About Stokman

Hendrik-Jan (Henk) Stokman

The first generation of Stokmans led the company for over 3 decades. From his marriage, 11 children were born, and the oldest son naturally joined the company in 1952. Besides having received vocational training, Henk also had the greatest affinity for the business.

The company was considered modern for its time, having invested in modern machinery and motorized drive. For example, there was a single-engine driveshaft on-site that powered various drilling and sawing machines. This innovative culture still characterizes the company today. At that time, the company was a forge mainly carrying out maintenance for tanneries, dairy factories, and agricultural businesses. They conducted repairs on installations and produced replacement parts in the forge as needed. Craftsmanship, service, and problem-solving were central. Even then, downtime in processes was a significant cost factor for production and agricultural businesses, and the company addressed this perfectly, just as it does today. The customer focus that characterizes the company today originated from there.

Jan Stokman

After completing his mechanical engineering studies at HTS, Jan initially joined the research department of a ship engine factory. However, his heart was always more inclined towards the family business. Therefore, in 1973, the current director made his entrance into the family business. One of the key accounts at that time was a company specializing in fencing. Although small in size at the time, that company has since grown into a leading European provider of perimeter protection solutions with over 1200 employees.

The family business in 1973 comprised two generations of Stokmans, along with the wife and mother of the gentlemen, who was the driving force behind the business. Mrs. Stokman was essentially responsible for both administration and sales, as well as project planning. This was considered fairly emancipated and progressive at the time, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit deeply ingrained in the Stokman family.

In addition to the core business surrounding fencing, the company expanded into a total supplier of parts, assembled components, and complete machinery. Even after half a century, machines that once left the production site in Waspik are still frequently found worldwide.

By this time, Mr. Jan Stokman had taken over the daily management of the business and foresaw that the future and further expansion would lie in bringing a product (brand) to the market. The company’s first product was a machine for drilling holes and planting trees, which became a success not only for tree planting but also for installing pipeline supports in the oil sector.

In 1980, the company moved to a location with an area of 1200m² in Raamsdonksveer. It already had a number of operational employees at that time, mainly welders, turners, and millers. Some of these employees are still with the company today, having been in employment for over 40 years

The production of the current core business, the drums and rollers for bulk material handling systems, began in 1984.

Stokman initially believed it was making very good rollers, as they were cheaper than those of the competitors. However, it soon became apparent that price should always be secondary to quality. Total cost of ownership and continuity of business processes significantly determine the success and profitability of our customers. In collaboration with a renowned German engineering firm, we then produced the best possible roller without considering production costs. The slogan used by the famous German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz, “the best or nothing,” also applied to our products. The emphasis on the highest quality still remains central to our business operations today.

From 1990 onwards, the company experienced rapid growth, and the former location became too small. Therefore, construction began in 1994 on the current site. The current location covers a hectare, with 4500m² built and 5500m² unbuilt. One of the clients was a transshipment company. The service provided to this client was characterized as a full-service partnership. Stokman not only supplied the parts but also provided engineering, assembly, and maintenance for this project. This full-service approach laid the foundation for further growth of Stokman, leading to the hiring of team leaders, engineers, draftsmen, and field service personnel. Incidentally, this transshipment company is still a customer today.

Drums and rollers still often form the first point of contact in sometimes very long and successful relationships between customers worldwide and Stokman. Therefore, in 2020, we invested in a unique product configurator that allows everyone to customize rollers.

In the future, Stokman will continue to invest and further develop as a total supplier of transport solutions and as a global service partner. Currently, 60 people work at Stokman, with approximately 50 on-site and 10 as service and assembly partners on-site.

Wouter Stokman

Meanwhile, the 4^th generation of Stokmans is also active in the company. This generation brings forth the necessary energy as well as innovation. There has been significant investment in automation and robotics, both to further optimize production processes and to ensure the quality in the future. This automation and robotics, in part, ensure that Stokman, as a manufacturing company and knowledge institute in the field of transport systems, will continue to maintain a leading role in the coming decades.

Stokman, a century of innovation, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship.