more than 300. That naturally requires a completely different approach. Standardization has become very important in production. If an adjustment is made to a machine, it must be possible to apply it to the entire range, including the existing machines in the field. This is taken into account with every development. For example, a broken lid on a 25-year-old machine can simply be replaced with a lid that we use today. The construction of the machines has now also become so crystallized that production can produce increasing numbers in a given period of time. In addition, every link is just as important, everyone can do their best to make a perfect machine, but if the person packing the machine does not do it properly, it will have an effect on the product that the customer receives. ”
Quality
Henkelman now supplies more than 15,000 machines per year in more than 85 countries worldwide. As a result, Henkelman increasingly has to do with various laws and required specifications in all these countries. To be able to deliver machines in the United States, for example, they must meet a number of strict quality marks. The necessary adjustments and the required components are then specially made for this. According to Marc, quality control has taken a flight over the years. “Because of all the different markets that we serve today, we have to take into account, in addition to regulations, also the different temperatures and the intensity at which the machines are used in a certain country.
Whereas in the Netherlands a 40-hour working week is the norm, in some other countries people work on average 60 hours a week. A machine is then used much more intensively. This must therefore be taken into account when developing and testing the machines. Countries like Japan are very demanding and only accept products of the best quality. To meet this, our quality system must function at the highest level. These countries with a high quality standard have lifted Henkelman to a higher level. "
Future
Marc predicts that developments will go faster in the future. “The different regulations regarding, for example, hygiene requirements and certification are likely to increase. The distances have of course also become smaller in the world. For example, what is being said about your product on the internet in Australia can be seen throughout the whole world. People are increasingly orientating themselves on the internet and therefore often form there opinion without seeing it in real life. Partly because of this, quality is becoming even more important. In order to continue to improve quality, nowadays we work together with our suppliers on new developments, making use of each other's knowledge and know-how. We now also apply systems in which we can perform strength calculations using 3D Modeling. In addition to the theoretical approach, more and more realistic endurance tests are also being conducted. This is to ensure that changes in the production of the machines are extensively and practically evaluated before they are implemented. "
Team Henkelman
Stephan Harleman
Managing Director
Marc Dimmers
Technical Specialist
Assia El Maftah
Export Manager
Erwan Roth
Export Manager
Georg Schmitt
Export Manager
Armin van der Meulen
Export Manager
Marrit van Schie
Technical, Sales and Marketing Support
Koen van den Heuvel
Export & Marketing Manager