History of Van Dulst Techniek
60+ Years of Van Dulst Techniek: From 1965 to the Present
Van Dulst Techniek by the numbers:
A lot has changed since 1965:
- 60+ years of craftsmanship, innovation, and commitment to quality
- From a small attic to 3,996 m² of production, inventory, and storage space in Krimpen aan den IJssel
- From a one-man operation to nearly 50 employees
- Partners all over the world; from Taiwan to Sweden and from the Westland to Zwolle
- 3 proprietary brands for standard machines, custom-built solutions, and an international presence
Read the history of Van Dulst Techniek here:
After a career in sales at an industrial wholesaler, Jan van Dulst decided to start his own business. He opened a hardware and tool store, laying the foundation for his entrepreneurial career.
The building on ’s-Gravenweg soon proved to be too small and, moreover, became uninhabitable. The company moved to the former police station on Johan de Wittstraat, behind Slotplein. The sign “Van Dulst Tools” hung proudly on the facade.
The company expanded further with a tool workshop on Burgemeester Verloopstraat for repairs and service. This broadened the range of services and increased the focus on maintenance and technical support. Cor Meerman joined as the first technician and laid the foundation for the technical service department.
The rapid growth of the power tool market has created a need for expansion. In the Stormpolder area of Krimpen aan den IJssel, the company purchased properties at 18 and 20 Van Utrechtweg. This location provides space for further growth and remains the company’s headquarters to this day.
In 1992, under the leadership of Cor Meerman, the workshop expanded to include a department for custom machine construction: MPS (Modular Production Systems). MPS began as an extension of Van Dulst’s product line, offering standard sizing systems, stop systems, and roller conveyors to complement the sawing and drilling product line. During this period, Gerco Huurman also joined the company as an engineer, contributing to the further growth and professionalization of the machine building department.
Arjèn & Wim van Dulst join the company. In the years that follow, the brothers gradually take on more responsibilities and grow into their roles.
Eventually, they take over the day-to-day management from their parents, thereby ensuring the continuity of the family business.
With the acquisition of Van Utrechtweg 16, the MPS machine building division is expanding further.
Following a shift in focus by one of our partners, we are launching a collaboration with Mecal for aluminum machining equipment, further strengthening our product offering.
In 1999, the company purchased the properties at Polanenweg 6 and 8, located behind its current building, providing additional space for expansion. MPS’s operations grew alongside this expansion, enabling the department to develop even further.
In 2002, the company established an electrical division, thereby expanding its range of technical services. During the same period, it introduced its first in-house machines under the brand name Wisent Machines, known for their power and durability.
The partnership with the Japanese trading company Kiichi Tools continues to grow and intensify. This will ultimately lead to a joint venture under the name KW-Tools, which will strengthen international cooperation and capitalize on new opportunities outside the Netherlands.
Due to increasingly larger machines and the growing demand for automation in greenhouse construction, the MPS department is once again facing a shortage of space. To accommodate this growth, operations are being expanded to a leased facility on Industrieweg.
JIH-I and Cosen from Taiwan have now been added to the product range as representatives for aluminum and steel machining equipment. In addition, the product range is expanding to include various other brands, marketed under the private label Wisent Tools. This strengthens the company’s position as a full-service partner for both standard solutions and custom work.
Van Dulst Techniek is taking an early lead in sustainability by covering the entire roof with solar panels. With approximately 400 solar panels, and another 300 to be added later, approximately 150,000 kWh of renewable energy is generated annually. This allows us to use self-generated energy and makes our business premises energy-neutral, which actively contributes to reducing our ecological footprint and ensuring future-proof business operations.
Construction is set to begin on a new building at Polanenweg 10, featuring a heavily underpinned floor, a dedicated office space for MPS, and two overhead cranes. At the same time, the existing buildings will undergo renovation, giving the entire complex a modern and contemporary look after approximately 35 years.
The focus is shifting toward international growth, with a further expansion of exports of MPS systems. These systems are finding their way to countries such as Sweden, thereby strengthening the company’s position in the international market.
Automation makes its debut with robots on production lines when MPS becomes a Yaskawa distributor. In addition, the company takes on the role of European warehouse distributor for Cosen band saw machines from Taiwan. This marks the next step toward automated steel processing and data-collecting machines, in preparation for Industry 4.0.
After more than 60 years of development, Van Dulst Techniek has become a well-established name in the technical sector. Building on a strong foundation of craftsmanship and entrepreneurship, the company continues to focus on innovation, quality, and further professionalization.
With a clear focus on relationship management, automation, and international growth, Van Dulst Techniek is building on its rich history.