Investing in Excellence: Product training for our staff

HEC staff in product training

HEC-Holland has been adding extra value to the chain for over 15 years. Our cutting-edge slitting facility in Tilburg, the Netherlands, is dedicated to providing converting solutions tailored for the cable and wire industry. In order to keep high quality standards in our production facility, Kurt fulfilled a product training.

Make-To-Order

In our cutting-edge slitting facility, precision meets efficiency. Specializing in tailored solutions, we employ a make-to-order strategy to meet your unique requirements. Our adept team excels at slitting, cutting and winding cable tapes and foils. From polyester-based tapes, with or without swelling properties, we deliver customized dimensions, guaranteeing each product aligns with your exact specifications. Our slitting facility is capable of slitting a broad range of cable tapes and foils, including: PE, PET, PP-Foamed, Mica and different kinds of metals (copper, aluminium and steel). With a commitment to quality and modern technology, our facility stands at the forefront of the industry. We promise to deliver excellence in every slit, cut, and wind.

Product Training for HEC staff

Kurt, our production manager, oversees all processes within the slitting facility. Together with his colleagues, he is passionate to coordinate tailor-made solutions for our customers. In order to uphold the quality standards of our production facility, it is important our staff stays updated with the latest knowledge and experience keeping our facility in an optimal state.

Therefore, our production manager travelled to our suppliers in China together with our product manager, immersing themselves in an extensive training on slitting various materials used for cable tapes and foils. The training sessions, spanning multiple days and multiple suppliers, covered every production step, from setting up machines, installing knives, slitting material to handling and troubleshooting. This comprehensive training equips our team to navigate through the process of transforming raw materials into personalized end-user products.

Building partnerships: Special thanks to our Suppliers

In extending our gratitude to our suppliers, we acknowledge their commitment to the growth and proficiency of our staff. The training not only deepened our technical expertise but also fostered discussions about material quality and production challenges. These dialogues contribute to mutual improvement, enhancing the value we provide to our customers.

Together we connect the world of tomorrow!

HEC-Holland attends Wire Düsseldorf 2024

HEC-Holland attends Wire Düsseldorf 2024

HEC-Holland attends Wire Düsseldorf

In the realm of the cable and wire industry, one event stands out as an important hub for innovation, collaboration and networking – the Wire Düsseldorf trade fair.  We as HEC-Holland, a leading supplier of materials for this dynamic sector, are eager to participate this event after our successful participation in the previous edition. The Wire is open from 15 till 19 April 2024.

During our previous presence at Wire, we showcased cutting-edge materials that cater the continuous changing cable and wire sector. Our booth was a buzz with activity as industry professionals came to our booth and witnessed our innovative products and solutions and engaged in meaningful conversations. The positive feedbacks we received made us eager to be present at the next Wire.

Meet us at Hall 11, stand H39

Our anticipation is growing as the calendar turns to April 15-19, 2024. HEC-Holland is preparing for an impactful presence at the world’s leading fair for the cable industry. We would love to engage with you to discuss the latest innovations, have a chat or explore exciting new projects. HEC-Holland is eager to connect with industry leaders, forge new partnerships, and make valuable contributions to the cable and wire sector.

During the Wire we also have a meeting room available, where we could arrange a meeting with you, if you would prefer this. Please contact one of our Account Managers or email us on our email address. More information about the Wire show and our stand can be found here!

Visit HEC-Holland at WIRE Düsseldorf 2024, Hall 11, Stand H39, from 15-19 April 2024.

Your slitting partner

Our slitting service sets us apart, allowing us to tailor-cut cable tapes to meet the specific needs of our customers. This approach ensures that our clients receive materials that perfectly align with their requirements, promoting efficiency and performance.

Moreover, we are proud of our solution-oriented and personalized approach. Our dedicated team goes beyond product supply, offering excellent technical and logistical support. Clients benefit from our industry expertise, allowing them to navigate challenges seamlessly and make informed decisions.

As we look forward to Wire Düsseldorf 2024, we invite industry professionals to experience firsthand the advantages that make us a leader in the field – tailored solutions, solution-oriented approach, and excellent support.

We hope to see you at Wire on our stand!

Supplier of semi-conductive compounds

TSC - supplier of semi-conductive compounds

Supplier of semi-conductive compounds

TSC is HEC-Holland’s supplier for semi-conductive compounds for the European cable and wire market. They are a proven supplier in the market of thermoplastic and thermoset insulation semiconductive compounds. TSC (Total Solution for Compounding) is established in 1968 and can rely on over 50 years of experience in compounding. They are developing and manufacturing their products in the Korean Peninsula.

Quality assurance and product selection

At HEC-Holland quality is of great importance. All our suppliers must therefore meet a number of quality tests before we collaborate. Therefore, we have done several laboratory scale and industrialization tests to ensure the quality of the products and processes of TSC.

During the past year we have tested multiple measurements such as, IEC standard and Cenelec HD 620 2 Y 50 Hz test, including VDE level. Also the accelerated test of 3.000 hrs/ 500 Hz has been part of our testing programme. All our thermoplast en thermoset semi-conductive insulation compounds passed the strict tests.

