Klaas Slagter’s Journey with BOIKON

Klaas Slagter’s Journey

We’re going back to 1999. Electrical engineer Klaas Slagter (55) was working in illuminated signage on the Diepswal industrial estate. But things weren’t exactly smooth sailing with his employer. Through mutual connections, Jeroen Oosterhof and – back then – Gert Jan Brons heard about Klaas’s ambitions and invited him for a chat.

“The connection was instant,” Klaas recalls. “Back then, there were only six of them and that includes the cleaning lady. They did everything themselves: drilling, sawing, visiting clients, and then starting all over again. It was hands-on, all the way.”

He joined what could, without a hint of irony, be called the young guns of BOIKON and never looked back. “It felt like a warm bath then, and it still does today.”

A man of many trades

Over the years, Klaas has become a true multi-skilled team member. “I manage our Wiki and BOIKON Academy, still do some assembly work, and handle maintenance for the building, machinery, and other internal systems.”

His passion project? The BOIKON Wiki – though it started under less-than-romantic circumstances. “In December 2021, I had hand surgery and couldn’t do assembly work for a while. We’d had this Wiki idea sitting on the shelf for ages, and that was the perfect time to finally get started.”

“We’re trying to document all BOIKON’s know-how so every new technician understands how we do things.”

“We’re trying to document all BOIKON’s know-how so every new technician understands how we do things. If they’re unsure about something, they can check the Wiki on our intranet first. It’s still a work in progress and probably always will be but we’ve come a long way.

It’s also become a necessity. The company has grown so much that you can’t discuss every detail one-on-one anymore. For example, we have a clear rule: unless otherwise specified, always use electro-galvanized bolts. No stainless steel. If that ever gets overlooked, we hear about it right away. These are the growing pains you can’t avoid, but we’re doing everything we can to prevent them.”

The process is now clear: if a technician encounters an issue, they check the Wiki first. If that doesn’t help, they ask their colleagues. Only as a last resort do they consult the on-duty engineer. “This relieves our staff and gives everyone clarity on what to do.”

It’s just one example of how BOIKON has evolved from a small attic office in Groningen to the innovative company it is today.

Pride in projects and perseverance

You won’t hear Klaas complain about the projects he’s seen come and go. “What we’ve built here makes me proud. And we stand by our work. Even if something doesn’t function perfectly at first, we fix it.

Take our project at Akzo Nobel in Hengelo. Things weren’t going smoothly, and the time pressure kept building. So we put our heads together, checked everything, and made sure it worked. In the end, the issue turned out to be a supplier delivering multiple faulty batches of roller chains. That’s how you learn.”

The challenges and growth of a global player

“The tobacco industry is another example. It’s a sensitive topic, but as a small company from Leek, we can really be proud of what we’ve achieved. We’ve sat at the table with big names in Germany, Hungary, and Poland. Experiences that helped us grow tremendously.”

Klaas still remembers his first overseas trip vividly. “It must’ve been 2002 or 2003. A cardboard manufacturer near London reached out, and we had to plan the entire trip ourselves; booking flights, hotels, the works. Today, that’s all much better organized, but it was quite the adventure back then. Or that trip to Germany when I didn’t speak a word of German. Jeroen told me: ‘Just pop by the ANWB and pick up a phrasebook. You’ll be fine.’”

What’s better now?

When asked what’s improved most since those early days, Klaas doesn’t hesitate: “The tools.”

“Every technician gets the equipment they need to enjoy their work. Whether it’s hand tools or large machinery, we’re working with the best possible materials. When I look around at clients and partners, I can say with confidence: you don’t see that everywhere.”

He smiles. “We’re well taken care of here.”