3 questions always asked of known machine tool supplier

When you sit down at the table with Niels and Cees van Essen at Kruba BV's headquarters in Baarn, you know you're talking to two professionals. The 65-year young company is no stranger to the industry: a strong profile due, among other things, to its specialization in supplying machines for processing plastic, wood and aluminum for the window frame industry. Nevertheless, the two still sometimes meet a single person who is not familiar with Kruba BV. "Usually they then ask us three questions," Niels and Cees say.

Question 1:

'Will you help us set up with the production line for manufacturing plastic frames?

Niels and Cees: "Of course the answer is 'Yes.' But we always ask return questions. For example, we want to know how much is currently being produced and we also always hope to get an answer to the question of where the questioner wants to grow with his company and ambitions. This allows us to take much better account of machine choices. The interesting thing is that this customer-to-be does not always know the exact answer. In itself, that's not a problem. Because scaling up is never a problem. After all, we have the expertise to guide a growth trajectory even at that moment. Moreover, we always aim for a long-term relationship. If you talk to each other regularly, you will automatically come up with efficient ideas for scaling up. But: the question must of course always be asked!"

Question 2:

'What machines do we need taking into account production capacity as well as production for machining wood-look joints?'

Niels and Cees: "Tricky, because there are quite a lot of variables. For example, we always ask about the available budget. But it's also about the number of square meters available at the production site. And, what profile system is the customer working with?"

"You then always have one or more conversations about that because ... all the necessary modifications do eventually have to be incorporated into the machines. This involves thinking about the tilt-turn and door fittings, among other things. What also always comes up for discussion is the work preparation software. Important to know."

"By the way, the same answers apply to questions about wood-look joint production. However, answers can sometimes be complex. But this is exactly where our knowledge lies: we ask (return) questions that the customer often hasn't even thought about himself."

Question 3:

'Can Kruba provide a layout drawing of the layout of a business space, if we purchase the machine?'

Niels and Cees: "Yes! Once we have all the information, the detailing of the proposal follows. Whether it is a simple (manually operated) production line to CNC controlled machines: everything deserves a detailed drawing. Very accurately - down to the centimeter - the entire concept is then visualized. Naturally, we take into account the logistics outside the machines in this piece of planning. We call that the intermediate buffers."

Niels and Cees say that almost always a quotation process can be started, once these three questions-and-answers have been completed. "By the way, we emphasize that the aforementioned question-and-answer process does not only apply to the plastics industry but also to the machining of aluminum and wood."