40 years of top frames with a strong vision for the future

When you have been at the top as a window frame manufacturer for 40 years, you are doing something right. HEBO Kozijnen in Hengevelde has now completed 4 decades and is more than ready for the next decades. Norbert Kuipers, director and owner of HEBO Kozijnen doesn't waste any time and has set all the beacons right. "First, 2020 is coming up. We are ready for that. Both in terms of production, location and, of course, manpower," he indicates.

Norbert Kuipers is the second generation at the helm of the Hengeveld window frame company. HEBO's history is rich, peppered with innovations, commercial spirit, expertise and great anecdotes. Norbert starts by taking us on a "trip down memory lane.

From bridal fashion to love of the craft of window frame building

There is respect and admiration in Norbert's voice as he begins to tell about his father, Marinus Kuipers. "Some 55 years ago, my father had a bridal store. A thriving business, which he once started with 4 ladies on staff and after growing had as many as 140 employees. With a purebred entrepreneurial spirit, however, my father never sat still. At one point he had founded a construction company, more or less a hobby that got out of hand. However, he never did anything by halves... I remember when we were on vacation with our family in Germany. My father's eye fell on the ingenious prefabricated window frames, also turn-tilt windows, that were being used in construction there and he became inspired."

"Determined to bring this system to the Netherlands, he bought a production line for wooden tilt-and-turn frames in Germany in 1980. This laid the foundation for the company we look at today. So 40 years ago, HEBO was already working according to Concept 3. Assembled window frames, including glazing and painted."

The inside of the new building for plastic window frames, including the HEBO Theatre.

Way ahead of its time in the '90s

Norbert continues his story: "When I myself joined the company in the 1988s, I first made sure that a good showroom was created. With the way it was presented, HEBO was already far ahead of its time. The same goes for automation. Long before the Internet era, we were already working digitally, using floppy disks to provide the machine lines with data."

HEBO became big in the partner market. Instead of producing only for their own applications, they dedicated themselves to frame professionals in the construction industry, who wanted perfect products without headaches. Norbert: "We participated in trade fairs and met our buyers and potential new customers there. We made sure our brochure material was in tiptop order and helped our customers, just like today, wherever we could. That's how you end up building a solid network."

In fact, the company is one big family

Looking ahead, HEBO continues to build for the future. The construction of the brand new building is progressing well. More space, more production capacity and an environment where people are paramount.

"Experience, hospitality and well-being are central. We take care of our clients, their customers and especially our staff. You will see that reflected in all facets of the new building. Together we are HEBO, one big family, where everyone counts on an equal basis," Norbert said.

There has been an energy at HEBO Kozijnen for 40 years that is the invisible basis for everything the company stands for. Before the 40th anniversary takes place in September 2020, the new building will be ready. Plans for new expansions of the machinery are already on the drawing board. Because we can be clear about one thing: like father, like son. Norbert Kuipers cannot sit still either and looks to the future with a strong vision.