Anniversary interview Bram Boers

"When I see how and where we started 30 years ago and where we are as a company today, I am very proud of what we have all achieved together."

Name: Bram Boers
Position: Managing Director WKK GmbH and WKK Automotive
Branch: WKK Germany

What does the 30th company anniversary mean for you personally?
30 years is not nothing. When I see how and where we started 30 years ago and where we are now as a company, I am very proud of what we have all achieved together.

30th company anniversary, can you still remember how it all began?
Yes, in Feb. 1992 I saw an advertisement that a seller for fasteners was being sought in Mönchengladbach. I had just quit my job as a Wedgwood representative and called Ward Willems that same day. A day later I was allowed an interview and was immediately accepted. From a private house, with the living room as a sales office, the bedroom and basement as a warehouse. 1x a week Ward brought a truck full of loaded new stuff. That's how it all started.

What were the decisive steps and stages from your point of view?
There were several important steps. The new construction in 2003 of our own office with a large warehouse. In 2007 the establishment of WKK Automotive GmbH. Further expansion of our office warehouse in 2012 and 2015 and 2018. Expanding over the years our various departments and workforce from 10 to eventually 35. All this, to enable us to be where we are today as a company. The highlight was the sale of our old building and the new construction in the nearby industrial area where we have 20,000 m2 at our disposal. Sufficient to be able to realize the expected growth in the coming years.

What were the greatest challenges?
The biggest challenge was our last new building. Due to a deadline of 01.12.2021 in connection with the sale of our property, we had to realize a new building in a record time of 9 months. In the current time of economic boom, shortages in the steel, plastic and wood markets are quite a challenge. Thanks to the cooperation of the Stadt Nettetal with regard to the permit process, and the good cooperation between Firma Dammer Stahlbau from Nettetal and Peeters Bouw en Maintenance B.V from Horst, we have succeeded in this.

What does the future hold for new projects?
WKK has grown with the sale of cable ties. However, our second product group of heat shrink tubing is becoming increasingly important. The market for this is huge and there is still a lot to achieve for WKK. As a distributor of Hongshang, we have a reliable supplier for whom we can play a crucial role in Europe.
WKK has developed in recent years as a reliable partner for many companies in trade and industry. Due to the capacity problems in China and the high transport costs, more and more customers are looking for a reliable company that takes care of everything for them. We are able to do this with our large stocks.

What are currently the greatest strengths of WKK?
Thanks to our 30 years of purchasing experience in Asien, despite the shortages on the plastic market, we are still able to serve our customers and expand further. Our gigantic storage capacity ensures that we can keep customer-oriented stock. Our enthusiastic team of 35 employees ensures that everything is running smoothly.

How do you describe the working atmosphere at WKK?
I think the working atmosphere is good, otherwise we as an organization would not be where we are now. After all, you have to do it together. Standards and respect are highly regarded by us. The social aspect, introduced by the founders Edward Willems and Jozef Kouwenberg, still applies. All this contributes to a good working atmosphere.

WKK is a cross-border company. How is it for you to work with employees from different countries?
I think the combination of German thoroughness and Dutch flexibility is the basis of WKK GmbH's success. It brings out the best of both cultures together.

WKK has seven different product categories. Which do you find most interesting?
From a technical point of view, heat shrink tubing is a fascinating product, and our fasteners that are developed for the Automotive industry and eventually also used in Industry and Trade remain my favorites.

A very personal question: What is your perfect working day like?
Start on time in the morning, take a tour of the departments, do my daily operative work in the Automotive, and if at the end of the day there is a nice turnover on the plate, I am completely satisfied.