Liemar 40 years: the twenty-first to the thirtieth year

How technology came of age and collaboration took center stage

At the end of 2025, we celebrated Liemar's 40th anniversary. A milestone of which we are naturally proud and which we do not let pass by quietly. Therefore, in this series of articles, we look back on the growth and development of our company. In the first article, we saw how Liemar found its direction in steel construction. In the second article, how that specialty was given structure. In this third decade, it became clear that technology alone is not enough. Our software became more mature, but the real development was in the way we cooperate with customers.

This was the period when Liemar made the move from DOS to Windows, from Liemar 7 to Liemar X. A technological leap and far from a simple update. It was a fundamental change. From a DOS environment to Windows, from keyboard-driven screens to a graphical interface, from a system that mainly functioned, to a system that also became more intuitive to use.

Internally, the team was still small at that time. A handful of people were building a completely new generation of software. That meant pioneering, testing and polishing. Sometimes starting from scratch.

But it also meant partnering with clients who were willing to take that step with us.

To implement is to begin a collaboration

Implementing an ERP package is no small step. It affects the entire company. From calculation to workshop, from planning to financial processing. It was precisely during these years that the implementation approach was further refined. Liemar started working according to the train-the-trainer principle: two employees of the customer receive intensive training and share their knowledge internally.

This ensures clarity, bundled questions and ownership within the organization. The system thus becomes not an external tool, but an integral part of the company. The long-term customer relationships created during this period show that implementation is not an end point. It is the beginning of a collaboration that often lasts for decades.

The human side of software

Anyone entering Liemar during this period noticed that the company wanted to be more than a supplier. Openness, approachability and commitment became daily practice, so that Liemar stands next to its customers as a partner. When you call, they answer. No menus, no ticket system, no distance.

New colleagues were selected not only on technical knowledge, but especially on their character and their way of dealing with people. Technology can be learned. The way you work together is the basis. This approach is still reflected today in the customer base. Companies that suit Liemar often stay for a long time. Not because everything is always perfect, but because there is mutual trust to keep improving together.

During this period it also became increasingly clear that consultancy is an essential part of the work. Implementing software means discussing processes, making choices and asking - sometimes confrontational - questions. Why are you doing this this way? Could it be simpler? What do you really want to control? That's where the real added value lies.

A memorable Steel Construction Day

These years also brought moments that are still talked about today. The launch of Liemar X at the Steel Construction Day in Katwijk became a memorable event. Diagonally opposite the shed of Soldier of Orange stood an eye-catching booth. Together with Tata Group, owner of Jaguar and Land Rover, Liemar pulled out all the stops. For example, visitors could drive up a seesaw in a Land Rover under the guidance of an instructor and try to stay balanced for as long as possible. Whoever balanced the longest won a prize. All these years later, the Liemar team still gets to hear about it regularly.

The first Liemar beer

During the same period, a beloved tradition was also born: the Liemar beer. The initiative came from Toon van Hapert. At a brewery, with yet another Land Rover, the first pallets were collected. What started as a playful idea grew into something recognizable. A bottle of Liemar beer on a special occasion, such as an opening, anniversary or New Year's visit.

The run-up to growth

Looking back, it appears that this decade laid the foundation for the growth that followed later.

Technology was revamped, the implementation approach became more professional, the focus on consulting became sharper, and client relationships became closer. They may not have been the loudest years. But they were years of preparing, sharpening and brewing beer.

Next time...

In the next article, we look at the fourth decade: the period when Liemar really accelerated and growth became visible in people, customers and ambitions.