At the end of the year, we always look back on the past year. What were the highlights at RIS Rubber this year? From investments to new customers and from new team members to staff parties. In short, 2025 in a nutshell.
Team RIS Rubber
Extending the family
Once again, the RIS Rubber team has expanded with 10 new colleagues. What is special this year is that a sister and a son have been hired. We are very pleased that a female colleague and a younger colleague have joined the production team. In 2025, we also had a number of interns, both from secondary vocational education and higher professional education. It is always nice to guide the next generation in the technical sector!
In order to attract new talent, our HR coordinator was present at many different locations this year. Various job fairs and internship fairs throughout the region. And after a recruitment campaign in the local newspapers, an open day was held at RIS Rubber in Lelystad. This was a great success! Contacts were also made with local parties in order to offer jobs to people who are distanced from the labour market.
Production
Proud
Most of the changes have come about as a result of the new collaboration with Royal IHC. We are, of course, extremely proud of this and have invested heavily in the factory in order to be able to serve all our customers well. The biggest investment is the two new presses for the combi rings. An entire department had to be relocated internally in order to install them. Production is now running on the new presses.
This year, we have put more than 100 new moulds on the presses! All 100 have undergone a validation process before being released for series production. This was an intensive process for our engineers, who spent a lot of time in the factory this year working with their colleagues on the shop floor to ensure that production ran smoothly. This enabled small improvements to be implemented quickly, making work easier, such as smart storage systems for mould parts or reinforced trestles that can support the heavy moulds.
Another highlight this year was, of course, Europort Rotterdam. At the beginning of November, our team was on hand to welcome new and existing customers. Our products were prominently displayed in the redesigned stand. We once again made a good impression.
Quality, Environment, Safety & Health
Quality first
In 2025, our colleague Bert joined the company as a Quality Control employee after completing an internal training programme. His learning process does not stop there, as he will be taking several additional courses in this field.
In the area of health, the face masks used in metal pre-processing have been upgraded. Every employee there now has a spray mask equipped with a fresh air supply system.
Sponsorship
Sport & Jazz
RIS Rubber was also the main sponsor of S.V. Enkhuizen in 2025, and we have extended this for another four years. We also sponsor the Jazz Festival in Enkhuizen, the Klipperrace, the West Frisia cycling club and the Haringhoppers carnival association, among others. Can you tell that the management comes from Enkhuizen?
In addition to Enkhuizen, we also sponsor various charities such as Alpe D’HuZes and students in Ethiopia. And of course, we haven’t forgotten the athletes this year. One colleague’s son is a motorbike racer, another plays football at a high level. Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, so we sponsored the four-day walking event in IJsselmuiden again this year.
Company parties and treats
the weather was a wet blanket
2025 was the year of the wettest company party to date. At the beginning of October, our colleagues and partners were ready with ponchos in the Veluwe for an e-chopper ride. They returned to the warm restaurant soaked to the skin. We hope for drier weather next year… In addition to this wet outing, there were also plenty of strikes at the two bowling outings, and everyone enjoyed a well-organised barbecue just before the summer break. This year, we ended with a Christmas lunch, where most people wore beautifully ugly Christmas jumpers.
Between work processes, there were also regular treats. Once again, the team enjoyed fresh Dutch New Herring and croquette sandwiches. These have become real traditions at RIS. Sausage rolls were once again the most popular treat for birthdays this year; a warm, crispy roll always makes a working day just that little bit more enjoyable.
The big surprise this year was that our director, Wouter Prins, turned out to be Carnival King in Enkhuizen! It was wonderful to see how social and special that role is. Alaaf! Of course, the holidays were also celebrated in style this year. Easter bunnies (another tradition), Sinterklaas boxes (with poems) and Christmas hampers – we don’t let a single holiday pass us by.
Here’s to 2026!
