'Always equipped with the latest technology'

Complete range of garden machinery with work-through guarantee

The Eijk Group has a long-term cooperation with Poel, supplier of garden machinery from Stihl, among others. In addition to supplying the machines and accessories, Poel also takes on maintenance, repair and replacement service. "The work never comes to a halt.

Erik Punt is general manager of De Eijk Groep, a collection of independent companies active in tree care, landscaping, construction of roof gardens and playgrounds, and civil work, among others. A total of 165 people work at De Eijk Groep. In 2008, Punt took over De Eijk Groep from Dura Vermeer. "That's how I ended up in Apeldoorn then, and I wanted to build on the contacts that were already there. At that time, Poel was already the supplier of brush cutters, leaf blowers and chainsaws, among other things. We were doing business purely at the transaction level then, because maintenance and repairs we could still handle ourselves."

'Electrification boosts innovation'

Due in part to acquisitions and expansions, the fleet of small equipment grew over the years. More and more clients also had the desire to work as emission-free and low-noise as possible. Especially for work around schools, day care centers and healthcare facilities, this was often a requirement for work to be done during the day. "Poel proved very progressive in introducing the innovations of Stihl, which developed a battery system that allows a standard battery to fit multiple machines. That proved to be the solution to accommodate our customers and prune, cut and leaf blow with as little noise as possible. Electrification did give a big boost to innovation."

Multi-year agreement

As De Eijk Groep experienced significant growth, logistical challenges also arose. Because of the good relationship with Poel, both companies decided to enter into a multi-year agreement. Poel supplies machines and accessories to the various branches (Apeldoorn, Utrecht, Almere) and offers De Eijk Groep the necessary support. For example, the components of De Eijk Groep are guaranteed fast service, annual inspections, spare machines in case of breakdowns and toolboxes in which staff receive tips on how to work efficiently and ergonomically with the supplied materials. Punt: "So we are always equipped with the latest techniques. In addition, Poel takes the repairs and maintenance of the machines off our hands. They also ensure that the work process does not come to a standstill. If a machine breaks down, we can immediately get a replacement. That prevents stagnation costs. In addition, they provide us with the required personal protective equipment and safety clothing. They know exactly what we need with each machine. From saw pants and saw shoes to helmets. So we don't have to look into that ourselves."

Pleasant to deal with

Also not unimportant in a multi-year cooperation, is the contact between the two companies. Punt is very appreciative of this, looking back over the past few years. "The people at Poel are pleasant to deal with and I find that very important. They communicate clearly and are flexible in dealing with the capricious needs of a contracting company. It's nice to have a personal owner you can always call if there's something, even at night if necessary. Business, as far as I'm concerned, is always personal and not strictly a financial transaction."