Tummers Celebrates 40 Years of Existence
Some of the company's current employees weren't even born when Tummers started 40 years ago. March 8, 1976 was the day Fons Tummers went to work with 'Technisch Centrum Tummers' (Technical Centre Tummers).
With two employees in a garage building in Bergen op Zoom, this small enterprise took care of repairs to machinery in the local industry.
In the upcoming years as a "machine builder", many creative and experimental steps were made in various industries. The company worked in shellfish cleaning, specialized welding, specialized washing systems for all materials but potatoes and even the tobacco industry. Now, 40 years later, Tummers has grown to a fully-fledged multinational company, with a strong name in the potato processing industry.
Son and Managing Director, Erwin Tummers, is, among others, responsible for stabilizing and increasing the efficiency of operations and the continuity of the company 'Tummers Food Processing Solutions'. This is now part of the Tummers Group, a collective name for all Tummers companies which have a variety of specialisations in different industries.
In March 2016 the company has grown to 130 employees working in a facility spanning over 10.000m², in Hoogerheide, and there is yet more to come, according to Dustin - Dwight Verhagen, the company's Marketing Manager: "We are working hard on a new spare parts/service department, R&D department and new systems for our engineering department. It's clear to say that it's not really an anniversary, for that we will have to wait for another 10 years, but nonetheless we would like to stand still and reminisce."
He continues saying that "it is and has been a beautiful and great adventure with many, many highlights and now, after 40 years, it is time for founder Fons Tummers to take a step back and make room for the new generation".
Fons and Erwin Tummers, the old and new CEO of Tummers
Last January Tummers was officially handed over to son Erwin Tummers. Erwin has been at Tummers for 28 years now and has many loyal colleagues around him, because in many cases it becomes "once a Tummers heart, always a Tummers heart". He is excited and ready to take the next step with Tummers.
Verhagen concludes with an open invitation to "keep an eye on our posts this year for news, updates and developments about us and our products, starting with the Tummers Open Days. We are planning on organising these in 2017, more news on that, later this year. We are very excited to keep you updated on the progress of Tummers and are very pleased that the company keeps its heart as a family company!"
