On (the) T at....Smurfit Westrock RapidCorr

This time the T-pot brought us to one of the oldest residents of Strijp-T: Smurfit Westrock RapidCorr Eindhoven, which since the last merger has become the official full name. Here Cecile Smeets and Boudie Hoogedeure spoke with Inge Hoevenaars-Koenraadt and Bastiaan Mullaert.

What does your organization do?

“Originally we were in de jaren ’50 the paper and corrugated cardboard factory of Philips and for many years Philips' packaging was made here. After many transitions, mergers and changes of ownership, our machine now supplies corrugated cardboard sheets, fully custom-made in various quality grades, with a very short delivery time for both small and large quantities” answers Bastiaan.

“Think, for example, of cover plates for stabilizing products on pallets, sheets where corners have been punched out or onto which printed paper has been processed and from which boxes are later made. Our sheets are used in a wide range of sectors as a finished product to protect valuable and/or fragile products or are processed into packaging”.

Bastiaan: “from time immemorial we have been located here in the middle of Strijp-T and are housed in a particularly historic building. Daily we literally see around us the site becoming greener and buildings being radically renovated, only to then see new companies established in them. So lovely to see large high-tech innovative 3D printers at neighbor Additive Industries. A true revival of Strijp-T is underway here, with many things coming into being in a short time.”

Inge adds: "And even though the majority of our workforce consists of factory workers, who are less likely to join network events of the Strijp-T community, there is, for example, renewed interest in the Strijp-T mobility project where you can experience what it's like to commute to work for a week by electric bike."

What is your role?

Inge: “My full title is ‘Customer Service and Supply Chain Manager’, which means that I, among other things, deal with sales, planning, communication and marketing within the company. In addition, I am an ‘ambassador’ at the Strijp-T community, in other words the link between the community and our company.” “And I fulfill the role of General Manager here in this wonderful company,” said Bastiaan.

Who do you want us to go to on the T next time and why? “At ThermoFisher Scientific in the Innovation Powerhouse. Recently I was there to drop off a package and I was astonished at how many people walk around in that building and that almost no one spoke Dutch....” said Inge.