On (the) T at… AFA Dispensing

Cecile Smeets and Boudie Hoogedeure visited this time, at the request of Hans de Gier of SyncForce, downstairs neighbor AFA Dispensing and spoke there while enjoying a cup of T with Thomas Schuffenhauer.

What does your organization do?

“At AFA Dispensing we do more than develop packaging. We are an innovation partner in spraying liquids. For our partners we create unique solutions that contribute to sustainability and new revenue models. Think, for example, of replacing spray cans with refillable systems. A nice example is our olive oil spray bottle that is sold via Amazon. Funny enough, our upstairs neighbor has bought it, and that has led to this T-moment together.”

“We operate worldwide, with factories in Asia and the US. Our headquarters is located at Strijp-T, in building TQ. Here we have a large department for research and innovation, where we develop technologies that will only be in the supermarket in two to three years. We deliberately chose this location, in the middle of the Brainport Eindhoven region, because of the innovation culture, technical expertise and the strong ecosystem”.

“This building reflects who we are: at its heart are the innovative technological solutions for the people around us. This inspiring environment appeals to both visitors and employees. That's why we are located here”.

What is your role?

“My title is Executive Vice President AFA Academy. With this I emphasize that my role is also not traditional, but focused on value creation, both internally and externally.  Through our AFA Academy we promote collaboration and knowledge growth. We constantly ask ourselves: what solution do we want to offer in a changing world? Soon we will convert our atrium into an experience area to make that even more visible”.

Who do you want and why should we go to (the) T next time?

“Then I choose Additive Industries. They also serve their customers in an innovative way, in this case the 3D metal printing market. Such game-changing market approaches require new business models and a different strategic mindset. I believe that here at T we still have much to learn from each other.”