Full-service company has big projects

Drielanden in Harderwijk has been in business 27 years, and today employs 180 people year-round and 270 during the high season. The full-service landscaping company has two other locations in Holland, and also does work in Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Four separate divisions and a sister division allow Drielanden to provide maintenance, design and installation, interiorscaping and playground inspection, among other services. In addition, the company also specializes in environmental care of properties, the design and maintenance of cemeteries, and the installation and maintenance of rooftop gardens.

With such a wide variety of projects, one of the biggest challenges is to fit the right equipment to the job, tells company director C. van den Berg. Hence, the company recently added a Walker mower to its fleet of 50 mowers and 50 tractors.

"We plan to use the machine in recreation parks and other small areas," adds A. Ganzevles, head of technical service and the one person in the company primarily responsible for the Walker purchase. "We look to operate it at least 400 hours a year, and nearly double that number in the near term."

In the big picture, the Walker mower is a small part of this huge company's operation. Yet, as both van den Berg and Ganzevles point out, the key to success for any company large or small is making sure equipment and people perform at the optimum level. At one level, that means simply to be successful. Landscapers need to have the right equipment for the job and people trained to operate the equipment. That's no small task for a company the size of Drielanden.

At another level, this dynamic company is looking to combine its strengths with those of other companies, the ultimate goal being to provide customers with the best service possible. What other reason is there to buy a new Walker mower, add and train more people, provide more services and overall expand your business? Yes, the bottom line in any business is the bottom line. Yet, the only way to reach your goal is to find ways to provide the best service possible, emphasizes van den Berg.