On business trip to the Far East

29 November 2023

In August, our Chinese colleagues Iris and Karen paid a week-long visit to the Netherlands. In November it was the other way around. Taco, Jan, and Jeffrey hopped (finally after four years) on a flight to the Far East to invest in the relationship with our highly appreciated business contacts and to discuss potential new opportunities. It turned out to be a highly productive visit!

Making Strong Connections

After four long years, the moment we'd been waiting for finally arrived – we were heading back to China! This trip was all about checking out factories, having work discussions, and sharing meals with our contacts. Of course, Iris, Karen, and sometimes John were part of the crew too. It felt like a warm reunion with our business contacts, really emphasizing the strong bond we've built over the years.

Taco was the first to depart to China, followed by Jan who joined him in Hong Kong. Along with Iris and Karen they travelled towards Ningbo in the north where Jeffrey joined them. For Taco this was the last stop of his visit to China and the start of his journey back. With a full agenda of three weeks, where they visited many of our business partners and factories, they're looking back on a successful trip.

The development of China

Despite the pandemic, China hasn't been standing still. Significant progress has taken place over the past four years. The factories have clearly invested in more advanced machinery, and in a city like Shanghai, you can hear the birds chirping despite the bustling traffic. "All cars and scooters are electric here. It's quite a unique experience,", according to Jan and Jeffrey.

Over 50 people are working on a mortise lock

In the Netherlands, getting a new lock installed in your home within an hour is possible if required. The intricacies of how such a product is manufactured and the various processes involved are often overlooked. However, in the factories, this becomes evident. Take for example the production of a DX lock, where over 50 individuals contribute. Every part, down to the smallest components, is meticulously assembled by hand.

Of course, the quality of production and assembly is closely monitored. Dimensions, for example, are checked using assembled parts set aside during the process. At the end of the production run, a quality inspector comes by and evaluates the final lock based on, among other things, these components.

But this is just the execution of an ongoing process. Before a production process for a single product is initiated and the necessary components are available, a lot needs to be arranged. That's why these strong contacts, our purchasing office, and these business visits are so crucial. It's only through these well-established agreements and strong relationships that we can offer a range of almost 5000 products.