88
Not such a tall story
J.H. de Wit en Zonen B.V.
Helmond, the Netherlands
It is three-and-a-half years since Don walk through a large nailmaking hall, with Growth is not entirely without its pains.
Quichotte moved three hundred production running full bore all around you, Toward the end of 2007 Don Quichotte
truckloads of equipment and material and still be able to carry on a quiet completely replaced its computer system – a
into a brand new, custom-built factory conversation. Each machine is completely process that it seems no organisation can ever
in Helmond, Netherlands. It seemed a encased in a sound reduction and fume go through without disruption and heartache.
tall story, even for these exceedingly extraction cabinet. At the heart of the plant, It’s done now, though, and Willem van
tall Dutchmen, to succeed in between production and packaging, is a row Zandvoort is looking forward to benefiting
continuing to make the highest quality of heat treatment lines, where closely from production and business planning
hardened steel nails in Europe. guarded processes ensure the consistent capabilities, about which the company could
Recently we called called in for an performance and durability for which the Don only previously dream.
update. Quichotte brand is renowned.
What of the tall men themselves? Wherever
In 2003, managing director Willem van Zantvoort A walk through the goods outwards areas is we meet them they radiate a boundless
gave this magazine a preview of a long- another reminder – this time of the enthusiasm for their business - and why not?
standing dream – an artist’s impression of the extraordinary range of destinations, literally We once suggested that some might consider
new factory he planned to build, to overcome throughout the world, to which this company building a modern Dutch factory to make the
the limitations of a plant, that in some places sends its products. finest hardened steel nails as reminiscent of
dated to the company’s foundation in 1921. A the windmill tilting escapades of their brand
year later it was in production and when this hero.
magazine visited, output was already
running 50% higher than Four years have proven it really
before, without any wasn’t such a tall story.
significant increase
in production
equipment.
The new factory
has 11,000 square
metres covered on
a total 25,000
square metre site.
The talk now,
though, is of
expansion again.
Range and sales
increases mean
that the original
warehousing
capacity is getting
tight – and Don
Quichotte is
looking to build
additional
stockholding
capacity.
A return visit is a
reminder of what a
remarkable
operation this is.
The strangest
experience is to
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160  |  Page 161  |  Page 162  |  Page 163  |  Page 164  |  Page 165  |  Page 166  |  Page 167  |  Page 168