SUYS has been celebrating!

50th anniversary and a new name

For now, it is equally difficult to name the beast. After all, SUYS the company we are talking about here has only recently been called SUYS. Z&R readers have known that for a long time. In addition to the name change, the company also celebrated its 50th anniversary in late September, early October, and when talking about the company's origins and development over time, the names BUILDING Plastics and BUILDING SHUTTERS inevitably come up again. The name changes reflect the company's development over the past 50 years. And if it is up to current CEO Thibaut Suys, it will continue full steam ahead! 

Jean-Pierre Suys, the father of the current CEO, started the company in Waregem in 1973. Building Plastics, as it was called then, focused on sheet metal and profiles in plastic and finished PVC roller shutters. When other products such as screens, roller shutters and facade cladding were added in addition to roller shutters, it became BUILDING Shutters. By then, the company had already moved to its current location on Herlegemstraat in Nokere where there is now a building of over 41,000 square meters. Does Thibaut Suys see the name change as a new start or does he rather see it as the next step in a development?

"There has been a nice evolution in those 50 years. Always with a focus on quality products that contribute to living comfort, safety and energy efficient living. But what really matters are the values and reputation we have built. Craftsmanship is one of them. Our people know their craft and do their work with passion. And above all, service and human contact have always been our success. We still see a lot of potential, especially in finished shutters and awnings. The rebranding allows us to grow further and also focus more on brand awareness with the end customer. SUYS is short and simply sticks better. SUYS is also powerful and family-like, which matches our personal and no-nonsense approach, foundations we have built on for 50 years."

SUYS says it still has plenty of opportunities for expansion in Nokere and options in the longer term as well. In addition to continued development and growth, sustainability is an important guiding principle. 

"We are investing heavily in the future and doing so in a sustainable way. It starts, of course, with the products we make. We are in the fortunate situation of making products that contribute to a more sustainable future by helping to reduce energy consumption in homes and buildings for cooling and heating. In addition, we also continuously invest as a company to make our production processes as environmentally friendly and energy efficient as possible. For example, there are 4,500 solar panels on the roof of our production hall to generate as much of our 'own' energy as possible." 

Festivities

The festivities surrounding the 50th anniversary and name change were something of a three-stage rocket. It began on Tuesday, Sept. 26, with the official 50th anniversary celebration. This was followed by the traditional Voka Open Company Day on Sunday, October 1, and the conclusion of the week of festivities on Tuesday, October 3, with a big event for SUYS' clients. 

The birthday celebration on Sept. 26 began with a reception of guests at SUYS on the Herlegemstraat in Nokere. At six o'clock, CEO Thibaut Suys officially welcomed the guests and a brief introduction about the company followed. From six o'clock those who wished to do so could make a tour of the production to see with their own eyes what happens at SUYS. At half past seven, a toast was made to SUYS' golden jubilee, after which the guests enjoyed a drink and a bite to eat. υ 

"It was a beautiful and worthy kickoff to our week of celebrations," Thibaut Suys looks back. "The perfect moment to look back at how it all started, but just as much to take a look at the future. After all, we are a healthy family business with the drive to keep evolving. And a golden jubilee, that just has to be celebrated properly!" 

Voka Open Business Day

Ever since 1991, hundreds of Flemish companies from a wide variety of sectors open their doors to the general public on the first Sunday of October. With hundreds of thousands of visitors, the event is a hit every year. On October 1 of this year, the Voka Open Day took place for the 33rd time. This time the day fell in the middle of SUYS' 'party week', which was the perfect way to bring the 50th anniversary of the company and its name change to the attention of the general public. 

Thibaut Suys enjoyed the Open Business Day very much. "The starting shot of a beautiful day was given with a breakfast for our employees and their families. It is also important to put them in the spotlight for a moment. Then, during the Open Company Day, our people were able to show the craftsmanship with which they make the products. You notice that they often talk proudly about their work, and rightly so of course. An additional advantage is that we may also be able to interest people in a job in our beautiful company. Companies everywhere are competing for technical staff. The Open Company Day is a great way to show those interested in our vacancies from the front row what it's like to work at SUYS!" 

"In addition, by participating in the Open Company Day, we immediately had a national platform to make our new name known and put us in touch with the end customers, which is ultimately what we do it all for. For the visitors, it is nice to be able to see up close how the roller shutters or screens they have hanging on their facade are actually made. From the production of slats and cabinets, to the final assembly of roller shutters and screens. All the way from A to Z!" 

Customer Event

The customer event on Tuesday, Oct. 3, concluded the festivities surrounding the 50th anniversary and name change. After the dignitaries and the public - the potential end customers - the stage that day was set for the distributors, dealers and others who form the link between SUYS and the end users. "They are obviously hugely important to us, so we thought a separate event for them was appropriate," said Thibaut Suys. "After all, they are the face and mouthpiece of SUYS to the market. We cherish the cooperation with our customers and try to serve and facilitate them as well as possible. The 50th anniversary as a family business, continuing under the name SUYS, focusing more on the end customer ... The complete rebranding is a puzzle that fits together nicely. And it all hangs together. Without our customers, we would not be able to accomplish this. We are grateful for the good relationships we have built over the years, otherwise we would not have a golden anniversary to celebrate." 

Now that all the festivities are behind us, SUYS is focusing all its energy and passion on the future, starting with the new season. That starts with a contribution to Polyclose from January 17 to 19, 2024 in Ghent. More on that in the preview of that fair elsewhere in this Z&R. "We are looking forward to it are ready for it," concludes Thibaut Suys. "Totally in line with our new slogan: 'It's all about Passion'!"