‘We want to be at the forefront in everything we do’

How can we improve? That question is a recurring theme in Pieter Blokzijl's work. "Whether it concerns production, transport, or customer contact," says the Sales & Quality Manager at Bontrup Amsterdam. "We want to be at the forefront in everything we do, and we are working hard to achieve that goal."

quality Bontrup aggregates are used in asphalt for roads in the Netherlands and abroad. From its headquarters in Amerikahaven, Blokzijl oversees the quality of stone extraction from its own quarry in Norway, transport to terminals in Amsterdam, Antwerp, and London, and delivery to customers.

Huge quantities of
It is a special branch of the industry, says Blokzijl. "Our customers are the large asphalt and concrete plants. They want to be sure of the supply, quality, and price of the aggregates. We are talking about huge quantities. We have a customer with seven plants that purchases around 800,000 tons annually."

What can be improved
Contracts with a term of one year are concluded with customers. These are important moments for the company, but the director remains involved even after that. "Signing the contracts is not a signal to sit back and relax. We maintain contact with the customer throughout the year. Is everything going according to plan? What can be improved?"

Sustainable transport
One of the areas of business operations that requires a great deal of attention is the sustainability of transport. This mainly involves inland shipping. Blokzijl: "We invest heavily in ships equipped with the latest, clean technologies. And our green credentials are truly green: there are ways to embellish the figures, but we don't do that."

Nothing but growth
"Nothing but growth." That is Bontrup philosophy: every part of the company strives for the highest quality. And that is appreciated by the customer. Blokzijl: "I have been working here for twenty years now, and in all those years I have seen nothing but growth. That is also the beauty of infrastructure: the demand for new asphalt remains high. So there is always work here."