Hamer

Hamer is a splendid family firm that has been going for more than 80 years. Founded in 1938, it has expanded into a company with broad technical knowledge and more than 400 employees. Hamer designs, installs and maintains technical installations. Director-Owner Fons Jans: "We have technical knowledge across the whole spectrum and love the specialist work. We do almost everything on our own and provide 24/7 service and maintenance." Hamer’s growth has largely been due to the construction and maintenance of gas stations and fuel depots; it is the market leader in the Benelux and this sector generates a third of its turnover.  Meanwhile, it has expanded into other specialties and other sectors.  Hamer supplies electrical, climate and process installations for fire safety systems and emergency power supplies. It also designs and constructs complete workshops. Recently, it extended its remit to include asbestos remediation. Customers come from utilities, industry, communication/ICT, mobility and energy.

Benelux and beyond

Since 1995, Fons Jans has been in charge. He set up the FOJA Group in which four companies, including Hamer, work closely together. From three locations in the Netherlands and a branch in Belgium, Hamer primarily serves the Benelux. The international network is much bigger; due to its wide range of specialization, FOJA has nearly 3,000 suppliers worldwide. Through its customers, Hamer is employed far beyond the Benelux, including construction of a prefab fuel station for Tamoil in the middle of a desert in Africa. "Logistics is a big challenge," says Jans, grinning.   

Dakar rally

Hamer has a special connection with Dakar. In 2005 Jans became acquainted with the rally and in 2013 and 2014 Hamer took part with its own team. In 2017 Jans himself drove the truck during the Morocco Dessert Challenge, the biggest truck race in Africa. "Dakar has brought a lot,” he says. “You create a close bond with your team - suffering together, solving problems together, having fun together and crossing the finish line together. It shows who we are and you get to know a lot of people. It also taught me not to be dependent”.  Concern for its employees means everything to Hamer. "That's our foundation. We are doers, no nonsense, who thoroughly enjoy our work. We appreciate one another. We are a real family. Within six months you know if somebody is going to stay”.

Export countries: Belgium, Luxembourg and, indirectly, further afield