Retirement? Not for Jaap at Meijer Metal!

It might sound strange that a retired employee is still working, but at Meijer Metal, Jaap can still be found working one and a half days a week, primarily on the conventional lathe, among other tasks. Jaap began his career at Meijer Metal in the early years of the company and has performed various tasks for more than half of Meijer’s 100-year history. Together with Sjoerd Meijer, he invented some of the craziest machines, such as custom bending machines and long-hole drilling machines. The mud vessel especially stands out in his memory. This innovative vessel, which could move on the mudflats, was used by NAM for seismological research at the time.

Jaap was also closely involved in the development of the KOOI® ReachForks. Together with Sjoerd Meijer, he made countless prototypes before these telescopic forks became a success. “It’s wonderful to see that the reach forks we developed in the ’80s are still a global market leader. I am extremely proud of that,” said Jaap.

After more than 50 years of working, Jaap retired in 2019, but he couldn’t let go of his passion for metalworking. “I still enjoy working one and a half days a week at Meijer. I am mainly involved in producing molds for semi-finished products. I find the work very satisfying, and I also greatly enjoy the social contacts at Meijer.”

With his boundless energy and love for the trade, Jaap is an inspiring example of how a passion for your work can last a lifetime.