RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 69
In total, offices and greenhouses valued at around
2 million guilders will be built in De Lier. The first
building phase starts in 1976. The new building
plans also include the construction of a labo-
19
76
Ravel
Lettuce
ratory, which will enable Rijk Zwaan to apply the
latest research methods. The second phase of
the new building plans is completed in 1978. The
complex is then expanded with 24,000 m2 of
greenhouses and 24 hectares of horticultural land.
In the field of automation, Rijk Zwaan is just in time
and is ready to make considerable investments.
19
77
Reskia
Lettuce
As far back as 1973, Rijk Zwaan gains its first
experiences with a Honeywell Bull model 58, with
a working memory of 5,000 bytes (0.005 MB!).
Rijk Zwaan gets to use this colossus for the astronomical rental sum of 5,607 guilders per month.
Loss
Although the company is experiencing strong
growth thanks to its new structure and expansions,
‘When there were problems in the personnel
The first computer: a
sphere, he always solved them. He was extra-
Honeywell Bull at the
ordinarily good at this and had a tactful and
Finance departments
human touch. He has done a tremendous amount
in De Lier, 1973.
of good in that respect.’
there is less prosperous news on a personal level:
managing director Willem Tintel dies of heart
Many people in the company who knew Willem
failure while he is at work in 1974. As Rijk Zwaan’s
Tintel see his passing as a low point in Rijk Zwaan’s
son-in-law, Willem has always occupied a special
history. Herman Beeftink takes over Willem’s duties
place in the company. He was the binding factor
so that from then on there is a two-man Board.
19
76
Expansion of
offices and
greenhouses
in De Lier.
between Messrs Beeftink and Jaap Zwaan. He was
much loved by the personnel. Jaap Zwaan pays
The company suffers another blow in 1977, when
the following tribute to Willem Tintel:
founder Rijk Zwaan dies at the age of 77. The
19
77
Passing away of
Rijk Zwaan.
greater part of the seed industry gathers at his
cremation to pay tribute. In many of the speeches
made on that day, the character of Rijk Zwaan once
again emerges clearly: straight and to the point.
Colleague W. Vreeken has these words to say:
‘Those who knew him only super昀椀cially will
probably say: He was stubborn and thought
he knew it all. But that is a very perfunctory
summary of his character. A man who speaks
his mind and calls a spade a spade is totally
di昀昀erent to a man who feels at home in a world
of pretence and clever tricks.’
1976-1977
1960-1980 | Time for expansion
67
Turnover
FTE
7.312
–
