On 1 February, we celebrate a special milestone: Sierk van der Veen ten years at ROMYNOX. Over that period, a great deal has changed for him personally and for the company. What began as a chance encounter has grown into an impressive journey from the offshore industry to the world of pharmaceutical single use technology. In this blog, we look back on his career at ROMYNOX, from his very first introduction to his current role as Technical Manager and a valued long standing member of the team.
From Offshore Roots to ROMYNOX: How It All Started
Ten years ago, he was not planning to change jobs. He was working in the oil and gas and offshore wind sector as an operational buyer. There was some uncertainty, with plans to relocate to Sliedrecht, longer commuting times, and more traffic congestion. However, he was not actively looking yet.
And then there was water polo. Through the team, he struck up a conversation with Ronald. After a match, during drinks afterwards, it was the classic question: what do you actually do? The kind of conversation that usually leads nowhere, except this time it did. Ronald invited him to drop by for an informal chat. The timing was right. Looking back, it felt like it was meant to be.
A New World: Pioneering in Single Use
He joined with the expectation that he would mainly focus on procurement. But it quickly became clear that his path would take a different direction. Before he had even properly settled in, he was introduced to an entirely new domain: single use solutions.
A presentation turned out to be one of those moments when everything clicks into place. New materials, components, and applications opened up an entirely new world. What may initially have seemed like a side step soon became the core of his work. Within a few months, he was involved in a customer project where speed and technical understanding made the difference. While others still needed to investigate and double check, he could already provide answers. Not because he had been doing it for years, but because he quickly grasped what was being asked and how to translate it into something concrete. That is exactly what defines him: understanding what the real question is, and then turning it into a solution that is sound both technically and practically.
Drawing, Translating, Delivering: From Idea to Assembly Set
In the world of single use assemblies and materials, it is rarely about a single component. It is about assembly sets, processes, and systems that need to work from the moment they arrive at the customer site.
In that environment, he took on a role that suited him perfectly. He kept the overview, asked the questions others had not yet asked, and brought everything back to a design that was truly manufacturable. He worked with partners to develop drawings, deliver test sets, and run iterations based on feedback. And while this was still new territory for ROMYNOX at the time, momentum started to build from that moment onwards. First cautiously, then with increasing confidence.
ROMYNOX Grew Alongside Him, and During COVID Everything Accelerated
Anyone who knew ROMYNOX ten years ago will remember how different it was back then. The company was small, communication lines were short, and decisions could be made quickly. Precisely because of that, a lot was also done on instinct. That worked well, until growth truly started to accelerate. You could feel that growth everywhere. More materials, more orders, more people, and therefore a greater need for clear agreements and systems that evolve with the business. This is exactly where he thrives: maintaining oversight, bringing structure, and ensuring the team can act faster rather than slower.
When COVID arrived, the pace accelerated even further. A request that started with a connector quickly became a key project supporting the scale up of a vaccine manufacturing process. Asking the right follow up questions fast, setting up a call immediately, thinking alongside engineers while the process was still being developed, and at the same time moving forward with design and preparation. This may be the best illustration of how he works. When things get critical, everything becomes clear. He shifts gears, builds trust, dares to move forward, and makes sure it delivers.
And that is exactly what ROMYNOX did at the time.
On to the next ten.
For some, ten years at ROMYNOX feels like it flew by. For those who have known Sierk for a long time, it is also a meaningful part of the company’s story. From a chance connection through water polo to a single use specialist within Sales, from a small storage space to major projects, he has not only witnessed ROMYNOX grow, he has made a clear contribution to that growth.
Thank you for your dedication, your energy, and your way of working. Here’s to the next ten years.