At conversation with director Ruben Hoekstra, we look back at the year 2023 and reveal what plans lie ahead

With the end of 2023 in sight, Ruben, what were the highlights and key developments at De Vries Maritime this year?

Ruben Hoekstra: "This year has been a wonderful year of renewal and expansion for us. We have grown in several areas. For example, our 3 new colleagues in the canvas and sail department brought fresh energy and ideas. In addition, the introduction of our new double-needle zigzag sewing machine has helped us take the quality of our sail sewing to an even higher level, something we are really proud of."

You are known for your tube canopies and convertible tents. How has this segment developed this year?

Ruben: "Our tube hoods on sailing yachts and convertible tents on motor vessels continue to be hugely popular. With a growing number of people switching to motor vessels, we are seeing a marked increase in demand for hoods for a wide range of vessels. Our years of experience and continued focus on innovation allow us to meet this growing demand and provide our customers with products of the highest quality."

How have new technologies contributed to your success?

Ruben: "The implementation of advanced technologies, including our 3D measurement technology, has played a crucial role in improving our product quality. This motivates us to continuously innovate."

Are there any improvements in production for next year?

Ruben: "Yes indeed, we want to take some more big steps. This December the entire canvas department will be renovated. Through a renovation, there will be new workstations and all the sewing machines will be replaced for the latest ones. This is a big step that we are very much looking forward to. This is also a great step for our employees, which also contributes to additional job satisfaction."

In addition, are you investing in new technologies?

Ruben: "I really like that question! Because I am extremely proud of the fact that we are going to invest in a brand new state of the art Zünd cutting machine. This is a very advanced machine that will again contribute to efficiency and increase our quality."

That sounds very good, tell us more about this. How exactly does this work?

Ruben: "This was a tip of the hat, more information will follow during the first quarter of 2024. We have plans to organize an open day in the new year. Keep an eye on our website, social media and newsletter for this.

As an owner, what do you do to create an attractive work environment?

Ruben: "I strongly believe in creating a work environment where everyone can develop and feel challenged. We are committed to a continuous learning process and strive for a relaxed and productive working atmosphere. Our employees are given the space to work independently and at the same time our products are the result of the whole team. We work on our products as a team."

Are you still looking for new employees?

Ruben: "Yes, we are actually always looking for people with technical skills, creativity and a passion for the trade. Currently we are very happy with the permanent team with which we carry out our work every day. However, we are also facing natural outflow due to age and it is important to attract young people in time, who can follow our internal training."

Are there any personal highlights this year within the team?

Ruben: "It is heartwarming to see that some employees have become grandparents - it strengthens the family feeling within our team. Moreover, we celebrated many special personal milestones again this year, from anniversaries to the realization of personal dreams."

Can you share anything about the development of your clients?

Ruben: "Our market of private clients continues to grow, and we are also seeing an increasing number of corporate clients. A special, fairly new aspect of our work is our involvement in projects on superyachts. These are challenging projects where quality is paramount. I am really proud that we can contribute to this."

Finally, what do you hope to share in 2024?

Ruben: "For 2024, I hope to be able to tell you that we are further expanding our customer base, adding new talents to our team, and that the Zünd cutting table is helping us increase our production capacity and quality. I look forward to a year in which we continue to grow as a team both professionally and personally."