Three years at Kersten coating technology | Jos Schröder looks back and forward

Three years ago we met Jos Schröder, general director of Kersten coating technology. Since then, Jos has made his mark on our company and it’s time to look back at the past years. But especially to look ahead to what the future has in store. The focus? Complexity. The distinctiveness of our company still lies in our expertise and craftsmanship. Read along.

Difficult work is our speciality

‘Difficult. That characterises the work of Kersten coating technology,’ Jos begins. ‘Don’t get me wrong, we are actually happy with that! Recently, we were offered a coating that you apply like paint. Very easy, but anyone can do that. But once it comes to coating complex parts, such as huge boilers, which require a specific oven and craftsmanship, that’s when our raison d’être begins. What you can get on any street corner has no added value for us. Our craftsmen add something unique to the process with their expertise, and that is what characterises us.’

At Kersten, we welcome difficult work

Market developments

Since taking office, Jos has seen numerous changes and developments within the market. ‘A lot is happening,’ he continues. ‘We see that water scarcity is becoming an increasing problem. All those new homes being built, that includes water facilities. There is currently catching up on water management in both Germany and the Netherlands, and we are responding to this with our coatings.’

In addition, Jos sees how the electrification of society offers new opportunities for our company. ‘Electrification is not only relevant for cars, but for all kinds of technological components that need to be protected with a coating. We are increasingly approached for applications that are crucial in these developments.’

AI and automation: opportunities and challenges

Artificial intelligence is another topic Jos talks about enthusiastically. ‘AI is everywhere, and we are looking at how we can use it to improve our processes. For example, we want to start using it to automatically read drawings. At the same time, we see that AI is also generating new business, especially in the chip industry, where ultra pure water is needed. The components involved need to be protected and we have the right coatings for that.’

Future-proof coatings

Kersten is at the forefront when it comes to developments around PFAS. PFAS (an abbreviation for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) include a list of more than 9,000 chemical compounds, which are or can be harmful to a greater or lesser extent. ‘As a certified coater, we have a privileged position by being involved in the development of alternative coatings from the early stages. We already have PFAS-free coatings in house at the moment, so that in the future – should there be a ban – we can simply continue to help our customers with an alternative.’

Professionals

But for all those beautiful and complex coating projects at Kersten, you do of course need the right people. That is why attracting and retaining professionals is of great importance to Jos. ‘There is no training for the profession we do here,’ he explains. ‘The specialist method we have in house – technical coating – is really in our people, who gained their knowledge during their careers with us. It is important to transfer this professional knowledge, and that takes time. That is why we invest a lot in internal knowledge sharing. The work is so specialised that new people often need a year to really get to grips with it. And even then they only know a fraction of the coating work we do, because some issues only occur once every five years.’

‘We offer flexibility, such as part-time work and parental leave, to keep our people happy. We also invest in job happiness by conducting satisfaction surveys. After all, employees are your most important capital, you have to take care of them,’ Jos explains.

Jos Schröder in front of our premises in Kahla (Germany)

Investments

Jos emphasises that downtime is not an option for Kersten. ‘In the past three years, we have invested several millions in new installations, new buildings and automation systems. New investments are also planned for the coming years, such as new and larger ovens that will allow us to treat larger components. The aim is to expand our capacity and position ourselves even more strongly as an expert in complex coatings.’

More than just a coating company

One of the most striking developments within Kersten is the decision to start mixing coatings ourselves. ‘We noticed that suppliers were struggling to supply smaller quantities of coatings. That is why we decided to make our own compounds, in cooperation with knowledge institutes. This enables us to supply specific coatings for niche markets, such as conductive coatings for ATEX applications.’

‘So we are not just a purchaser and applicator of coatings, but look at the bigger picture. What else needs to be done to add value for the customer and how does a coating help in this?’

Ready for the future

Whether the market fluctuates or not, Jos does not get nervous easily. ‘We are a stable company with a clear long-term vision. We don’t want to become a ‘thirteen-in-a-dozen’ company. Our goal is not to coat a simple fence with Rilsan, but to focus on complex issues that require craftsmanship. We continuously invest in our people, processes and facilities to be ready for the future.’

Jos concludes the interview with a clear message: ‘The possibilities offered by coatings are far from being known to everyone. There is still a world to be won. Sometimes the right coating leads to huge savings for our customers, which is why we do what we do.’

Are you also curious what possibilities coatings offer for your problem, question or project? We would love to think with you! Request a consultation.