Open day attracts almost 2000 visitors
Innovative technology displays generate regional pride
“We had no idea all this was going on here in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen. Incredible!” That was how many people reacted last Saturday at the Open Day held by four companies celebrating different anniversaries: Hydrauvision, Unitron, Elektra 21 and Technotron. Close to two thousand people took the opportunity to visit Schoondijke and IJzendijke. The day before, the four companies had held a festive day for their business relations, with presentations in the Ledeltheater and company visits. Economist Herman Wijffels, the speaker and honoured guest at the event, clearly enjoyed being back in the region where he was born.
On Saturday, parking was available at the Mauritshof – where Unitron had its products on display – and the Technopark, with a continuous shuttle bus service taking visitors to the other sites. At the Technopark, Hydrauvision, Technotron and Elektra 21 were on show. Visitors to Hydrauvision were impressed by exhibits such as hydraulic systems for active dredge heads. Technotron, which makes control boxes and panels for the maritime market, industry and machine builders, opened the doors of its brand spanking new building. The huge control boxes for wind turbines in China were awe-inspiring. Elektra 21, based in Terneuzen, showcased many innovative aspects of its operation, including applications in home automation, telecommunications systems and lighting.
Technical Cooking
The anniversary celebrations had something of a culinary atmosphere. A special video made for the occasion entitled ‘Technical Cooking’ featured cook Ludo Haers dishing up interesting morsels about the companies for viewers. The video had already been shown at the function for invited guests on the Friday and was shown on the Saturday on a huge video screen in the Technopark. When visitors left the Unitron display in the Mauritshof they were given a copy of ‘Lees Smakelijk’ (‘A Tasty Read’), a specially produced book of thirty portraits of Zeeuws-Vlaanderen residents and their favourite recipes.
Medical equipment
The range of Unitron products on show in the Mauritshof included sophisticated medical equipment such as the APAD (Acoustic Puncture Assist Device), and systems for measuring heart function and detecting tumours. At the gathering for invited guests on Friday, honoured guest Herman Wijffels presented the first CE-certified spinal puncture device to ZorgSaam Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
Coming and going
With people constantly coming and going from start to finish, all the sites had a busy but enjoyable day. The visitors took a keen interest in everything, had a drink and a bite to eat, and kept their eyes peeled for the answers to the competition questions, hoping to win one of the three wide-screen television prizes.
Positive view!
Herman Wijffels praised Zeeuws-Vlaanderen for its wonderful living environment and thriving knowledge economy. Hydrauvision, Unitron, Elektra 21 and Technotron demonstrated something else too: that the area offered excellent conditions for the cultivation of innovative technology and that more can be achieved by working together. Many people from the region came away on Friday and Saturday with a renewed positive view of the future.