Long time in service

Jans Keizer and Gert Bos have worked at Zuidberg since the early 1990s and, in their own words, ‘have become part of the furniture’. They witnessed all the developments and the company's tremendous growth at close quarters. “It’s incredible how fast it has all happened. I can still remember what it looked like thirty years ago.”

“If we made ten lifts in a week, that would have been a great week.” Gert Bos (55) sometimes thinks back with some nostalgia to the early years of Zuidberg, when around ten of them divided up all the work between them. “We did everything ourselves. One moment I was sawing, welding or blasting, the next, I was adjusting the pillar drills or assembling something. We regularly worked overtime on Saturdays to get it all finished. If we made ten lifts in a week, Henk Zuidberg gave us a bonus of a hundred guilders.”

Everything set up
Gert started at Zuidberg in 1992; his colleague, Jans Keizer (now 62) had been working there for almost two years at that time. Jans: “I was number six on the payroll. I was working at another company when I heard Zuidberg was looking for a CNC turner. During a week's holiday, I went to take a look and then started immediately afterwards. Everything still had to be set up; the CNC programmes weren't there yet. Initially, we alternated conventional turning with CNC turning. I also did milling work for a while, but turning suited me better.”

Training to become skilled workers
Tool purchasing also became one of Jans’ tasks. For that, he visited Germany regularly. Later, a colleague took over those tasks from him and he returned to the turning shop. For a year now, Jans has been an instructor in his department. He trains colleagues, assists with the products and compiles documentation setting out how certain things should be routinely approached. Jans: “We train our people internally at Zuidberg. With only external training, you miss the specific knowledge of our products. We want to have professionals.”

Dreaming of drawing numbers
Gert, who progressed from machining worker and quality controller to production planner, was also trained by Jans. Gert: “Jans has actually been my instructor from the beginning. He could and still can make anything, and I have learned a great deal from him. I can't match his technical knowledge and skill. We also took courses together. We’d have lunch at Betty Zuidberg's home or a local restaurant and then study in the evening. Everything was still very personal then. Everyone knew each other.” Jans: “In turn, I also benefited a lot from Gert. He did the turning for me for a long time. If he had new ideas, he always came to spend time sparring with me. I was his sounding board.” Gert: “We both have a great deal of experience which we can always fall back on, and so do our colleagues. I still dream about some drawing numbers.”

A celebration with every new machine
Gert and Jans witnessed all of Zuidberg’s developments up close. Jans: “I think I was present at ninety per cent of all the firsts here. I remember Zuidberg once invested in a digital measuring device. That thing cost ten thousand guilders. We were thinking, wow, that’s a lot of money. But today, we are still working with it. Anything that helps us, allows us to work better or more efficiently, is something we invest in.” Gert: “In all the years I have been working here, I have seen the company grow. For the first move, we used the tractor with a low loader that belonged to Wim, Henk Zuidberg's brother. The storage shed was in the wrong place, so we lifted it with a crane and moved it. The new hall was full in no time. A new building was added every two years. The number of machines also increased rapidly. Everyone was called in to watch when another new machine was delivered on a big truck. There was a celebration every time.”

First, try to fix it yourself
Gert: “Henk Zuidberg taught us that sometimes we just had to shoulder some extra tasks. That drive was there before, and it's still there, even now, with four hundred people.” Jans: “We took on everything ourselves, which is exactly what Henk expected of us. If a machine was broken, Henk said: 'Go on, go fix it'. But I had no idea how to go about it. ‘Just get started, and we’ll see how it goes. We can always call for a mechanic if necessary.’ Fix everything yourself first; that was the culture. I still tend to fix things myself. But that's too expensive now; outsourcing is much faster nowadays.”

Second marriage
Their loyalty to Zuidberg has never troubled either of the men. The company has become part of their lives. Jans: “You give a piece of your life. But you’ve also got to like the work; otherwise, you won't succeed. I need a challenge in my life, and Zuidberg still offers me that. I have thought about starting my own business occasionally, but I never seriously tried. I am constantly stimulated here at Zuidberg and can continue to develop myself through courses and training. The work keeps challenging me.” Gert: “It's unique, working here for so long. The only downside is that I have seen many people leave. I remain enthusiastic about Zuidberg. It's my second marriage, my second home. I am very grateful to the Zuidberg family for everything it has given me. Even when I was having a tough time in my private life, Zuidberg was there for me. Zuidberg really brings something extra into my life.”