'A major new player for the Netherlands'

Edgebanding and glue delivered even faster

Geert Nefkens is incredibly busy. "This is due to the combination of nice projects and interesting specials. That causes the increase in work," says the owner of GN Kantentechniek and Fravol Nederland.

"The new relationships from the past year are now going to pay off. You have to keep evolving. We will continue to do that in 2023." One of the changes taking place at GN Kantentechniek this year has to do with the, originally Czech, supplier Hranipex. "In 2014, the company approached us at the first HoutPro+. We then entered into cooperation to distribute their edgebanding, adhesives and cleaners in the Netherlands. This was very successful, as they are now our biggest supplier and were with me at the stand in Den Bosch in 2022." 

That Hranipex presented itself as an independent entity at HoutPro+ was a foretaste of a new step. Indeed, the company is going to operate itself in the Netherlands, with a 2500m² warehouse in Herkenbosch, near Roermond. 

Nefkens: "This means that the necessary things will change. We will continue to work together. While our region and existing customers remain our working area, we can now benefit from easier logistics. The range can be delivered within one day, or can even be picked up. Thus, the Netherlands gains a major player, as the company already operates in over 60 countries."

Well thought out offer 

"Unlike others, Hranipex is a true edgebanding manufacturer. The decors and the product range fit well with the demand of the current market. It is also quite easy for the company to produce to size and, needless to say, the quality of their products is good." According to Nefkens, it is not only the Czech manufacturer's edgebanding that is in demand. "What runs very well are their hot melt adhesives. The EVA and PU hot melt adhesives are tailored to edge glue machines used in the market. The range is well thought out, so I sell a lot of these." 

GN Kantentechniek supplies more A-brands, of course. "We have been an authorized partner of Lamello since January 2022 and recently went on product training in Switzerland. This allows us to (continue to) provide our customers with good advice. What is new about this brand is that all the groove milling machines can work with battery. Frencken is also an important brand for us, with a large range of glue products. We use short lines for our support. With both brands it is clear that the right knowledge is behind their products. They have a very complete range. Within that, everything fits together well."

GN Kantentechniek also has a fourth major product group. A complete range of dowels, creased and smooth sticks in beech is available from stock. "These are imported by us ourselves. As the only Dutch company we can guarantee that they are truly FSC certified. A number of buyers from the market therefore specifically choose us."