[ Cover Story ] boxes marked with other logos . Wooden crates that arrive filled with items are carefully stacked for reuse , and those that are damaged are shredded and then recycled . Plastic ties used to bundle pipes together are made from 100 % recycled plastic . Both locations feature LED lighting , and the Bossekamp location has 1,056 solar panels on its roof . All company vehicles are electric or run on sustainable HVO 100 diesel , as does the company ’ s modern fleet of trucks .
Commitment to quality While 2022 was a record year for the Paul Meijering team , the market in 2023 is also strong . “ We don ’ t aggressively chase customers or projects . If they tell us , “ I can get this order cheaper at a colleague ”, I tell them good luck , and we ’ ll see you soon ! Our commitment to quality goes far beyond the product certificates ; we take care of every link in the supply chain .” Paul ’ s focus on quality extends to the processes used to receive , store , trace , package and deliver products to customers . Incoming tubes and fittings are quickly unloaded and then carefully scrutinised . Inspections start with a visual check – is there any evident damage to the packaging or the contents ? Have the right number of tubes been delivered in each crate ? Does the heat number and grade stamp on each tube tally with the shipping documents ? A portable chemical analysis monitor is used to verify that the pipes have the stated composition . The wall thickness is determined using callipers , while an endoscope is available to check the internal cleanliness of smalldiameter tubes . Finally , the tubes are weighed ; as equally sized tubes have a constant weight , their combined mass is a reliable indicator of the number of tubes being stored or later retrieved . Then they are whisked away on an automatic tube stacker to one of the hundreds of storage locations . The order picking department is a spotlessly clean , spacious area dominated by several huge Hänel Lean-Lifts as well as a Fehr Honeycomb warehousing system , which soars high overhead . When an order is selected at a local computer terminal , one of the Lean- Lifts automatically hums into action . A few seconds later , a large tray with multiple compartments emerges at the
Paul ’ s bold stocking strategy has seen the company double its turnover within two years .
perfect working height . An illuminated arrow indicates the specific compartment containing the items that are needed . The operator counts out the exact number and immediately confirms how many remain in stock . With the parts correctly identified and counted , they are carefully boxed and labelled , so the recipient knows exactly what it contains . For larger orders , components are bagged then encased in suitable protective materials such as bubble-wrap plastic or foam to prevent any damage during transit . Individual pipes are laid on a wooden plank to avoid bending before being fully wrapped in plastic . “ We are one of the few suppliers to own a fleet of trucks , and as all of the truck drivers are on our payroll , they know how to treat the product ,” explains Paul . “ Transport companies don ’ t have expertise in handling stainless products and do everything with forklifts . In my opinion , forklifts are only good for damaging orders ! You need an overhead crane to correctly load stainless steel products .”
Further automation planned Paul has big future plans , including fully automating ordering and cutting systems to get orders dispatched even faster . “ We ’ re already very advanced with our level of digitalisation , and it ’ s an area I will continue to invest in . Our laser cutters are a good example ; we simply input the drawings , and the system immediately calculates a price for the customer . Embracing technology allows us to provide topquality products for our customers in a timely and efficient manner . It ’ s all about keeping our customers happy , no matter where they may be located and how big – or small ! – their orders may be ,” he concludes with his characteristic smile .
Facts & Figures Paul Meijering ...
• Stocks ten grades of stainless steel and special alloys .
• Stocks of 11,000 articles , such as pipes , tubes , sheets , flanges , fittings and components .
• Exports to over fifty countries daily .
• Ships 99 % of all orders on the same day .
• Is certified to re-mark tubes using soft , hard and laser markings .
• Has laser cutters to produce ready-to-install components .
• Established in 1989 , currently 67 employees . Website : www . paulmeijering . nl / en /
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