Drumarkon believes in equal opportunities for everyone and is convinced that investing in people leads to mutual benefits. A textbook example of this is Jean Baptiste Banda, who has been working at Drumarkon for 16 years. In an interview, he shares his remarkable journey, his growth within the company, and why he feels so at home there.
A New Start in the Netherlands
Jean Baptiste Banda originally comes from Rwanda and arrived in the Netherlands as a refugee in 2001. Now 46 years old, Jean lives in Dordrecht, is married, and has two children. Before joining Drumarkon, he worked as a woodworker at a company in Zwijndrecht. Driven by the ambition to keep learning, he combined work and study and even passed the entrance exam for Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. Although he was admitted, his educational plan no longer aligned with his employer’s new HR policy. Disappointed, Jean decided to look for a new opportunity.
An Opportunity at Drumarkon
In 2009, Jean joined Drumarkon through a staffing agency. His talent and dedication were quickly noticed, and he worked only briefly as a temporary worker before Drumarkon offered him a contract—first for six months, and then a permanent position. He has now been with the company for 16 years.
From Saw Work to Production Leader
At first, Jean mainly focused on sawing and learned everything on the job. When he started, he claimed he could operate all the machines, which made the then-production manager skeptical. “They told me: ‘Yeah, we’ve heard that before.’ And I understand that,” Jean says with a laugh. Still, he was given the chance to work with the “all-rounder” machine, and within an hour, he had mastered the system. From that moment on, he was given room to grow and learned to operate all the machines.
Over the years, Jean not only managed various machines but also learned about the paint shop and worked his way up to production leader. Today, he is involved in work preparation, quality control, and cost calculations. He also resolves malfunctions and handles minor repairs. Together with his colleague Co van Leeuwen, he is responsible for the entire production process.
Why 16 Years at Drumarkon?
Jean feels deeply connected to the company. Under former director Bert de Jonge, he was given plenty of opportunities despite his background and lack of formal education. “He judged you based on your dedication, not your papers. Thanks to his trust, I never felt the need to look for work elsewhere.”
When the new management took over in 2017, Jean remained loyal to Drumarkon. “Johan and the rest of the leadership continued Bert’s personal approach. A lot is invested—not just in us as people, but also in the factory and machines. The work environment has become better and more modern. They really listen to us. If I need something, it gets arranged. That’s a big difference from other companies.”
Jean emphasizes that Drumarkon’s strong growth in recent years is not only due to Johan’s commercial skills but also to the human approach of the entire leadership team. “They always act from the heart. That human touch truly makes a difference, and I appreciate that enormously.”
Looking Ahead
Jean proudly shares his ambition to stay at Drumarkon. “I’m currently working on setting up an engineering program and learning to use design software similar to AutoCAD. I’m looking forward to continuing my development and making a valuable contribution to the company’s growth.”
