Enjoying heavy metal

A passion for steel

Over the past six years, Meco Metal in Oudsbergen, Belgium, has undergone a true transformation. The 75,000 m2 production facility has been completely overhauled, modernized and simply looks very clean and tidy. In short: a very pleasant environment to work in. The two young all-round employees we spoke to during a visit to the company agree.

Years ago, companies were driven primarily from management. "We do things differently," says director Harry Seijkens, who years ago, together with his management team, introduced LEAN manufacturing at Meco Metal. "We very emphatically involve our employees in continuous improvement, so they actively think along in solutions. LEAN stands for working smarter instead of harder. After all, our staff is our greatest asset." All-round employee Marnik Camps (age 26) can attest to that and has seen the company change dramatically since he joined in 2017. "In the beginning it was quite a mess and it was always searching for materials, now everything has a fixed place and the hall seems much larger. There is much more free space."

Peace and space

With some 75,000 square feet of floor space, it's worth taking a closer look at that, says Seijkens. "We moved machinery and inventory to reduce transportation distances, but indeed also to create free floors. All the waste and stuff we thought we'd ever use again was pulled out of the hall. A total of as many as 120 full trailers! That gives peace and space to practice logistics optimally." Jordy Peeters (26) knows all about that by now. "I started at Meco Metal in 2017 as an operator on the bending bench and via a position in the warehouse have now been active as a driver on the side loader for three months. It is a mighty machine, capable of moving steel beams up to 25 meters in length and 8 tons in weight. Thanks to a tidy hall with plenty of clear floors, I have plenty of room to maneuver." According to Seijkens, the uncluttered hall also contributes significantly to safety, and good site management eliminates valuable time spent searching for materials.

Fine working atmosphere

The common denominator of both guys is that they are versatile. Camps, who has fallen in love with the company since his apprenticeship, is rightfully an all-round machine operator. "I have had the opportunity to discover many different machines and now I am mainly working on the latest laser machine. That's also the great thing about Meco Metal, we get all the room we need to develop ourselves and discover where our strengths lie." The guys also praise the nice working atmosphere. "We work in a close-knit team with colleagues of all ages. Everyone is very helpful and is there for each other." Seijkens adds: "We are very proud to have such men here and try to take good care of them. We invest a lot in training and in the well-being of our people. There is plenty of room for development. In addition, we evolve every day how we can do even better together. The whole process of continuous improvement is in everyone's DNA down to the last fiber. And we are quite a bit proud of that."

The continuous investment in people and equipment is certainly not harming Meco Metal. While 4,500 tons of steel were processed with 55 FTE in 2017, in 2023 it will be 9,500 tons with 30 FTE. "In 2024, we want to grow further to 10,000 tons," says Seijkens. "And for that we are always looking for driven and motivated employees. Be sure to check out the vacancies on our website or contact us without obligation. Who knows, maybe soon you too will develop a passion for steel."