Thinking along with and building on strategic growth of online window frame manufacturer

From A to Z at inception to structural scale-up

Another great project has been completed at Kruba in Baarn. Cees and Niels van Essen look back with great satisfaction on the delivery of several machines to Creon Kozijnen en Rolluiken, which in the Dutch market has meanwhile taken a large place in sales to consumers and contractors, among others. "This delivery involved 2 Urban welding and polishing lines, 1 CNC sawing and 1 CNC machining center from Thorwesten and 1 CNC machining center for aluminum profiles," says Niels. "Soon we will also supply Creon with an HVL CNC Machining Center that will further increase the capacity on site at the factory."

So the online ordering system that the Hardinxveld-Giessendam-based company has built up has been catching on well with consumers in recent years. So the growth in production capacity is not so surprising. Niels: "We have been doing business with them for quite a long time. We have been allowed to set up everything from A to Z from day one. Actually -so we support Creon in their growth and scaling up. They once started with a simple production line that included a double miter saw machine, a 2-head welding machine and a single angle machining machine. A beautiful and promising beginning. And look where they are today. Really beautiful. They also advertise a lot and well, then you quickly make great strides. So much admiration for the ambitious entrepreneurs of Creon."

Resolving ability

Cees adds that he also sees the cooperation with Creon primarily as a partnership. "You help each other, you try to think along and make a strategic contribution to that. I think we can expect even more growth there in the coming years. Why Creon orders from us? Well, I think we match in terms of character. Look, of course we deliver quality - we know what we're talking about - but we're also fair, we have short lines of communication, we always think in terms of solutions, we ask questions that the client often hasn't even considered yet, and we're no nonsense. They also see that we try to understand their processes well, so they know that we will eventually come up with the best solution for them."    

The customer speaks "I buy from Kruba mainly a piece of security!

"When I buy something or invest in something, it has to be right," says Geoffrey de Bruin, director/founder of Creon Frames and Shutters. "I have to be able to read and write with my supplier. We want to take our company in a direction and the supplier - yes, I also call it a partner - must be able to help me go in that direction. So basically I am buying a piece of security. I simply want to have suitable machines. Usually I do have an idea, but I do need a lot of substantive help with the purchase - and thus with the investment. Kruba at least knows our systems and our goals. With that, they make it easier for us to grow further."