{"id":288,"date":"2024-07-30T18:34:57","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T18:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/37.97.157.28\/djura\/index.php\/2024\/07\/30\/post006\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T13:41:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T13:41:21","slug":"post006","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/djura.boikon.nl\/index.php\/2024\/07\/30\/post006\/","title":{"rendered":"Klaas Slagter\u2019s Journey with BOIKON"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Klaas Slagter\u2019s Journey<\/span><\/h1><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We\u2019re going back to 1999. Electrical engineer Klaas Slagter (55) was working in illuminated signage on the Diepswal industrial estate. But things weren\u2019t exactly smooth sailing with his employer. Through mutual connections, Jeroen Oosterhof and \u2013 back then \u2013 Gert Jan Brons heard about Klaas\u2019s ambitions and invited him for a chat.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u201cThe connection was instant,\u201d Klaas recalls. \u201cBack 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.\u201d<\/p>

He joined what could, without a hint of irony, be called the\u00a0young guns of BOIKON<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and never looked back. \u201cIt felt like a warm bath then, and it still does today.\u201d<\/p>

A man of many trades<\/h3>

Over the years, Klaas has become a true multi-skilled team member. \u201cI manage our Wiki and BOIKON Academy, still do some assembly work, and handle maintenance for the building, machinery, and other internal systems.\u201d<\/p>

His passion project? The BOIKON Wiki \u2013 though it started under less-than-romantic circumstances. \u201cIn December 2021, I had hand surgery and couldn\u2019t do assembly work for a while. We\u2019d had this Wiki idea sitting on the shelf for ages, and that was the perfect time to finally get started.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\u201cWe’re trying to document all BOIKON’s know-how so every new technician understands how we do things.”\u00a0<\/em><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cWe\u2019re trying to document all BOIKON\u2019s know-how so every new technician understands how we do things. If they\u2019re unsure about something, they can check the Wiki on our intranet first. It\u2019s still a work in progress and probably always will be but we\u2019ve come a long way.<\/p>

It\u2019s also become a necessity. The company has grown so much that you can\u2019t 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\u2019t avoid, but we\u2019re doing everything we can to prevent them.\u201d<\/p>

The process is now clear: if a technician encounters an issue, they check the Wiki first. If that doesn\u2019t help, they ask their colleagues. Only as a last resort do they consult the on-duty engineer. \u201cThis relieves our staff and gives everyone clarity on what to do.\u201d<\/p>

It\u2019s just one example of how BOIKON has evolved from a small attic office in Groningen to the innovative company it is today.<\/p>

Pride in projects and perseverance<\/h3>

You won\u2019t hear Klaas complain about the projects he\u2019s seen come and go. \u201cWhat we\u2019ve built here makes me proud. And we stand by our work. Even if something doesn\u2019t function perfectly at first, we fix it.<\/p>

Take our project at Akzo Nobel in Hengelo. Things weren\u2019t 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\u2019s how you learn.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\"Klaas<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The challenges and growth of a global player<\/span><\/h3><\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cThe tobacco industry is another example. It\u2019s a sensitive topic, but as a small company from Leek, we can really be proud of what we\u2019ve achieved. We\u2019ve sat at the table with big names in Germany, Hungary, and Poland. Experiences that helped us grow tremendously.\u201d<\/p>

Klaas still remembers his first overseas trip vividly. \u201cIt must\u2019ve 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\u2019s all much better organized, but it was quite the adventure back then. Or that trip to Germany when I didn\u2019t speak a word of German. Jeroen told me: \u2018Just pop by the ANWB and pick up a phrasebook. You\u2019ll be fine.\u2019\u201d<\/p>

What\u2019s better now?<\/h3>

When asked what\u2019s improved most since those early days, Klaas doesn\u2019t hesitate:\u00a0\u201cThe tools.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>

\u201cEvery technician gets the equipment they need to enjoy their work. Whether it\u2019s hand tools or large machinery, we\u2019re working with the best possible materials. When I look around at clients and partners, I can say with confidence: you don\u2019t see that everywhere.\u201d<\/p>

He smiles. \u201cWe\u2019re well taken care of here.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The Bundle Packer<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Track & Trace<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The Packer<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The Pouch<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The Cigar<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The CasePacker MSC<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Contact<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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