Experienced GWW green professional celebrates 25-year anniversary

GAKO groenvoorziening B.V. performs work in large-scale greenery. This coming year the 25th anniversary will be celebrated. Something to be proud of! Therefore attention will certainly be paid to it, assures Cor de Gans who runs the family business together with his brother Dimitri. 

In addition to governments, large contracting companies now know the way to GAKO. The family business provides green maintenance for renowned parties such as Boskalis, Heijmans and Jdb group. "For the latter, we were able to plant the prestigious The Edge in Amsterdam and the French and English gardens in Noordwijkerhout, among others," says Cor. "I am proud that these major clients turn to GAKO when they need green professionals. Carrying out such projects and advising on the approach is right up our alley." Cor and Dimitri are proud of the commitment and results their employees deliver.

Passion for the green profession

The large projects may stand out the most, but individuals can also turn to GAKO. The gardeners design gardens in the Central Netherlands region and handle renovations, construction and maintenance. They are experienced in everything that goes into a beautiful garden, including ornamental paving, lawns and planting. As the business has grown, Cor has started to handle more of it himself, though he remains passionate about the green space profession. "I've been working outside myself for 21 years. Sometimes I would still prefer to go outside myself, but it's also great fun to advise clients."

Good people and good equipment

In the coming years, GAKO will continue what it has been doing: doing good work and working closely with its clients. According to Cor, that is the formula for success behind the family business. "We have fantastic professionals within our company. We also make sure they can work with good equipment. Last year we further expanded our 'machinery' with new buses and two new tractors. Our guys also have a lot of say in the choice of equipment. In fact, they always go with us to the dealer. They too have to have a good time. After all, they spend their working days on the tractor." 

I think it is a top machine, says employee Robert van Burk about the latest tractor and does not hide his enthusiasm. Since May he has been driving a Valtra T235D, which is used for mowing and suction work in summer and in front of a wood chipper combination in winter. For Cor it was the second Valtra within a year that he bought from dealer De Bruin in Groot-Ammers. 

New machine combinations

Gako landscaping services governments in South and North Holland with two machine combinations for the maintenance of roadsides, embankments and wood stands. Last year the first Valtra arrived at the company, an N155D. "We always drove a different brand but then we started looking at a Valtra at the initiative of one of the drivers. He had heard positive things about it," Cor says. When the second tractor needed replacement early this year, driver Robert van Burk also took a test drive and the purchase of the second Valtra was a fact. He is especially enthusiastic about the driving comfort of his new workhorse. "That pneumatic suspended front axle catches bumps better than the hydraulic one I was used to," says Robert. "We drive quite a lot of miles at speed between projects and then comfort is just very important. Visibility from the cab is also excellent. Maneuvering the mowing arm is very relaxed as a result." And when you spend every working day on the tractor, the climate in the cab is also an important factor. "The climate control is top notch. The seat can cool and heat and there is also windshield heating. There is also a standard refrigerator on board. You can tell from all these things that Valtra has listened carefully to the drivers."

The future looks bright for GAKO. But the brothers are not running too fast. "It is sometimes running to keep up with everything, but we are mostly very happy with that," stresses Cor. "In the end, what matters is that our customers are satisfied with our work. I am proud and grateful that we have been able to do our work with very fine and skilled colleagues for years."