75 Years of Experience: Three Stories of 25 Years at AWL

This week, we’re celebrating a very special milestone for three of our colleagues: Sander Wittingen, Henry ten Brink, and Michel van den Bor, are marking their 25th work anniversary at AWL! A quarter century filled with technology, teamwork, great memories, and personal growth. Let’s take a moment to look back at their stories.

From left to right: Sander Wittingen, Henry ten Brink & Michel van den Bor.

Sander Wittingen:“Colleagues are worth gold"
For Sander, it all started with someone saying: “So, you’re Jacco’s little brother …” (his brother Jacco was already working at AWL). From that moment on, Sander became a familiar face in the company.

When asked what has kept him at AWL for 25 years, his answer is clear: “The people. All of my colleagues over the years have been worth gold! I honestly can’t remember a single day when I didn’t enjoy coming to work.” He also deeply appreciates the support he received during tougher times: “For that, I’m forever grateful.”

His favorite memory takes us to Sweden: “Driving the van to Kiel, taking the ferry, and continuing on to Falkenberg. A beautiful hotel, great atmosphere, exciting work. An experience I’ll never forget.”

Henry ten Brink:“It felt like coming home”
Henry also started his career at AWL as an intern and immediately felt at home: “When I joined as a full-time employee, it didn’t feel like my first real workday - it felt more like coming home to a team where I already belonged.” What drives him is a combination of technology, freedom, and trust: “The challenges and customer interaction make sure my work is never boring.”

His most cherished memory is a personal one: “During an open evening, I was able to give my grandpa Henk a tour of AWL. He was so proud to see what I had been working on all those years. That moment touched me deeply and I’ll never forget it.”

Michel van den Bor: “AWL feels like family”
Like many of his colleagues, Michel started out as an intern. His first impression still stands out clearly: “So much amazing technology brought together in fantastic machines. Truly impressive! I quickly knew I wanted to get a permanent position here.”

What keeps him motivated after 25 years? “The mix of great technology, strong teamwork, and the variety in assembly work. On top of that, I’ve been given many opportunities to grow. That’s why the years have flown by.” Some of his best memories come from delivering machines to customers: “Especially when the project was challenging, and we still managed to meet all the specifications together. That feels like a true highlight.”

A milestone worth celebrating
Sander, Henry, and Michel are a true reflection of AWL’s strength: passion for technology, collegiality, and personal growth. We celebrated their anniversaries this week with colleagues, some sweet treats, and of course, a group photo.

Congratulations, gentlemen - here’s to the next milestone!

Alongside this celebration, we also said a festive farewell to our colleague Gerhard Eilander, who is retiring after 18 years at AWL. Thank you for your dedication, Gerhard, and we wish you all the best in this new chapter of life!