Interview with the man at the helm: Ruben

With the end of 2024 in sight, we look back on an eventful, but mostly successful year at De Vries Maritiem. We spoke to Director Ruben about the highlights, challenges and dreams for the future.

Ruben, the year 2024 is almost upon us! What do you think are the most memorable moments at De Vries Maritiem this year?

Ruben: "Where should I start? 2024 was a year full of special moments. One highlight was the completion of our new canvas stitching department. Thanks to the new layout and Dürkopp Adler sewing machines, our production process now runs like clockwork. Not to mention our new Zünd cutting table - what a fantastic piece of equipment! It is already indispensable in our sail-making shop."

And ... were there any special moments within the team?

Once every two years during the Dickens Festival Lemmer is transformed into an atmospheric Dickens Village and we from Seylmakerij de Vries were allowed to participate already for the 4th time! We then bring our craft as from 1850 back to life and show how we repair sails by hand, splicing ropes and tanning ropes in a hot barrel over the fire with tanine! Our team still puts on something unique every time.

In addition, this year we attended a three-day team-building course with the entire team at the Lemster company Nocht. The course focused specifically on work in the sailmaker and mutual communication, we learned a lot not only about ourselves, but also about each other. It has really made for better cooperation and a closer team. You can see that in the quality of our work, but also in the pleasure with which we do it!"

What challenges did you experience in 2024, and how did you deal with them?

Ruben: "The rising cost of raw materials and logistics is a significant challenge. We have responded to this by strategically holding larger inventories and establishing smart partnerships with suppliers. Of course, staffing is an important point of our service. Without our top-notch team, we would not be able to make beautiful products every day. Unfortunately, 2 employees said goodbye last year but 5 talents came in return. We have now grown to a company with as many as 26 people.

What new technologies or techniques were implemented this year?

Ruben: "This year we commissioned our new Zünd cutting machine. What a gamechanger! This machine allows us to cut with unprecedented precision, allowing us to waste less material and produce faster. We have also further refined our 3D measuring techniques, which in turn is a great advantage for our customers because it saves time as well as providing customization. Digital elaboration on the computer is becoming increasingly important. We even hired an additional 3D designer this year. It's fantastic to see how this technology is taking our work to the next level."

How have you made further strides in sustainability?

Ruben: "Sustainability is now in our DNA, by improving our processes and the above smart investments we have made really good steps in the right direction to deliver a sustainable product. This year, for example, we managed to recycle our residual material even more efficiently.

How were you able to attract new employees and strengthen the team?

Ruben: "Finding good professionals is not easy, but we continue to invest in training and development. This year we made more use of social media to tell our story and get people excited about our beautiful profession. Our internal training has been a great success: young talents are apprenticed to colleagues with a lot of experience and really learn the tricks of the trade. Between our youngest sailmaker For example, Pieter and our oldest sailmaker Teun have developed a super fun click. Soon you will be able to read more about this dynamic duo!“

As an owner, what have you personally learned or accomplished in 2024?

Ruben: "For me, 2024 was a year of finding balance. With so much innovation, it is sometimes tempting to work on everything at once. I learned to prioritize and rely more on our great team. Of course, this is an ongoing process and for my personal growth to continue in 2025 and beyond, work remains to be done!

Finally, what are your dreams and ambitions for 2025?

Ruben: "I look forward to a year in which we surprise our customers with even more innovative products and continue to improve our production processes and sustainability. We also work to continue to grow as a team, both professionally and personally.

And who knows ... maybe in 2025 we will plan our first open house to give everyone a look behind the scenes!"

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