We are pleased to announce that we have commercialized the products listed below for several of our customers and they are already used in their cable design. And, we keep on building up the customer base in the European market for the products and materials provided by TSC Korea.

TSC products

  • HEC-SC-230 – MV semicon – adhesive insulation compound
  • HEC-SC-250 – MV semicon – bonded insulation compound
  • HEC-SC-330 – MV semicon – strippable insulation compound
  • HEC-SC-600 – SC sheathing jacketing compound

More information

Sample material for lab testing and/or industrial homologation trails are available upon your request. For more technical information you can contact us in order to receive detailed Product Data Sheets.

Are you interested in our supplier and what their products can do for your project(s)? Our account managers are eager to give an online presentation and tell you about the possibilities.

Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn and stay informed about our latest news.

HEC-Holland is looking for environmental solutions

HEC-Holland is looking for environmental solutions

Pallets made of wood fiber

HEC-Holland is always looking for environmental solutions and ways to reduce its carbon footprint. A few months ago, we started testing wood fiber pallets in our warehouse in Tilburg. These pallets are seen as a possible environmental friendly substitute to the normal wooden pallets.

These pallets have both environmental- and logistical advantages. The first advantage is in the material of the pallet. By compressing the wooden fibers into the desired dimension, we can load our containers more efficiently and leave less space “un-used”. Additionally, this material is made from wasted wood. This means that our pallets are made of 100% recycled material and can be recycled again when they are at the end of their lifespan.

Next to the material, the form of the pallets makes it possible to stack the pallets. By stacking these pallets we need 70% less room, compared to the standard wooden pallets. The transportation of the pallets is more efficient this way since we need less transportation. Less transportation also means lower carbon emission. In addition, it saves storage space in our warehouse.

Finally, our pallets are safer for our staff, our client’s staff and the products. In these pallets, no nails or sharp edges will be found, which traditional pallets might have. These could damage the product

Conclusion

So, when looking at the previous points we were convinced we should further investigate in the possibility of using the pallets. They are not just used for our light weighted products, but are also used for the more heavy loads. We are monitoring this testing process and are convinced that these pallets could replace the standard wooden pallets for some of our products. Next to this project, we are always looking into innovations and developments which can help us to be more aware of the environment. If you are familiar with environmental solutions, you can always get in contact with us.

 

Is there hope for better price-settings in the cable industry?

As everyone in the cable industry might know, the C2 price has been showing an upward trend for about 1,5 years. This trend has continued during the first months of 2022. However, we see some stabilization but aren’t sure this will stay. The summertime is ahead but due to global market situation on crude oil and gas it would be a rough guess what the price of C2 will do. It is likely that it will increase within this or next month. This shows the price settings in the cable industry are hard to predict at the moment.

Material pricing

Polyolefins

The C2 price has, of course, a direct impact on our polyolefin prices. These prices have been rising every month in the last 1,5 year as well. Partly due to the C2 feedstock developments but also other key factors on logistics and availability versus the increasing market demand have an effect on the development of the price settings.

Raw materials

We as HEC-Holland have a wide range of raw materials. We have different types of tapes, wires, yarns, FRP rods and so on. In 2021, the price of these materials increased the most, but this year they continued to increase every month. It is hard to predict how long this will continue to rise. Or will the stabilizing C2 price directly affect these materials?

Logistical pricing

In addition to the product price increase, the logistical/transport prices have also been rising for the last few years. Before COVID-19, at the beginning of 2020, the price for a 40 feet sea container from Shanghai to Rotterdam was about $2,000. At the peak, at the beginning of 2022, this price went over the $15,000. Hereafter, the prices went down a bit, and now it’s stabilizing for months. The sea freight price for a 40 feet container is now about $11,000.

In contrast to the stabilizing sea freight prices, road transport has increased a lot lately. The main reason is the war between Russia and Ukraine. This war resulted in high fuel prices and a shortage of available drivers. Lastly, the workload has also increased since international traffic is constantly increasing.

Conclusion

To conclude the price settings in the cable industry, the prices of our products and the transport prices are still rising, but there is some hope for improvement. But, no one can predict the future. We recommend that you contact your account manager to discuss what possibilities HEC-Holland is able to offer you, in order to secure your (future) production requirements. Furthermore, he or she is able to update you about the latest market developments and trends. This could be helpful to keep on track and think strategically ahead.

Wire Düsseldorf 2022

HEC-Holland Wire

Wire in Düsseldorf

From 20 to 24 June 2022, the world’s leading trade fair in the cable industry “Wire Düsseldorf” (International Trade Fair for Wire and Cable) will be held. After a couple of years of due to Covid-19, the fair will open their doors again at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre. Here manufacturers gather to showcase their products and services as well as innovative technologies, new machinery and equipment from different global sectors. Each year this fair has been a networking hotspot for the whole wire and cable market. Innovators, investors, suppliers, manufacturors and more gather for the latest innovations for the market. The last 10 years we have been a visitor to this trade fair to lay valuable connections, but this year our approach will be different.

