Esma's story begins in 1978 in Dutch Limburg with a clever invention
Emmanuël Spronck saw a friend struggling with the heavy side panels of trucks used to transport building materials. Drawing on his technical and mathematical background, Spronck devised the balancing system. This ingenious mechanical system makes heavy objects almost weightless. From then on, his friend could open and close the panels with one finger. The perfect alternative to counterweights!
Feather-light operation
The balancing system quickly became an absolute must in coachbuilding for the feather-light operation of tail lifts, partition walls and container lids. In 1989, son John joined the business to further professionalize Esma and expand the program with turning and milling work. To accommodate this expansion, the company moved to Maasmechelen in 1993. There, the metalworking company still manufactures precision products tailored to customers all over the world today.
The solution for every technical challenge
Esma has an extensive machine park, modern programming software and a high-quality 3D printer. Whatever technical problem you are facing, Esma is perfectly equipped to provide a solution. All recent product developments are solutions to customers' practical problems.
Esma is a true family business
For father Emmanuël Spronck and his wife Margriet, the company is still a hobby. The day-to-day operations are in the hands of son John Spronck and his wife Sonja. Together with around ten employees, they strive for ongoing product development and continuous innovation.
A number of employees were asked what they think about working at ESMA, and this is what they said:
ESMA nv employee: Welder
At ESMA nv, I mainly do welding work and the assembly of products, primarily the balancing systems that are made by us.
In addition, I also weld other products from ESMA nv. Because I always make different products, I have a very varied job where I can really use my creativity. No two days are the same. I chose a profession in the metal sector because I enjoy making products. I can make a product out of metal. An iron plate becomes something! It is satisfying to see a product being born.
At ESMA nv, we also make many special things. I still remember that we made a stage which, through the use of the right balancing systems, disappeared completely into the wall. This stage was installed in a sports hall/banquet hall and it looks very impressive. The great thing about my work is that I can contribute to a piece of technology.
What I have also noticed recently is that we are making more design products, such as bathroom furniture, stair railings and the like. Stainless steel is becoming increasingly popular in the home. What people used to see only in industry, they are now increasingly seeing as design. As a result, my work is changing. In the past I only made industrial products, but nowadays we are also making more and more furniture and similar items. The market is shifting.
When I am in the car or walking through the city, I sometimes see a truck or a container with an ESMA balancing system, and every time I feel a little proud: I made that after all!
You see what the products you make are used for, and that gives a good feeling.
Employee at Esma nv: Turner/Miller
My role within the company mainly involves setting up and converting machines to manufacture various products. In addition, I also operate the machines, repair them, and carry out the necessary maintenance work. I chose a job in the metal sector because I have an affinity with iron and have always been interested in the technology behind the machines used. What I like about working in the metal sector is that you can be creative in the method used to make products and to solve any problems.
There are products we have made that have stayed with me, such as the screws that are placed in someone’s back after back surgery. These had to be made from “surgical” stainless steel. It is great to be able to contribute to products like these.
We also make many products you would not expect when working as a turner/miller. An example of this is jewelry made from titanium and stainless steel. We have made rings and bracelets for jewelers. That is something quite different from a shaft or a balancing component.
Making molds is also something different. A mold is a form used, for example, to cast plastic products. Creating a good mold is complicated. It is very important that perfect products can then be removed from the mold. For example, we have made molds for aluminum pans and frying pans. It is a challenge to always work very precisely.
These are just a few examples; it is almost impossible to describe how many special products we make. A memory that will always stay with me is the first shaft I turned when I had just started working at ESMA nv.
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