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We had the pleasure of chatting with Wouter Hendriks, Lead Engineer at Coulisse, to learn more about his 19-year journey with the company. Here’s what he shared:
“It’s funny how it all started,” Wouter smiles. “After graduating, I had a temporary job in Zwolle and would drive past DOCK36 every morning at 7 o’clock with a colleague. We joked about how no one seemed to be working there that early. I never imagined that building would become my workplace for the next 19 years.”
Wouter found a job opening at Coulisse that matched his degree in Industrial Product Development. “I applied, had an interview, and four days later, I signed my contract,” he recalls. “I was only the third engineer on the team—joining Bas Klein Tuente and Ruben de Vries. Now we’re a team of around 25.”
What’s kept him at Coulisse all these years? “The trust and freedom I’ve had here. From the beginning, we were involved in every part of product development—from sketches and prototyping to customer training. The variety made every day interesting, and even now, there’s never a dull moment.”
“While I’m still an engineer at heart, my role has evolved significantly,” Wouter explains. As Lead Engineer, he now focuses less on hands-on design in SolidWorks and more on guiding the team. “I spend more time advising, streamlining workflows, and passing on my knowledge to the next generation of engineers.”
One of his key goals is to help the team avoid past mistakes. “With nearly two decades of experience, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. My focus now is on ensuring the team benefits from that knowledge while continuing to innovate.”
Wouter reflects on the early days when Coulisse began developing its own hardware. “We started by analyzing competitors’ systems, learning from them, and sometimes pushing technical limits a bit too far,” he recalls “Some of our early ideas were over-engineered, but we learned a lot.”
A major turning point came with the development of Roller 2.0 and the Honeycomb system. “By then, we had over 50 years of combined engineering experience. We designed systems that were easy to produce, quick to assemble, simple to install, and visually appealing. That was a proud moment for all of us.” He adds, “Seeing those systems in use today, knowing the work we put in, makes it all worthwhile.”
“At Coulisse, our engineers are true all-rounders,” Wouter explains. “We don’t just design products—we understand the entire lifecycle, from manufacturing to how customers use them.”
A key part of Coulisse’s approach is direct customer feedback. “We conduct on-site assembly training with clients worldwide, teaching them how to use the very parts we designed. It’s the ultimate test of our work,” Wouter shares.
He recalls a memorable training session: “A participant once asked, ‘Who’s the idiot who designed this?’ I told her it was me,” he laughs. “But that feedback led to improvements. Honest input like that is invaluable.”
“The culture here is all about collaboration,” Wouter says. “There are no big egos—just people working together toward a common goal.” He believes mutual respect is at the heart of Coulisse’s success. “Whether you’re an engineer, a designer, or in logistics, everyone’s input is valued.”
He also highlights how work friendships grow outside the office. “The annual cycling holidays are a great example. Spending a week cycling through areas you wouldn’t normally visit with colleagues who share the same passion creates lasting memories.”
“I’m a handyman,” Wouter laughs. “Around the house, I fix everything—from my kids’ bikes and phones to home improvement projects. It’s satisfying to solve problems and create something functional.”
He’s also passionate about sports, especially cycling. “I cycle to the office most days—about 40 minutes each way. It gives me time to daydream and clear my head.”
Wouter also enjoys survival runs—a mix of cross-country running and rope-climbing obstacles—and adventure multi-sport races that include running, cycling, kick biking, and canoeing, all with navigation challenges. “Adventure racing forces you to switch between intense physical effort and strategic thinking, which helps me in my daily work when I need to switch focus quickly.”
“My biggest goal is simple—to enjoy what I do,” Wouter shares. He references the documentary Kapp to Cape, about a man cycling from Cape Nord to Cape Town in 100 days. “The cyclist pushed himself hard but only truly started enjoying the trip on day 90 when he realized he couldn’t make his goal on time. That’s when he appreciated the journey.”
For Wouter, it’s all about finding the balance between work and life. “Whether it’s at work or in my personal life, I aim to focus on enjoying the process rather than just the end result. I follow the same philosophy as Marijn Zeeman, the former technical director of the Jumbo-Visma cycling team, who believes that by focusing on the journey, you’re more likely to succeed and find happiness in your work.”
After nearly two decades at Coulisse, Wouter’s passion for engineering and his commitment to continuous improvement remain as strong as ever. “Every project is a chance to learn, grow, and create something better,” he says. “That’s what keeps me excited to come to work every day.”