The more complicated the work, the more fun it is.

Albert-Jan van Eldik is the new account manager at Hendriks.

Albert-Jan van Eldik (49) started as account manager at Hendriks on 1 January. He is thus leaving the world of tunnel and wall formwork at Hendriks steel formwork technology for that of moulds for the concrete industry and formwork for in-situ projects. It is a conscious choice. "I really like technology. The more complicated it gets, the more I like it. And Hendriks is the right place for me."

The management approached him last year just before the construction industry's summer break. They asked him if he wanted to become an account manager at Hendriks. "I had to think about it," says Albert-Jan van Eldik. "In the end, I made the decision before Christmas and started last January." Van Eldik brings a wealth of experience in mould construction, which he gained over the past decades at Hendriks steel formwork technology. He is used to working with minimal tolerances, efficient construction and optimal flexibility. What's more, he knows the company inside out. "I started at Hendriks as an all-round construction bench worker and worked my way up through various positions while studying in the evenings." He was a purchaser, assistant operations manager and, most recently, project manager at HSB.

Teamwork

Hendriks manufactures a very wide range of moulds. Van Eldik: "We help build steel moulds/formwork for viaducts, piles, quay walls, gallery slabs and columns for motorways. That makes the work very challenging and diverse." Van Eldik's first project in his new position was the development of a double mould for sandwich elements for Byldis Prefab in Veldhoven. "Every mould is custom-made," says the new account manager. "I really love technology. The more complicated it gets, the more I like it. That's what attracts me. Account manager is a commercial position, but at Hendriks it's actually much more technical. Together with the customer and engineers, you come up with ideas and brainstorm to find solutions. Thinking and realising things gives me a lot of energy and satisfaction. You supervise projects from A to Z as part of a team. That's what convinced me to make the switch."

Energy

The fact that he can take the next step in his career at Hendriks is an added bonus for him. When asked why he has been working at Hendriks for 34 years, he says without hesitation: "Hendriks is in my heart. I'm not a job hopper. That's obvious. I really enjoy it here. The atmosphere. The friendliness. The joint activities. The nice colleagues. The freedom you get, the attention and the resources to develop yourself further. Hendriks is simply a great employer." And the future? "The challenge of making something beautiful out of it is there. I can learn a lot and dive into the technology. I'm going into the coming years with renewed energy."