A family business built on people

Anyone telling the story of Kornelis Caps & Closures doesn’t begin with machines or materials, but with people. “Our people are our greatest asset,” says director Gerben de Boer. This belief has formed the foundation of the company in Steenwijk for decades. That foundation was laid in 1936, when founder Jelte Kornelis started his business under the name “Kunsthars Producten Industrie N.V.” What began as a pioneering plastics company grew into an established name in tamper-evident caps and closures for the food industry. Yet despite all technological advances and market changes, one thing has always remained the same: the human touch.

Family History

The history of Kornelis is closely intertwined with the Kornelis family itself. Jelte Kornelis built the company and, at the age of 70, handed it over to his son Wiebren, who, like his father, dedicated his entire working life to the business. That continuity and commitment are still felt today, even though the family is now involved from a greater distance.

Over the course of ninety years, much has changed. Products came and went, materials evolved, and markets shifted. In its early years, Kornelis produced not only closures but also everyday items such as bicycle grips, the well-known KLM tableware, Stratego, and ointment jars. A small collection of these products in the factory still serves as a reminder of that time. Yet the core has remained the same: a company where people feel at home and where generations continue to work.

Proud of the Past

While history plays an important role, Kornelis is not a company that looks back. In recent decades, significant investments have been made in modernization, automation, and quality. Yet this progress is always approached from the same starting point: how can we make the work better for the people who work here? Reducing night shifts, creating more efficient processes, and providing a pleasant working environment are central to this. This balance between tradition and innovation is characteristic of Kornelis. The company continues to evolve, without losing its identity.

Ninety Years Together

The ninety-year anniversary is therefore more than just a milestone in years. It is a moment to reflect on the people who have made the company what it is today. The anniversary is being celebrated with, among other things, a book about Kornelis and an open day. “Deliberately now,” says De Boer. “We didn’t want to wait until one hundred years, because there is still a large group of employees with long tenures working here today.”

It is a recognition of the generations of employees who have written the story of Kornelis together—and who continue to do so every day. After ninety years, it is clear where the strength of Kornelis lies: not only in its products or processes, but in the people who work there and the community the company is part of. That makes Kornelis more than a manufacturer of caps and closures. It makes it a company with a soul.