HEC-Holland as exhibitor

For the first time since our establishment in 2010, we are proud to announce we will host our own stand. We always wanted to exhibit here. Due to our continuing growth we were finally able to accomplish this. We would like to invite you to our stand H39 in Hall 11 and meet up. And please make sure you don’t miss out on: seeing our products on display, competing in our contest and tasting some Dutch delights.

Besides the stand we have a meeting room for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This means that we could arrange a meeting with you, if you would prefer this. Please contact one of our Account Managers or email us on our email address. More information about the Wire show and our stand can be found here!

We hope to see you there on stand H39 in Hall 11!

Introducing Rick Seijler

introducing rick seijler
HEC-Holland is growing steadily and in February we were happy to welcome another new member to join us. Today we are introducing Rick Seijler. He will be our new Product Manager.

Introducing Rick Seijler – Who am I?

Hi everyone, I am Rick, 25 years old and currently living in Nijmegen. I have been living in Nijmegen for five years now. Before moving, I lived in a small village south of Nijmegen called Malden. Last December, I graduated as a master of Marketing Management at Tilburg University, which ended my time as a student. Before this master program, I studied Business Administration at the University of Applied Sciences in Nijmegen. I am an enthusiastic, driven and ambitious person who is motivated to achieve goals within a team. I believe this fits with the overall look of the company HEC-Holland, in which we work together to help our customers in the best way possible. Next to working, I love to spend time with family and friends, I like going to a restaurant, cinema or having a drink in the local pub. Furthermore, I like to play sports. My hobbies are going to the gym, playing basketball and playing golf. I used to play golf in national and international championships, in which I learned how to take sacrifices to achieve goals. This mentality is something that really defines me as a person and can help me during my time at HEC-Holland.

My role within the HEC-team

My role within HEC-Holland is ‘’Product Manager’’. I take care of both the marketing communication and our product portfolio. In these tasks I will work closely with our front office, back office and our sourcing offices. I already have some experience in marketing communication which can definitely help me starting up in this job. I just started a few months ago, and I already feel at home. My new colleagues have welcomed me very warmly and are really supportive on all my questions and challenges.

Thoughts for the future

Before I started working at HEC-Holland I was not very familiar with the cable industry. However, I am very eager to learn about the products and I want to know more about this market. Therefore, I believe I will learn fast and will make sure to be able to answer in-depth questions on our products as soon as possible. I am looking forward to all the challenges coming in the future and to get in touch with all our stakeholders! If any questions arise, please get in contact with our team! You can also find more information about Rick on his LinkedIn page.

Our new office at Velperweg

new office arnhem velperweg

Moving to our new office at Velperweg

After eight years working in our old office at the Eusebiusbuitensingel 3 in Arnhem, we have moved to a new location in Arnhem, at the Velperweg 82. HEC-Holland has grown rapidly in these past eight years. At the previous location there was no more space for all of us to work, which is why this is the perfect moment for us to move to a brand new and modern office. After a lot of (re)building activities and preparations the last few weeks, we have moved on the 29th of April and started working in our new “home” on the 2nd of May.

 

Our new office

Our new office is designed by an interior designer and will have a modern look and feel. The office has two state of the art meeting rooms, with the highest standard in Technology. Furthermore, HEC-Holland has invested in every way possible to improve the working environment of its employees and to stimulate their health. For example, we use new high quality office chairs and electronic desks who are adjustable in height. this way our employees are able to stand during work, which will benefit and stimulate their health.

This new office is especially perfect for inviting clients, suppliers, partners and other relations to come to Arnhem for a meeting. It is without saying that you are always welcome to visit us and have a formal or informal chat with a great cup of coffee.

Please contact us and make an appointment.  

new office arnhem velperweg2
new office arnhem velperweg3
new office arnhem velperweg4

The availability of aluminum

Aluminium tape

“Aluminum prices keep on rising”, “aluminum isn’t available”, “aluminum stocks have fallen to critical levels”. These are just a handful of headlines out of the news from the past year. Due to a broad variety of reasons the prices of all raw materials, including aluminum keep on rising and the availability of aluminum is getting less. This also affects the wire and cable market and we as supplier of materials specific for the cable and wire market are seeing the disadvantages these developments bring with them.

Right at the start of this situation, HEC saw an opportunity instead of a threat. Our HEC Shanghai Office kept on building a good and solid relationship with our aluminum supplier. This lead to ongoing supplies of aluminum at a good price. In the same time, our supplier has been looking into their own supply chain. They made sure the supply chain was optimized for a solid cooperation with HEC-Holland.

This collaboration, combined with the ability to slit aluminum tapes in our own warehouse in The Netherlands (after the purchase of an aluminum cutter last year), made HEC-Holland a stable factor in the market.

Currently, HEC is able to keep the availability of aluminum up and supply the customer with the needed materials, which is something we are very proud of.

We will keep collaborating with our partners to be able to deliver the best quality, for the best price. This way, we are sure we won’t let our customers down.

Curious about opportunities in the cable and wire market for your company? Feel free to contact your account manager or send us an e-mail.