The (metal) manufacturing industry in the Northern Netherlands

Significant knowledge and research is contained within the universities in Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe- whilst the workforce in general is highly educated and well-versed technically. If the required expertise for a company cannot be found in the Netherlands, the Dutch government’s provisions for the Highly Skilled Migrant Permit means that bringing the requisite staff from other countries is made possible. 

Royal Metaalunie works on several levels with its members along a number of themes, including making the metal industry work on a ‘circular’ basis, greening the metal-making and changing process, and ‘Think small first’, which aims to bring the work of smaller companies in the industry to the fore. Digitalization, innovation and getting talented professionals into the sector are other important focus points of Royal Metaalunie.

A lot of member companies are very innovative, beside the traditional craftmanship still carried out for generations. It’s that mix and variety of companies that makes the Northern metal sector interesting to work in.

Courses offered by OpleidingsBedrijf Metaal are within the fields of welding, safety, the use of computer programmes such as Solidworks and AutoCAD; hydraulics, and even ‘technical English’. These short courses are designed so that workers with experience can move with their industry, and continue to have an up-to-date skills set. For those that haven’t entered the industry yet, the OpleidingsBedrijfMetaal also runs courses that involve placement within a metal company, and training at the same time.  

One of the hotbeds for the (metal) manufacturing industry is north of the city of Groningen, in Delfzijl. Delfzijl is one of the centres for chemical production in the Northern Netherlands, and so there is much to gain by basing a metal/processing enterprise there. Aside from the closeness of other like-minded companies, Delfzijl also has easy access to the North sea, and quick access into Germany- and so on to the rest of Europe. Innovative companies are joining the larger cluster, including one that has developed a process to turn previously-harmful metal waste products into building materials.

Naturally, all of this is supported by a network of researchers at the various institutions of higher education in the region. There are several groupings at the University of Groningen looking into Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering, and Materials Science. On the management side of the industry, the Hanzehogeschool Groningen and University of Groningen both have courses that are forward-looking, including the European Master in Sustainable Energy System Management at the Hanzehogeschool, which looks at industrial strategy from a European and green perspective.