Steel builder makes the difference with (standard) software

Staalbouw Kampen has been using Liemar software for many years. Since the takeover by the Weever Group in January 2024, a fresh wind has been blowing through the company and the new management decided to take a fresh look at the software. And that has worked out extremely well.

Staalbouw Kampen has been a renowned player in the steel construction industry for many years. The company was founded in 1990 by Harrie Stoel, an entrepreneur from Kampen, and has been located on the Genuakade since 2012, with its own ship loading and unloading facilities. At some point, Stoel was looking for a takeover candidate, and he found it in Weever Group. "Staalbouw Kampen fits well with our ambition to be a total supplier," says brand-new director Cor van Wijngaarden. "Where we build with Weever Construction, we need steel, and where we demolish with Weever Demolition, steel is released that we like to use in a circular way. That comes together in Steel Construction Kampen."

Higher level

Liemar is a system that was purchased by Stoel at the time to get the document flow manageable, but also to calculate and structure all project files, Van Wijngaarden knows. "That was necessary because of the increasing tonnages. While in the early years 200 tons of steel was processed, it eventually became 2,000 tons. And then it is important to work in a structured way. This is perfectly possible with Liemar, were it not for the fact that the software was used for less than 10% of what it is capable of. After the takeover and given our ambitions, we felt we had to raise that level. So we intensified our contacts with Liemar, because we absolutely see the added value of the system."

Broader deployment

According to Van Wijngaarden, the reason that Liemar's deployment remained somewhat on the sidelines for years was that there was no intended acquisition candidate for the steel company. "Consequently, it did not have such a need to upgrade the functional tasks for which it was using the software. It was mainly used by staff to store documents and calculations, but the possibilities are of course much greater. For example, it also lends itself very well as a scheduling program. We sat down with Liemar to use the system more broadly. So now the calculation module is also used much more widely. It gives us a better overview of the orders and drawings are read in accurately and 'cleanly', which reduces the risk of errors."

Better competitiveness 

"We are now at the point where - by broadly deploying Liemar - we are able to act more quickly and flexibly and serve customers faster," Van Wijngaarden summarizes. "And that's nice, because we operate in a rather volatile market. Making an offer today and starting tomorrow is not very foreign to us. There is also quite a lot of competition, even in our region. Nevertheless, we believe that there is no steel company within a radius of 100 kilometers that works in such a fast and high-quality manner. Thanks to Liemar, we always fulfill our agreements. After all, we have complete oversight. We do what we say and say what we can. That may sound vague, but in practice it is sometimes experienced differently." 

Steel prices fluctuate widely. "The share of steel is an important component in our quotation amounts," Van Wijngaarden rightly states. "Liemar gives us daily real-time insight into what rates we need to charge. Moreover, the software is extremely user-friendly. Even new employees find their way around the system very easily. And the great thing is that the software is now even linked to the systems of our other divisions, which, incidentally, do not offer nearly the functionality that Liemar does." He is therefore considering eventually making the switch with the other divisions as well. "Of course it requires effort, but it definitely pays off. Qualitatively, we're really taking a hit right now." 

'Staalbouw Kampen sets the tone with sustainable entrepreneurship'

"At Liemar, we are proud of our long, good cooperation with Staalbouw Kampen. The progressive steps it has taken since its acquisition by the Weever Group mark a new phase in its development," said Niels Oudenaarden of Liemar. "After the takeover, a fresh wind is blowing through the organization, with a clear ambition to continue to grow and to put sustainability at the center of its activities. As Liemar, we are happy to support to optimize the processes to this end."

Sustainability plays an important role within the Weever Group, and Staalbouw Kampen plays a highly distinctive role in this regard. The steel that is released during the demolition of existing buildings is given a new life in new projects, contributing to the circular economy and strengthening the entire chain within the Group. If the released steel cannot be reused immediately, it can be stored on our own site for later use. 

"Staalbouw Kampen combines innovation with a warm, personal approach. That makes her unique," Oudenaarden continued. "Its sustainable ambition fits seamlessly with its strong growth ambitions, and it is great to see it leading the way in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship within steel construction."