Roland Vossen
“The passion for technology and sales was ingrained in me from an early age.
After a chance conversation with Siegfried Peeters 26 years ago, it was settled: I would be his successor. But not just that! I would make it my own business, complete with a knowledgeable team of employees. And so, the one-man operation Siegfried ran for 20 years has grown into a well-established name in the market, with a healthy staff of 21 employees.
What did you do before Pedak?
I worked as a sales & service representative at Nilfisk for a while, handling repairs and sales of industrial vacuum cleaners. Then, one day, I sold a vacuum cleaner to Siegfried, and we started talking about a job and even the potential takeover of his company, even though we had never met before! We just clicked. On the spot, I decided to go for it. I quit my job and worked at Pedak for two more years until the takeover.
How old were you when you took over the business? I was 27 when I took over the business. At that time, I felt too young to put ‘Director’ on my business card, so it became ‘Sales Engineer.’ I remember the morning I woke up and realized I was the owner of Pedak; I could only think, ‘Yes! I can pursue my hobby!’
Why did you want to work in sales and technology?
Sales and technology have interested me from a young age. For instance, during high school, I used to buy second-hand TVs, repair them, and sell them. The excitement of the game and adding value is what makes this profession so fascinating to me.
Besides finding sales and technology interesting individually, it’s the combination that truly excites me. There’s nothing better than walking through a factory, examining the production process, and determining the best measurement solution with the customer.
Looking back on nearly 25 years at Pedak, what highlights come to mind? There are quite a few! Overall, I look back with satisfaction at the years when the company experienced significant growth. But when I dig deeper, three moments immediately come to mind: introducing the lifetime warranty on sensors to the market, attending the trade fair in Germany for the first time, and winning the Novelties in Technology Award.
What was so special about offering a lifetime warranty on sensors?
The idea of offering a lifetime warranty on sensors is something our team successfully embraced. We had so much confidence in the product that we decided to go for it. The process leading up to it, the teamwork, and the enthusiasm surrounding the introduction of this unique benefit will always stay with me.
Tell us about the trade fair in Germany.
The first time I attended the Lounges trade fair in Germany in 2013, I didn’t have a booth; I had a suitcase with measurement equipment, and I went from one booth to another, promoting our products. It was so exciting. Not only did I get to talk to a lot of people, but a year later, when I had my own booth, people came up to me and said, ‘Weren’t you the guy with that suitcase?’ That’s great. I love pioneering!
And then winning the Novelties in Technology Award… That was fantastic! Especially because you win in the ‘novelties’ category with the Cleanroom Display, a product you developed yourself, contributing to a healthy environment in operating rooms, laboratories, and cleanrooms. It gives a great feeling! I look back with pride on this memorable moment because it reaffirms how much you can achieve through teamwork!
Who is Roland as a director?
Hmm, that’s a tough one. You should actually ask my employees. But I think as a director, I’m not much different from my private self: down-to-earth with a healthy dose of ambition. Of course, as a director, you also need to be flexible and capable of making decisions, but I don’t necessarily need to be in the spotlight. Not at the office, and not at home either.
As a true family man, I believe it’s essential to take good care of my people. My secret is letting employees do what they’re good at and helping them recognize and develop their talents. They are Pedak’s success!
How do you see Pedak’s future?
As an upward trajectory where we continue to seize opportunities. Over the past few years, my team and I have worked hard to achieve growth and maintain a stable and healthy company. We’ve succeeded! In the coming years, I want to expand this team of specialists even further so that we can serve our customers even better. I also want to increase Pedak’s visibility, even internationally. But the way we approach each other and our customers will remain the same. Personalized interactions, always wanting to find solutions, and providing the best solutions are principles I learned from Siegfried and will continue to apply, even in the future.”