The Faces Behind Spikker Specials | Jan Sweers

‘Do you see opportunities? Then you’ll have all the space here to develop yourself’

Last September, it was no less than 30 years since Jan Sweers started at Spikker Specials. And Jan still works with great pleasure and motivation!! “Here you get the opportunity to develop yourself and keep taking on new things.”  Have a read!

It all started with a newspaper ad. “I was looking for a new job where I would have more customer contact. Jan applied to Spikker Specials for a sales support position and was quickly hired. “When I started, there were about 25 people working there. By now, that’s around 70. The company has grown significantly and I’ve grown along with it. I’ve already worked here for almost half the time Spikker Specials has existed.”

Over the years, Jan has taken on all kinds of tasks: engineering, work preparation, ICT, customer visits, product development. “That’s also what makes Spikker Specials so great: taking initiative yourself and communicating openly is appreciated and encouraged.”

Technology, people and the customer

These days, Jan is co-responsible for the drawing office, work preparation and part of production. The development of new products also goes through him. One day a week he visits customers. “Then I’m at their location and I look at how we can help our customers further; I love to really dive deep.” To deliver a good product, you need to be able to understand the customer’s questions and challenges.

In his role within the management team, he also thinks along about the future. “Colleagues retire, new people join. I’m involved in job interviews, initial meetings with interns and I think along about internal improvement initiatives. It’s very varied. And that keeps the work enjoyable.”

Innovation is in the DNA

As a Zevenaar native, Jan already knew Spikker Specials before he went to work there. “I knew they did something with hard metal and that they were doing well. But what I like most is that innovating and improving is in the DNA here. Not only technically – think automation, robots, shorter production times – but also in how we work together. That gives energy.”

That involvement is characteristic of Spikker Specials, he believes. “It really is a family business. You notice it in everything. The lines are short, the atmosphere is open. We stand for something together here.”

Keep learning, keep growing

Jan is always looking for a new challenge, and he keeps finding it within the company. “I’m not someone who changes jobs every few years. I want to go deeper, to really be of value. That works here, because you can keep growing. Whether that’s in technology, in customer contact or in your personal development.”

Training courses or education are no problem at all either. “If you want to get better at something, you’re given the space here. That’s also why I hope to stay here until my retirement.”

Feeling inspired by Jan’s story? We’re looking for colleagues. View all open vacancies here.