SAB-profiel › News › Pausing for a moment at 30 years of Niederaula: ‘Progress and further development have never stopped
Pausing for a moment at 30 years of Niederaula: ‘Progress and further development have never stopped
DoorJoyce van Vliet
Two years ago, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of SAB-profiel. This month, another milestone is on the agenda: the 30th anniversary of our “sister” Niederaula, the German branch. We are proud that we have been working so pleasantly with our colleagues across the border for such a long time. Therefore, alongside a heartfelt congratulations, we share an article with fond memories and stories from various colleagues.
What special moment from those 30 years comes to mind first, we ask Brigitte Feilen from Customer Service. She is one of the employees from the very beginning. “The early days in Niederaula! Alex, Mel and I were initially alone in the office. In the industry, we quickly became known as the ‘SAB girls’. Our reputation: reliable, committed, and sometimes almost magical (‘they’ve worked wonders again’), because we managed to make the seemingly impossible happen. We were especially proud of that.”
There have been plenty of innovative products over the years. Katja Schenk, responsible for Project Management & Technical Purchasing and with 14 years of service: “For me, the introduction of the fleece installation was something truly special. A real innovation for Niederaula, enabling us to automatically apply a clean overlap. I was allowed to lead this project from start to finish. Developing the machine and integrating it into our old control system was challenging. When the first sheet was produced and the machine had quickly paid for itself, that was an incredible feeling.”
In the 24 years I’ve worked at SAB, much has changed, says Eileen Bähring (Controlling/HR). “Progress and further development have never stopped. It’s rewarding to be part of that and to help move things forward, even if it’s not always easy. The best solutions usually come from teamwork. Everyone here has contributed with their commitment to Niederaula’s ongoing success.”
There have been many special collaborations over the years, recalls Cedrik Denk from Sales, who has been with the company for 20 years. “One example was a complex job in which we had galvanized steel with a special double-sided high-end coating produced in England. It was an innovative combination of coating systems and colors. We then organized transport to SAB-profiel in IJsselstein. There, the coils were split and laminated with film on both sides before the material was shipped to a project in southern Germany.”
We are highly flexible towards customers, says Irina Pawlow (Order Processing, 3 years with the company) about Niederaula’s unique market position. “We do our utmost to process even last-minute orders and changes without additional costs for the customer.” Something that Sascha Möller from Sales – 7 years in the company – also recognizes. “What I value most about Niederaula is the internal flexibility and the close, friendly contact with our customers. But I also greatly appreciate the internal teamwork. It’s fun to work here.”
That’s something Gianni van Hoften – 25 years of service – often tells applicants in his role as HR/H&S Manager. “Niederaula is a successful organization with passionate employees.” Project Manager Arjan Rijneveld, also 25 years in the company, agrees: “The cooperation and team spirit within Niederaula are exceptional. Many of the same people are still here, turnover is low, and the atmosphere among colleagues is great.”
And was there also some laughter over the course of those 30 years? Absolutely, says Managing Director Melanie Hewig, who has experienced all 30 years. “We once received an Easter gift from SAB BV: a vase full of Easter eggs. We wanted to test whether the eggs were raw or boiled, so we did an egg-throw test. The egg slipped from my hand, fell behind me on the floor, and my whole pair of trousers was covered in egg… That’s how we knew the eggs weren’t boiled. This story still makes us laugh today!”
Managing Director Govert Kockelkoren of SAB-profiel is jointly responsible for Niederaula together with Melanie. He also receives nothing but compliments from customers about what the German team manages to achieve. “Service and quality are top-level and unmatched in the German market. No competitor can compare to the performance that Melanie and her team deliver. Customers prefer to be supplied exclusively by Niederaula. Not only our colleagues from the Netherlands, but also our customers are proud of Niederaula. And that, of course, is the greatest compliment a company can receive.”