Specialist in woodworking machinery celebrates anniversary

'We have evolved from a trading house to a service provider'

November is the month of celebration at De Groot Machining Machinery, as this year the family business celebrates its 45th anniversary. What began in a shed behind the parental home has grown into a company with over a hundred employees. However, one thing has not changed. Director Martijn de Groot: "Our goal is and remains to add value for the customer."

"Many companies started at the same time as my grandfather Joop de Groot, and grew with us," Martijn says. "First they did business with him, then with my father and now with me. Once they started with a used machine, only to switch to a new machine, or a whole line, a few years later. That's exactly what we want, to build a long-term relationship with our customers and not go for a one-time transaction."

From used to new machines

From a horse barn behind his parents' house, Joop de Groot, with the help of Peter de Groot, started his own business in 1978. For seven years, De Groot Bewerkingsmachines only sold used machines, until the company was allowed to distribute Weinig's woodworking machines. First in the Northern Netherlands and then in the rest of the country as well. "This was an accelerator of our growth and we are still very happy with this, because the Weinig brand is very important to the woodworking world." 

A second important milestone was when De Groot was also able to offer Altendorf machines. "With this step we became really interesting for the interior construction industry and then the dealership of Biesse followed." 

In 1991, son Ruud de Groot joined the company. He was then 21 and started as a field salesman. The company continued to grow and Ruud gradually took over the management. Unfortunately, a difficult time came in 2009. The economic crisis brought the construction industry to a standstill, so De Groot had to cut back on personnel. Joop also passed away unexpectedly. 

Martijn: "Suddenly Ruud had to take over, in a way that no one had foreseen. Fortunately, he succeeded, with the help of his wife Jolanda. My parents really showed that in every crisis the entrepreneur resurfaces." 

Under the leadership of Ruud and Jolanda, the company opened its own service center in 2011. "That's how we brought technicians in. From then on, we were able to offer telephone support and help our customers faster. In 2012, we also chose to remodel the showroom. These choices helped ensure the continuity of our business. The used machine business also played an important role in this."

Woodworking is still going to grow

Martijn de Groot has worked full-time in the company since 2018 and was officially put in charge in 2021. Sister Daphne is also working in the company. Ruud and Jolanda remain involved in the business, in an advisory role. "In recent years our way of working has changed. The control, the connection with the software and our service are at least as important as the machines. We have evolved from a trading house to a service provider. We expect woodworking to grow even more in the Netherlands. In construction, the focus is moving more and more to wood, because it enables fast and sustainable construction. Our machines can also process other (biobased) materials." From its own sustainability philosophy, De Groot bought a forest in 2021, in which new trees will be planted. "This is something I am proud of. We have also purchased additional agricultural land that should also become forest."

According to Martijn, automation and unburdening are important themes for the future. "That is why we have hired several Automation specialists and want to take on even more responsibility. In terms of maintenance, but also by keeping parts in stock and monitoring the performance of machines remotely."