Wieger & Matthijs – CEO & CCO, Axxor Group
Unseen but essential: Zwolle-based AXXOR is embedded into millions of households worldwide. Its innovative honeycomb technology is found in countless everyday products: from furniture to cars. The products are light, strong and environmentally friendly, but AXXOR aims to go that one step further. One of the company’s goals is to return more to nature than it consumes.
Wieger & Matthijs - CEO & CCO
Zwolle-based AXXOR is a specialist in honeycomb cardboard and one of the few companies in Europe that focuses entirely on this product. With a strong market position and exports to 48 countries, AXXOR has developed over the years into an absolute expert in the field. Their innovative applications, speed and precision make them a dominant player in the honeycomb market. “We are very good at what we do,” say CEO Wieger Wiegersma and CCO Matthijs van Hunen. “We manufacture faster, easier and more precisely than others – even delivering additional benefits in the process.”
Axxor operates mainly in packaging, furniture manufacturing and automotive. What developments are taking place in these markets?
Matthijs: “There has been a huge shift in the furniture industry from solid wood to lightweight, eco-friendly alternatives such as honeycomb. An example is the famous display cabinet from the blue-and-yellow Swedish department store. You also see this transition to lighter materials in the automotive industry. The next big step is to replace EPS (Styrofoam) with an environmentally friendly alternative. The packaging market offers huge potential in this regard.”
What opportunities will emerge from that for you, do you think?
Matthijs: “For us, it’s not about growth for growth’s sake, it’s about responding to market trends. We want to open branches in strategic places in Europe so that we are closer to our customer groups. Southern and central Europe are high on our wish list.”
Axxor is already active abroad. What about your corporate structure?
Wieger: “We are a process-oriented organization with two production sites in Europe, Zwolle and Poland, which are nearly equal in size. The sales and supply chain are organized regionally. We also have a branch in Danville, United States. This site operates independently of Europe, however we share marketing, ICT, best practices and machine building technology.”
Dariusz, you are the COO of both European plants. How does that work on a daily basis?
“Every month I spend four days in the Netherlands to work with my colleagues in Zwolle and bring out the best in each other. We organize exchanges and projects in which employees share ideas and work together. The factories differ in terms of their specific expertise, and that generates examples of best practices that are shared. Our people are key to us, because they are what makes it all happen. We have variable teams working on improvements or carrying out larger projects.
My ambition for operations? Further developing both plants into ‘factories of the future’, with standardized processes and a culture of continuous improvement. These best practices will be applied to an anticipated new site and provide the basis for further growth. To realize this vision, close collaboration within our teams is indispensable.”
And just a word about the machines you guys build. Why is that?
Wieger: “The machines we need for honeycomb production simply do not exist in the market. That’s why we build them ourselves. This unique know-how and process knowledge gives us not only an advantage in efficiency, but also the ability to continuously innovate and tailor our machines precisely to our customers’ needs. Honeycomb applications are sometimes complex, which is why we like to visit major customers’ production sites and see how to support them. Our sales engineers reduce the total cost of ownership by improving runnability and minimizing waste. So genuinely an advisory role.”
You moved into this building in spring 2024. What is your ambition?
Wieger: “All production and office activities are centralized in this building, helping us to become more logistically efficient. Our ambition is to eventually be fully regenerative. That means we want to give back to nature more than we take from it. We’ve already switched away from gas and are running on renewable energy sources. We are also investing in biodiversity around our premises. In Poland, we are starting this now, too. Our goal is not only to reduce our own CO2 emissions, but also to actively contribute to the restoration of nature. A very different way of working, which revolves around balance.”
So what kind of employees fit into your organization?
Wieger: “Our employees must be able to work in harmony with that balance. It’s not only about profit or success, but also about cooperation and personal development. Employees must have the intrinsic motivation to contribute to our regenerative ambition and want to participate and be challenged. We are constantly seeking dialogue. One of the most important characteristics is courage. Courage to step away from your point of view, address each other non-judgementally and look for better solutions together.”
So courage is an important trait. What else?
Matthijs: “When it comes to sales – my area – you have to be creative and persuasive to understand the underlying motivations of customers and encourage them to consider using honeycomb cardboard. Our acquisition focuses on companies that are ready to transition to sustainable alternatives.”
Matthijs, you’ve been working here for almost 10 months now. What attracted you to it?
“The balance between sustainability, innovation and collaboration immediately appealed to me. This is not an average company where profit is paramount. Here, it's all about the right mix of people, planet and profit. And these are not empty promises – they really are acted upon.”
So how does that work in daily practice? What is the atmosphere and culture?
Matthijs: “We have an open, flat organization with plenty of room for personal responsibility and initiative. Cooperation between departments is intensive because we believe that together you achieve better results. Here we work not only on projects, but also on the personal growth of our employees. It is essential to us that everyone, regardless of position, books progress every year at both professional and personal levels. So there is no room for egos; everyone contributes to the common goal.”
Proud?
Wieger: “Our products may not be visible, but we are in almost every home. We are extremely proud of that!”
Want to take the next step? Then .
Photograph: Jurrian Neijenhuis
[Published: November 2024]
