Continuous focus on what can be done better and smarter

Verdo Staal is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Started as a one-man business, the Bergambacht-based steel builder is now the specialist in a variety of steel products. From large steel structures for industrial buildings to sheds, stables, stairs, balustrades, fencing and other small(er) steel parts, with a high degree of automation. Both in production and in the office, where the MatrixMetaal ERP software of Matrix Software has been used for 15 years.

Verdo Staal's success story starts in 1999, when Gerard Verdoold starts hiring himself out as a steel fabricator to steel construction companies in the region. With a van and welding cart, he drove from project to project for a year. When he got the chance to rent a building in 2000, his own production of small steel constructions and fencing was added. In 2003, the company even built its own 300 m2 building in Bergambacht, says Marleen Verdoold-De Jager, office manager at Verdo Staal and Gerard's wife. "From then on, we were also able to realize larger steel constructions. For example, for commercial buildings," she says. "We were here for ten years, until in 2013 we were able to buy a new piece of company land in industrial park De Wetering in Berg-ambacht, where we are still located. A great opportunity, because by now we had grown quite large. Moreover, Gerard had just bought a drill-saw installation for which we were still looking for a good spot."

In the years that followed, Verdo Staal's production took off. Because of space, but also because more and more processes on the shop floor could be automated, says Verdoold-De Jager. "By automating, we can work even more accurately, quickly and (cost-) efficiently, and our delivery times are shortened." Following the drill-saw installation, for example, followed a welding robot on which steel beams can be welded fully automatically, she says. But also a cutting machine, which will soon be replaced by a laser cutting machine. "With our new 12 kW plate laser, we can cut steel plates up to 40 mm thick. In addition, a tube laser machine will soon be added, with which we can also cut tubes, tubes and beams. This machine has an input and output of as much as 12 meters and a cutting capacity of up to 350 mm." In both 2018 and 2022, Verdo Staal's premises were enlarged by 1,000 m2, giving the steelmaker an impressive 3,000 m2 of production space. "From this space, we create strong steelwork for our customers every day!" These customers primarily include local contractor parties, as well as fellow steel construction companies for which Verdo Staal provides drill-saw work.

For the design of the steel structures, Verdo Staal now works with Tekla Structures, from which the machines can also be controlled. "In addition, we have a piece of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software that takes care of the nesting for the machines," said Verdoold-De Jager. "This allows us to cut our steel beams into exactly the right lengths faster and with less waste." However, the first steps in 3D steel drawing and machine control were taken with the ProSteel and - later - Advance Steel software, of which Matrix Software is the Dutch distributor. At that time, the foundation was also laid for the long-term cooperation with Matrix Software.

"About 15 years ago the desire arose to have a simple and clear insight into what we were earning from each job," Verdoold-De Jager says. "Of course this could be done in Excel, but this took too much time for us. Therefore, we were looking for a suitable software program for initially the post-calculation and order registration, which we found in MatrixMetaal. Because all profiles and prices are included, we can quickly make good calculations and quotations. Moreover, we can easily transfer approved quotations to the MatrixMetaal Project order registration, in which we also do the post calculation. This gives us insight and guidance for other projects."

In recent years, Verdo Staal has unlocked more and more functions in MatrixMetaal. As an example, Verdoold-De Jager mentions time registration, processing purchase invoices, preparing sales invoices and CE documentation. "To be allowed to apply a CE mark to our steel structures, we have to comply with the NEN-EN 1090 standard. An important part of this is extensive registration and recording. For this, MatrixMetaal offers a separate module, in which we can enter all variable values and material certificates and format our documents. Moreover, we can easily forward the documents from the package to our customers. And also our sales invoices are now sent from MatrixMetaal."

"We have regular contact with branch manager Jacko Woutersen and product manager Carlo Heisterkamp to evolve our processes and requirements," Verdoold-De Jager concludes. "Because they are well acquainted with the set-up of our system, questions are quickly answered. In addition, Jacko regularly informs us how we experience certain modules within the software, on the basis of which the software is constantly further optimized. We really appreciate these short lines of communication. Agreements are well kept." Woutersen: "Verdo Staal has a clear focus on the better and smarter design of processes. Both at the production level and in the design and calculation phase, in which we have successfully and happily supported each other for nineteen years. About six years ago, we completely renewed the MatrixMetaal ERP package. At that time Verdo Staal logically explored other software products in the market, on the basis of which it again and wholeheartedly chose our software."