"The fact that I get to work on technical developments for our machines, which is really at the heart of VMI's future as a company, is what I enjoy most about my job,” says Wilco Vessies. "Just as rewarding is seeing the people in my team grow. Both professionally and personally. Being part of that gives me a lot of energy."
Sustainability plays an important role in both his work and his personal life. “For me, sustainability has two sides,” Wilco explains. “On the one hand, it’s personal: making sure that you and the people around you stay healthy and employable throughout their careers. On the other hand, it is very practical, both at home and at work.”
At home, he and his family make conscious choices. “We have a green roof with solar panels. It was a significant investment, but it’s paying off. We need less energy for cooling and heating, and we generate part of our own electricity.”
Within VMI’s Sustainability Program, several initiatives stand out, but one in particular makes him proud: “The launch of the UNIXX Belt Maker,” he says. “It allows customers to produce much thinner breakers, which means less material in the final tire, a lower rolling resistance, and ultimately a lower fuel consumption of the vehicle. The impact of this is felt in production, through less material, but also during the tire’s use phase.”
Technological innovation is a key driver. “We apply the latest technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence in our Foreign Object Detection, to reduce the number of scrap tires as much as possible. This directly helps reduce rubber waste.”
What Wilco has learned from the Sustainability Program is that progress often comes in small steps. “Projects like reusing air in the MILEXX show that relatively simple ideas can make a real difference. It’s a wake-up call: sustainability doesn’t have to be ‘something extra’, but something you can integrate into your daily job.”
Looking ahead, Wilco is confident about VMI’s direction. “In 10 to 15 years, VMI will still be a market leader in production machinery—from laboratory equipment such as the LAT100 to complete tire production lines. And sustainability will no longer be a separate theme, but a natural part of everything we do.”
