Bosch Rexroth, established in the Brabant town of Boxtel and part of the Bosch concern, produces drive & control systems. With the plant in Boxtel having been there for over 50 years, company director Hans van Herpen sees clear positive developments in the region of Southeast Brabant: “The variety and volume of industrial companies in Southeast Brabant has created a level of synergy whereby the region is developing itself. Many of these businesses provide tailor-made products with a high added value, also thanks to the excellent education facilities in this part of the country.”
Family-owned business
The facility in Boxtel started in 1954 as a family-owned business under the name Hydraudyne. This company supplied hydraulic systems, in particular for hydraulic-engineering works and the dredging industry. While there was clear export potential, the necessary sales channels were not at hand. Hydraudyne therefore teamed up with multinational Rexroth, a manufacturer of products for drive & control systems.
In 2001, Bosch took over Rexroth. Boxtel became the concerns’ head office in the Netherlands and the centre of competence for complex products and services.
Tailor-made solutions
Bosch Rexroth in Boxtel makes products to client specifications, intended mainly for the manufacturers of specialized machines. This often concerns one-off products, such as a wave-maker for a hydraulics laboratory or a flight simulator.
Director Hans van Herpen: “When our clients approach us with their drive or control problem they usually give us very simple instructions, in the order of: ‘Get it to work!’ We then develop a solution. That is the strength of industry in Brabant and the Netherlands as a whole – the provision of tailor-made solutions.
Connections and cooperation
Bosch Rexroth in Boxtel exports about half its production. Although the company benefits from the proximity of mainport Rotterdam, Van Herpen feels that the road connections with Germany could do with some improvement: “The Netherlands is a densely populated country. That can be convenient, because everything is close at hand, but it this case it offers a disadvantage. I do however believe that the government is doing its best to find solutions to the traffic problem. Communication about this matter is very open.”
Bosch Rexroth has suppliers through the Netherlands. Hans van Herpen: “I know quite a few Brabant companies that have their suppliers in the region itself. That leads to advantages such as short supply lines and the possibility to exchange personnel.”
Highly trained
As a supplier of made-to-measure products, Bosch Rexroth requires highly trained employees. Hans van Herpen: “We have, up to now, managed to meet our demand for highly trained personnel. But we don’t want to lean back and wait to see what the situation will be like in ten years time. We are actively seeking cooperation with the education sector. This puts us in a position to exchange know-how and make the acquaintance of our future employees. Every year, we give tours to a broad range of young people, ranging from primary schools pupils to university students.”
“In general,” Hans van Herpen add, “I believe that as a company you should not complain about whether or not the education system is functioning to your satisfaction, but rather that you should take a proactive approach by clearly expressing what your needs are. Brabant is home to various institutions for technical occupational training, the Technical University of Eindhoven and various colleges. These offer more than enough opportunities for meeting your need for well-trained personnel!”
Attractive
Hans van Herpen is clear about the advantages of the Brabant region: “If I were a foreign company, I would definitely choose to establish myself in Southeast Brabant. An industrial cluster is forming here, making it a place where you can easily find likeminded people and do optimal business. In that sense, this region is only becoming more attractive.”
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