Profile, Partnership, and Perspective
Interview with Arjan Bosch, Key Account Manager at CF Kunststofprofielen Part of CF Kunststoffen B.V.
Plastic profiles have long been more than inconspicuous components – they determine the efficiency, comfort, and durability of modern buildings and technology. CF Kunststofprofielen from Gramsbergen in the Netherlands shows how a family-owned company with 200 employees can grow successfully through a spirit of innovation and regional strength. In collaboration with customers, profiles are created that are precisely tailored to their application and at the same time developed for a circular-oriented future.
When Arjan Bosch drives to work in the morning, he primarily focuses on one thing: the people who make up the company. Since the early years, he has been with CF Kunststofprofielen, having accompanied the journey from a small five-man team to a European specialist. The responsibility for employees, the region, and customers is his main driving force – it is deeply rooted in his daily work. Arjan Bosch knows almost each of his colleagues personally and appreciates the open, straightforward exchange that characterizes the company. He describes the atmosphere as familial, down-to-earth, and honest: People know each other, help one another and pull together. This attitude shapes the corporate culture as well as the close connection to the region – the Dutch town of Gramsbergen, with its approximately 4,000 inhabitants, is considered the heart and origin of success.
From Gramsbergen to Europe
The story of CF Kunststofprofielen began in 1990 when founders Wout Tromp and Lucas Veldsink started in an old hall with a single extrusion machine. Soon, the young company became an integral part of the Dutch construction industry. Thanks to continuous investments in technology, tools, and expertise, the production capacity grew steadily. Today, CF employs around 200 staff, operates more than 30 extrusion lines, and delivers approximately 65 million meters of profiles across Europe every year. The export ratio is about 40% – with focuses in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and France.
Custom Plastic Profiles
From a niche provider of construction profiles, a versatile solution provider has developed. CF currently serves 18 industries, from construction, HVAC, sun protection, and agriculture, to retail and container construction. In addition to a storage program of about 2,000 standard profiles, over 4,000 customer-specific variants are created. "We see ourselves as partners, not just producers," explains Arjan Bosch. "Many customers come with a sketch or an idea – together we develop the appropriate profile." The expertise ranges from tiny sealing profiles to massive components that weigh several kilograms per meter.
Technology and Variety of Materials
The basis is the extrusion process: plastic granules are heated to about 180°C, pressed through a tool, and formed into a continuous profile. CF has 30 production lines and its own tool manufacturing, which develops around 75 new dies annually. This allows for flexible combinations of materials and hardness levels, from hard and soft PVC to TPE and modern composite solutions in co-extrusion. The variety of colors and shapes is as vast as the technical precision. CF profiles are particularly in demand in systems for sun protection and HVAC, where they score points with low weight, high stability, and reduced friction. "Our profiles help engines consume less energy and systems last longer," says the Key Account Manager.
Sustainability with a System
Plastic is often seen as an environmental problem – CF Kunststofprofielen proves that it can be different. "We want to prove that plastic can be part of the solution when it is thought of in a circular manner," says Arjan Bosch. The company is a member of VinylPlus, a European initiative for sustainable PVC production, and works with partners on closed material cycles. By 2030, all profiles are expected to consist of an average of 30% recycled material. Production residues and old profiles are processed and reused, and the electricity for the 24-hour production comes entirely from wind, solar, and hydro power. Additionally, CF invests in heat recovery, efficient drives, and LED lighting – measures that significantly reduce the CO2 footprint.
Digitalization with Measure
The company also stands on solid technological ground. The machines are digitally interconnected, processes are monitored, and key performance indicators are analyzed in real time. This enables CF to guarantee that the first meter of profile has the same quality as the last. Orders run through digital interfaces directly into production, and invoices are generated automatically. Despite all this efficiency, personal contact remains crucial for Arjan Bosch: "Our business is a People’s Business," he emphasizes. "Especially in Germany, trust is the basis of any collaboration – and that only comes about through direct conversation." Regular visits to customers and partners are therefore a matter of course.
Growth with Grounding
For the future, CF sees great potential in the south of Germany and in the development of new materials that can replace aluminum in certain applications. This combines the company’s decades of extrusion experience with the ambition to offer lighter, more efficient, and more sustainable solutions. What is important to Arjan Bosch, he sums up: "We want to continue to grow, but remain grounded." This mix of innovative spirit, responsibility, and humanity has characterized CF Kunststofprofielen for more than 30 years – and makes it a reliable partner for high-quality plastic profiles throughout Europe.