From Deep Sea Welding to Full Service Provider
Interview with Bastiaan de Koning, CCO of Smink Group B.V.
From its beginnings as a one-man operation to becoming a one-stop-shop for complex and high-purity gas and liquid systems: This is the story of the Dutch Smink Group B.V. Based in Veghel, the company has continually evolved over its 35 years of existence and undergone several technological transformations from Smink 1.0 to Smink 4.0.
Wirtschaftsforum: Bastiaan, what does Smink Group offer its customers?
Bastiaan de Koning: Our strength lies in the development of customer-oriented systems that meet the highest standards of cleanliness, reliability, and integration in high-tech environments. We offer complete solutions for gas and liquid systems, ranging from consulting and construction to prototyping and mass production. In doing so, we combine process engineering and mechanics in our own engineering department with eleven specialists.
Wirtschaftsforum: From which industries do your customers come?
Bastiaan de Koning: In addition to the pharmaceutical industry, we do a lot of work for semiconductor manufacturers. Our solutions are also in demand for the production of green hydrogen and for testing and validation processes in research and development.
Wirtschaftsforum: When was the company founded and by whom?
Bastiaan de Koning: René Smink founded the company 35 years ago. He was a welder and an underwater welder and started out as a service provider. We call the different development stages of the company Smink 1.0 to 4.0. Smink 2.0 was already moving towards skid construction, assembling various apparatus into a system. Smink 3.0 was the development towards the semiconductor industry. In the semiconductor industry, we are integrated into our customers' machines, which is followed by contract manufacturing. That is Smink 3.0. With the entry into cleanroom technology, we are at Smink 4.0. Now, we manufacture complete systems with instrumentation, measurement and control technology, wiring, and enclosures.
Wirtschaftsforum: What is the current structure of the Smink Group today?
Bastiaan de Koning: The company is owned by the founder René Smink and our CEO Peter Vooijs. Besides our headquarters in Veghel, we have another branch in Kerkrade. The number of our employees varies between 100 and 130 depending on the situation. About 50 to 60% of our double-digit million turnover is generated from exports. Here, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and France are our main markets.
Wirtschaftsforum: How sustainable is the Smink Group?
Bastiaan de Koning: We summarize our ambition with the acronym QLTC: Quality, Logistics, Technology, and Commerce.
When it comes to quality, we aim for maximum error-free performance. The logistics must be punctual and smooth. Technology represents our know-how and many years of experience. Trade means that costs can decrease with increasing production volumes. These principles form the basis for a future-proof and stable business operation.
Wirtschaftsforum: If you had to mention reasons for the success of Smink Group, what comes to mind?
Bastiaan de Koning: For us, the success of our clients is always the focus. We want to contribute to that. We are very service-oriented and think along with them. On the other hand, we do not let go of our clients if we are convinced of a better solution together. Of course, our team should also be mentioned, and the passion with which we work.
Wirtschaftsforum: And what does the future bring?
Bastiaan de Koning: We want to offer even more services for High-Purity. In addition, we are working on a new technology that can measure impurities within systems in real time.