The Amsterdam-based company Voton is a subsidiary of Voorbij Funderingstechniek, a family-owned business founded in 1935 in Wilnis, a village just south of the capital. Voton has now been operating for almost eleven years and has built a prominent position in the production of precast concrete foundation piles.
Prestressed precast concrete piles are probably the most well-known and widely used type of concrete pile in The Netherlands. At Voton, these piles are produced in a wide range of types and sizes for applications in infrastructure, residential construction, hydraulic engineering, and industrial building projects. They are manufactured in a large factory located in the western port area of Amsterdam, directly along the North Sea Canal, explains Production Manager Edward Strijkert.
High-quality personnel are very important
“Our factory is 250 meters long and we operate across five different production bays. We produce piles in various diameters, ranging from 22 to 50 centimeters. Every day, we pour between 350 and 400 cubic meters of concrete into fixed molds. We do this with a team of around forty people, sixteen of whom are our own employees and the rest hired in, including through De Gilde Groep.”
Strijkert himself has been with Voorbij for 34 years, including 29 years in prefab production and the past 5 years as production manager of the piling division. Thanks to his decades of experience, he understands better than anyone how important skilled, high-quality personnel are. That is precisely why he values the collaboration with De Gilde Groep.
I notice De Gilde Groep provides higher-quality skilled workers than average
“I’ll be honest with you”, he says. “I notice that De Gilde Groep provides higher-quality skilled workers than average. By that I mean their people are better specialized in prefab work. Prefab and concrete factories are not ordinary construction sites; they require a different mindset and specific skills. With De Gilde Groep, I get the qualities and roles I ask for, including the right experience, knowledge of safety risks, and the ability to work according to procedures. That really appeals to me.”
Sustainable relations
As masters of craftsmanship, we focus not only on quality and safety, but also on building sustainable relationships with both skilled workers and clients. That is why there is weekly contact on-site at Voton.
It’s very helpful to see each other every week
“Often nothing is wrong,” Strijkert explains, “but just having a coffee together and catching up is valuable. Especially when you’re in the middle of a busy schedule yourself. Sometimes there’s a minor issue and you think, I’ll call him this afternoon. Before you know it, that afternoon is three days later. It’s very helpful to see each other every week. In addition, our contact person (Remco Akkermans, red.) knows what he’s talking about, understands situations quickly, and with just a few words there is immediate mutual understanding.”
The production manager not only experiences this himself, but also sees it reflected in the skilled workers. “I notice that the workers are satisfied. They stay with us, work here long term, and the accommodation is good. I hardly ever hear our people complain about that. At Voton, we find it extremely important that people are well taken care of. And I see and experience that same commitment at De Gilde Groep.”
If you’re looking for reliable, experienced professionals, De Gilde Groep is the place to go
In short, Strijkert is highly satisfied with the partnership. “There are employment agencies that may offer slightly lower hourly rates — we see that too. That’s often the first thing you look at, but that’s just on paper. We don’t work on paper; we work in the factory. In practice, it often turns out differently. At the end of the day, it’s not necessarily cheaper. If you’re looking for reliable, experienced professionals, De Gilde Groep is the place to go. You get people you can depend on, people you can train further, and who have low absenteeism. You’re simply free from all the hassle around it.”
We are proud of our long-standing collaboration with Voton. Mutual trust and open communication form the foundation of a partnership that is built to last.