Insight

An importer of fasteners since 1979, Kobout BV can provide an extensive range of steel and stainless steel fasteners – with more than 25,000 products in its 13,300m² warehouse.  

Based in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, the Netherlands, Kobout’s main customers are from the trade, industry and construction sectors. “With our team and expertise, and our extensive range of high-quality products, we are able to provide a first-class service from our warehouse, which has been expanded several times over the years,” mentions Kobout. “We have also recently invested in a new Warehouse Management System to further improve our processes and we have made considerable investment in Value Added Logistics & Services (VAL/VAS). This means that we can now provide all kinds of packing, boxes, labels, sets, as well as Kanban systems with RFID.”

Kobout has also been keen to invest in building relationships with its partners and suppliers, so that it can work closely with them to find solutions were possible. “We have very good contacts with our long-term partners and suppliers and this was very beneficial when the issues regarding the supply of products started to occur in 2020,” points out Kobout. “As a business we spread our tonnage over extra suppliers/capacity and thanks to our very good contacts, with our long-term partners, we were able to receive goods in time.”

When it comes to the increased prices – due to the costs of raw material, freight and labour – Kobout is also very clear on what steps need to be taken. “Every time we place an order that prices have increased, even if its only days or hours between orders. The only steps we can take are to pass this price on in the same way to our customers,” mentions Kobout. “This is how we’ve always approached it and it is the same for when prices decrease. We need a certain profit to run our business, but we still move with the prices, upwards or downwards, as we believe that is how you create strong partnerships. When it comes to the current prices, we think they will decrease eventually, but they will never go back to the same levels as prior to the pandemic – due to the investments needed by all businesses towards sustainability and the environment.”

Kobout concludes: “We are very happy and proud to be a NEVIB member. It’s really good and professional to have such an organisation in the Netherlands that provides us with a lot of information and support on the major topics impacting the market.”