Two powerful brands completely brought together under one roof

Both companies have been in the same holding company since 2017. We are talking about TBS and SVA Group, both part of Imber Holding BV. TBS (Technisch Bureau Soest) and SVA (Struyk Verwo Aqua) are specialists in products for drainage and access systems for sewers. Since 2018, the move of production from TBS to SVA in Nederweert has been a reality. "We now produce all TBS products in Nederweert, but to their own specifications," opens Willy Bruckers, commercial director at the new company TBS-SVA GROUP.

We sit down in Nederweert with Willy Bruckers and Peter van Zwieten, CEO at Imber Holding BV and as of January  general manager of the TBS-SVA GROUP. The gentlemen have good news: "The commercial organizations of TBS and SVA will also be physically merged from 2020 and will operate from Nederweert," Van Zwieten explained.

A familiar element in the Dutch street scene. From Struyk Verwo of course

Maintaining own brand identity

Van Zwieten continues his story, "Until this year, the sales departments of TBS and SVA were still independent, but with the move to Nederweert and the official start as of 2020, they will present themselves as one commercial department. What is very important to know in this regard is that there will be no tampering with the TBS and SVA brands, each retaining its own identity and product specifications."

"Now that both production and sales have merged, we will go public with a new name next year. It will read 'TBS-SVA Group.' We deliberately chose this, so as not to detract from the strong brand identities and proprietary product lines. What does this mean for the customer? Sheer benefit. Those who want can simply work in the old familiar way with the familiar products of their favorite brand. Those looking for alternatives can safely check out the other player in the group, knowing that they are doing business with the same, trusted organization. In this way, everyone can broaden their horizons in a low-threshold way." Centralizing the knowledge and expertise of two major brands creates new opportunities not only for the TBS-SVA Group, but especially for the customer.

Struyk Verwo ensures dry feet in many places

'Best of both worlds'

Van Zwieten gives a good example of the customer benefit: "We can now permissibly recommend the best products for a situation. To municipalities, for example, who sometimes have to solve a problem with a set budget. Then there is now the possibility to suggest the best solution from our range of basic products. The choice is suddenly much wider namely. Products can also be exchanged within a project, which makes maintenance and renovation, for example, a lot easier."

Bruckers agrees and adds: "Large municipalities find having one supplier important. This is because you can make clear agreements and maintain short lines of communication with them, moreover the necessary knowledge is then available centrally. That also makes TBS-SVA Group an ideal contact for architects and engineers, for example, because we can actively think along in solutions at an early stage."

A good cross-pollination for even more innovation

Both the old TBS and SVA are known for their innovative solutions. We ask whether product developments will take place per brand, or for the new group. Van Zwieten is clear about this: "It is obvious that by joining forces in this way, there will be cross-pollination in the field of R&D. After all, we are bringing in knowledge from both sides to arrive at a new product. After all, we are then bringing in knowledge from both sides in order to arrive at a new product. Our goal as a commercial organization is and remains to sell as much as possible, at a price that is interesting for us and the customer. However, we will always leave the choice with the customer; we will not engage in internal competition."

Bruckers concludes, "We pursue an active brand policy. TBS is and remains a Premium Quality leader, SVA a company with a price-flexible, innovative and broad product range. Customers have the choice in products now, from entry-level to Premium."