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“We are confidently
looking towards
the future”
Roderik van Seumeren
“Positioned
for the future”
When I look at the results in 2008 and our order book, which is fuller than ever,
I see plenty to be satisfied about. Mammoet is doing well, and we already
know that next year will be equal. But looking outside the company, at all the
disruption in the world, I dare not make any predictions about the future.
Only once the storm which has hit the financial markets and the real economy
has subsided will the impact on Mammoet be clearer. These mixed feelings
are typical for the situation now, at the end of 2008, as we present Mammoet
World to you.
2008 was our best year ever, and 2009
promises to be even better. Of course, I
would love to consider only our successes,
but realistically speaking we have to look
further ahead. And that is exactly what we
are doing. In 2006 we defined our long-term
strategy in a strategic plan with an ambitious
scenario for growth and clear targets. Now,
almost three years later, we are exactly
where we were planning to be. Increases in
revenue, personnel, investments - all are
going to plan. In these three years we have
doubled our revenues and further developed
our worldwide network and leading role as
specialists in heavy lifting and transport. And
despite the storm which began a little over a
year ago, we have brought in the orders, so
our order book for 2009 is already getting
quite full and we are also receiving orders for
projects in 2010. Given all the turmoil around
us, those are the best and most important
feats of 2008. As I wrote last year, we have
done well in recent years. And again we
have been able to benefit from that. Hence
we are in the comfortable position that we
can expect next year to the best ever.
However, right now shortly before 2009, it is
difficult to look much further ahead. Nobody
knows how much longer the worldwide
crisis will last, what its impact will be, and
what parts of the world or sectors of the
economy will be hit hardest. Nothing is
certain, except that Mammoet will eventually
also be affected, at the and of the chain.
Even so, we are confidently looking towards
the future. After all, turbulent times like this
bring not just threats but also opportunities.
Furthermore, in recent years we have
strengthened our base and spread the risks
much wider. Mammoet operates throughout
the world and therefore also in areas which
are less affected by the crisis and where
developments are promising. Mammoet
serves a number of markets, and that
includes markets which are less affected by
economic fluctuations. We also span a range
of activities, from crane rental, heavy transport
and lifting, to large projects. In recent
years we have made major investments in
our people and our equipment, in quality,
training, refining our procedures and processes,
and in our worldwide management
information system. Finally, we have
strengthened our foundations by acquiring
renowned companies and our shareholder
structure makes us less
dependent on the banks. All these
elements mean that we are in an
good position to weather the storm.
I would therefore like to conclude
by saying how impressed I am by
what we have managed to accomplish
as a company, in 2008 and the
years before. I am proud of what
our people have done this year,
often working under difficult conditions.
I am glad to say that despite
the rapid growth in recent years we
have not made any concessions to
our professional standards. The
ingenious solutions which our
engineers develop never cease to
impress me. Last, but not least, I
would like to thank our clients for
their trust in Mammoet. And we will
do everything to continue to
deserve that trust, as illustrated by
the impressive jobs described in
this issue of Mammoet World, the
eighth edition. Although we may
experience some turbulence in
future, our innovations and operational
qualities will guide us safely
through the rough waters.
Roderik van Seumeren
(President and CEO)