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With the IT revolution and technological innovations continuing to grip the world, one company in the Netherlands is positioning itself to meet global client demands.
Established in the country in 1988, Shin-Etsu Polymer Europe has focused its sales, manufacturing and R&D facilities on the European automotive and telecommunications sectors. Company general manager Henk Kip explains: "We work alongside our customers to give them what they want. Rather than pushing certain products, we emphasize the fact that we sell solutions." With years of experience in the production and sale of silicone keypads and solder-less interconnectors, Shin-Etsu Europe prides itself on the quality of its products and in its ability to keep up with changes in the markets. Currently, 70 percent of the company's turnover comes from the sale of existing stock produced elsewhere, while on-site manufacturing makes up the other 30 percent of sales. That proportion is seen to change drastically in the future and increase the importance of the Dutch subsidiary. "There is a strategic change taking place right now and we are in close consultation with our experts in Japan," Kip said. "Towards the end of this year, if our plans work out, we expect to be able to produce a lot more products here." As a Dutch businessman working in a Japanese company, Kip stresses that both nationalities can learn a lot from one another. "It is important you give each other mutual trust," he says, "and also that you appreciate things from both sides. We also keep everybody enthusiastic and inspire one another." Yutaka Kawamura, president of Shin-Etsu Europe is equally enthusiastic about the company and its future. "We have many excellent employees here and Shin-Etsu Polymer has a great deal of technological knowledge that we will continue to use and adapt to what the customer is asking of us," he concludes.
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Shin-Etsu Polymer Europe General Manager Henk Kip (left) and President Yutaka Kawamura (right)