A group of Damen colleagues from Vlissingen visited Damen Marine Components (DMC) in Hardinxveld-Giessendam at the end of May. The participants consisted of colleagues from different Damen divisions who are recent graduates of the Damen Leadership Development Program – DLD1, and it was a great occasion to catch-up, says Ricarda Lang, System Analysis Engineer at Damen Naval.

“We received a welcome invitation from Alex Barnhoorn, Financial Controller at DMC, to visit his workplace and get to know more about the Damen Shipyards Group and to experience the idea of One-Damen. Our visit started with a small introduction round together with Managing Director Mark Visser, before he gave us a presentation about DMC.”

DMC has undergone an interesting transformation from the Van der Giessen Shipyard and Van der Giessen Straalbuizen (jet pipes) to becoming part of the Damen Shipyards Group in 1979 and the merger with Van der Velden Marine Systems in 2018 and adding Damen Anchor and Chain Factory to their portfolio. With about 400 employees and 7 offices and production facilities, DMC is operating worldwide and independently from the Damen Shipyards Group.

"It was an insightful tour and gave us more information about another division within the Damen Shipyards Group, as well as an occasion to meet more Damen colleagues." Ricarda Lang

The company produces nozzles, winches, controls, and steering and rudder systems for such markets as short sea, fishery, dredging, defence & security, inland navigation, and yachting. “Mark highlighted the biggest successes and latest products of their portfolio. These included the ‘optima nozzle’, ‘silent bulb’ rudder and the ‘Rotor Manoeuvring System (RMS)’.”

After the presentation, there was time for questions, followed by a tour through the office and warehouse spaces. “Luckily, there was personal protective equipment available for all participants, which enabled us to walk through all areas within the storage and manufacturing facility. At the end of the tour, we attended a live demonstration within the warehouse of the RMS”, recalls Ricarda. “In typical Dutch fashion, the visit ended with a ‘borrel’ in the canteen of DMC. A big thank you is extended to Alex and his colleagues at DMC. It was an insightful tour and gave us more information about another division within the Damen Shipyards Group, as well as an occasion to meet more Damen colleagues.”

Pictured above, from left: (Front row) Ionela Cardas (Damen Romania) and Alex Barnhoorn (DMC). (Second row) Ben Kortman, Koen Hageman (both DSG), Jarno Rottier (Damen Naval), Giovanni Berati and Joost Weemaes (both Damen Yachting). (Third row) Tom van Esch (Damen Serices), Ricarda Lang and Marco Wedemeyer (DSG).

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