Gouda

"The robots are the workhorses pulling the wagon, and the people, our colleagues, drive the wagon and tell them which way to go and how to get there," Michel Grootenboer of Gouda Refractories B.V.
Michel Grootenboer, the Director of Sales and Marketing at Gouda Refractories B.V., shared valuable insights in an enlightening interview for the 7th edition of AL Circle’s LeaderSpeak 2025 e-magazine. He discussed Gouda's history, current state, and future prospects, as well as his views on the industry, drawing from over 30 years of experience. Here are some key highlights from the detailed interview. AL Circle: From a leadership perspective, how are you aligning Gouda’s legacy with the brand’s global vision while ensuring continuity and innovation? How do you strike the right balance between tradition and transformation? Michel Grootenboer: As explained, Gouda Refractories and Gouda Refractories Group as a whole, including our service companies, will continue to operate as an...
“Gouda Refractories is a worldwide reference in the field of secondary aluminium, and it seamlessly matches the design and the choice of materials to the specific needs of the industry and process”, Miki Lagers, Sales Manager, Gouda Refractories
Miki Lagers is a competent and well-rounded sales expert with 20 years of experience defining and optimizing commercial skills in various occupational areas. He has displayed the ability to combine an excellent sales strategy with the capability of knowledge of the human nature of different cultures. He joined the more than-century-old Netherlands-based Gouda Refractories as Sales Manager in April 2022. His ability to work collegially with team members and leaders across business units and lines of business drives and promotes organizational change whilst embedding governance principles to move the organization up the functional excellence curve. AL Circle: Can you provide a brief overview of Gouda Refractories and its role in the secondary aluminium industry? Miki Lagers: Gouda...
Grow with
AL Circle
Price
→Events

15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia Aluminum Conference
15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia Aluminum Conference
Business Cards
A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
LEARN MOREA report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
LEARN MOREGlobal EV sales to hit 35.4 million by 2030, with aluminium usage forecast to rise 38% in North America & 79% in China
AL Circle analysis: How do Germany’s 32.8% automotive aluminium share, 40% Diet Coke can price rise & 3.54Mt North American extrusion demand matter?
AL Circle Analysis: Guinea’s 150Mt bauxite cap, China’s import swings, US tariffs draw aluminium Q4’26
EU approves Germany’s power relief instrument: Could aluminium producers save €459m annually?
North America’s aluminum extrusion demand set to reach 3.54Mt by 2035: The end-use sectors behind the climb
Business Leads
VIEW ON AL BIZInterviews
→
Michel Grootenboer
"The robots are the workhorses pulling the wagon, and the people, our colleagues, drive the wagon and tell them which way to go and how to get there," Michel Grootenboer of Gouda Refractories B.V.
“Gouda Refractories is a worldwide reference in the field of secondary aluminium, and it seamlessly matches the design and the choice of materials to the specific needs of the industry and process”, Miki Lagers, Sales Manager, Gouda Refractories

Mr Gangaa C Sharma
Carbon, competitiveness and credibility: Gangaa C Sharma on aluminium’s next challenge

Blog
LATEST POSTS

Turn marketplace visibility into more relevant buyer enquiries.
View Priority PlansTurn marketplace visibility into more relevant buyer enquiries.
View Priority Plans
































