32 years ago, Limburg resident Chris Heeren founded his company Hevoform in Herk-de-Stad as a wholesaler of made-to-measure wardrobes. A punishing growth process and well-equipped production hall later, the family business has become an established and innovative player in everything to do with customized interior solutions. IMPACT has been contributing to that success since 2006.

From furniture for kitchens to dressers and built-in cabinets: Hevoform provides customized solutions for every professional. Where the company started small more than 30 years ago, it has now grown into a team of more than 20 people that, thanks to modern machinery, a large stock, and automated production, can quickly respond to the needs of each customer.

15 years ago, Hevoform knocked on IMPACT’s door. “Like many other companies, we weren’t finding enough technically skilled people on the Belgian market,” explains Managing Director Chris. It was around this time that IMPACT launched a new concept: International Distance Matching (IDM). Here, foreign specialists are recruited to fill the shortage of local specialized workers.

Hevoform thus became IMPACT’s first IDM client. “Admittedly, in the beginning there was some doubt whether we would take the plunge. Things like a language difference can still create a certain barrier. We decided to go for it and we haven’t regretted it to this day. For 15 years we have been working with mostly Polish temporary workers, machine operators in carpentry. There are about six temporary workers working here every week: integration for newcomers goes very smoothly because they immediately have a group of colleagues who speak their language. It’s a real family.”

It is that sense of family that plays a crucial role for Chris. And you can take that quite literally. Over the years, Chris’ wife, two daughters and son-in-law Pieter-Jan all joined the business. Pieter-Jan clarifies, “About six years ago I took the decision to also work for Hevoform. As a production planner, I can regularly be found in the production hall and you can feel that family atmosphere. That’s important: for us, everything starts from trust and freedom.”

Chris adds: “We treat our colleagues as we would like to be treated ourselves. That is hugely important to me. Because good performance in the workplace starts from the fact that you feel good about yourself. That was also one of our conditions for IMPACT when we decided to choose foreign temporary workers. They need to be well taken care of outside of work as well. In that respect, we can sleep on both ears because of IMPACT’s good follow-up. For example, every employee who comes from abroad is offered the necessary support and accommodation.”

Over the past 15 years, a close relationship has thus grown between Hevoform and IMPACT. A story in which both parties allowed each other to grow. Pieter-Jan knows why this works so well: “It’s actually quite simple. As we indicated, trust is very important to us. That mutual trust sits very well with IMPACT. A years-long resume is the very best proof of that.”

And the way of thinking and working between the two companies also forms a good match, Chris points out. “Hevoform always wants to offer its customers a high-quality, but also a quick solution. This accessibility and adequate way of acting, we also expect from IMPACT and they do not disappoint us in this. I have already recommended IMPACT to several businessman friends and they too are all satisfied.”

High time, then, when the coronavirus situation permits again, to crack a bottle on the 15-year collaboration. “And as far as we are concerned, we will continue this successful cooperation for years to come. Hopefully both Hevoform and IMPACT may continue to grow together,” Chris concludes.