Half a century of manufacturing excellence
Celebrating SEKISUI ESLON’s achievements
This year, SEKISUI ESLON marks its golden anniversary, celebrating 50 years of innovation and excellence in extrusion and injection molding. Our journey from producing rain gutter systems to expanding our product range to include pipes, wall panels, and FFU synthetic railway sleepers has been remarkable.
A remarkable history
SEKISUI ESLON began with rain gutter systems and soon broadened its product range to include complementary products like pipes and wall panels. Over the years, additional manufacturing lines were set up for sewer renovation profiles and, more recently, FFU synthetic railway sleepers. Since starting operations in 1974 in the Netherlands, SEKISUI ESLON has navigated three major crises, emerging stronger and more resilient each time. The numbers speak from themselves:
- 90 million meters of gutters
- 45 million meters of pipe
- 20 million square meters of panel
- 15 million meters of ventilation pipe
- 1.5 million meters of sewer renovation profile
A journey of perseverance and learning
Five decades ago, SEKISUI ESLON B.V. was founded as the Dutch subsidiary of the Japanese company SEKISUI CHEMICAL Ltd. Their journey has been marked by both challenges and victories, reflecting the essence of resilience. In 1975, production found a new home in Roermond, in the Netherlands. The decision to relocate was bold, driven by a vision of growth. Since 1974, SEKISUI ALVEO and SEKISUI Jushi have worked side by side, sharing expertise and forging connections.
Celebrating the milestone
We celebrated this milestone at a stunning castle in Limburg, joined by our valued customers, suppliers, employees, and SEKISUI managers from Japan and Europe. The event was animated by the incredible Wadaiko Ensemble, whose traditional Japanese drumming performance left everyone in awe. Wadaiko, or taiko for short, are traditional Japanese drums used to perform at festivals and other events, infusing them with energy and excitement. Today, Japanese taiko performances with other instruments and spanning various genres, such as classical and jazz music, are thriving as the instrument finds fans across the world.
The early years: a steep learning curve
The initial years (1975-1981) were far from easy for SEKISUI ESLON. Revenue targets remained elusive, and investments didn’t yield immediate returns. But in 1982, a turning point arrived. Steady growth began, marked by the installation of extruders, warehouse expansion, and the acquisition of injection molding machines. They also ventured beyond borders by taking over Kunstoff-Zentrale-Köln GmbH in Germany.
Navigating challenges with a collective effort
Yet, challenges persisted. Market conditions in Germany led to the liquidation of Kunstoff-Zentrale-Köln GmbH in 1998. Cost-cutting measures included relocating packaging and labeling operations.
Undeterred, SEKISUI ESLON continued to evolve. In 2007, they added more machinery, resulting in a record revenue in 2008. Their resilience was paying off, thanks to the collective spirit of the team.
The global financial crisis hit late in 2008, casting shadows. But SEKISUI ESLON adapted. They focused on innovation, introducing sewer renovation profiles and gutter sets. They explored new sales channels, relying on their expertise. As a small company, they stood tall, proud of their shared achievements.
A bright path ahead
“As long as we nurture innovative ideas, support one another, and consistently deliver quality work, our future remains bright.”
Today, the team of 71 talented individuals is ready to tackle exciting new challenges and projects. Cheers to the next years of innovation and success!