Insight

As a specialist in fasteners, Dutch distributor Kobout is continuously working on increasing its logistics capacity, as well as expanding its range even further, in order to go on providing a high-level of service to its customers.

Kobout has been a supplier of fastening materials since 1979, with the company now one of the largest players in the Dutch market – providing customers with a first-class service and excellent quality, supported by qualified staff and competitive prices.

“As a family business, Kobout always works on the relationship with its customers and suppliers. By staying close to the family values, and working with passion for the customer and the business, we are able to achieve close cooperation,” points out Cees Bijkerk, head of sales team trade at Kobout B.V. “We are also proud of our long employment relationships, with more than 20 colleagues being employed for more than 25 years.”

Kobout supplies both the trade and industry sectors and has seen differing demands from customers over recent years. “Due to high stock at customers’ warehouses, the demand from our trade customers recently has been temporarily less, but this is now picking up nicely again,” reports Cees. “We see big differences in the industry market, for instance companies involved in the energy transition are doing well, but there are also sectors that are having a hard time.”

In order to continue to meet the needs of both sectors, Kobout has made great strides in its internal logistics. “In our 13,300m² logistics centre, traditional racking and Hänel freight elevators offer more than 60,000 warehouse locations,” states Cees. “This means more than 50% of incoming and outgoing shipments are handled automatically.”

An increasing number of Kobout’s shipments also go through the Value Added Services department in order to realise additional customer wishes. “We are able to offer customers a wide variety of services to meets their specific needs, such as repackaging to private label, putting together sets or kits, assembling various parts, packaging per project or even metal processing such as sawing, drilling or tapping,” underlines Cees. “Our excellently trained employees are always ready to respond quickly and flexibly to specific customer wishes, as well as any developments within the market.”

A prime example is the work Kobout has already done when it comes to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation that is having a big impact on the market at the moment. “At this point, CBAM is just an administrative challenge for us as we are now well structured as an organisation to manage it,” says Jan-Arie de Jong, head of purchasing at Kobout B.V. “However, the challenge lies in the next phase, when actual emissions must be declared and paid for. Together with our suppliers we have investigated how they can reduce CO₂ emissions as quickly as possible in order to obtain more favourable rates.”