Rainbowsol and Aluminum Donk have been a rock-solid team for decades!

Made in Holland is really Made in Holland

If the first question is how long exactly the two companies have been working together, both Robert Bosch, responsible for sales at Rainbowsol in Leerdam, and Erik Donk, director-owner of Lopik-based Aluminum Donk, have to be unable to answer. "It started sometime in the 1980s," Erik says. "But whatever the exact start date, the longstanding cooperation has led to a true 'chain friendship' anyway. Developing together has become the credo." 

Rainbowsol has meanwhile gained a solid position in the Dutch awning market. The various awards won in recent years also testify to this. But that position would probably never have been achieved without the close cooperation with Aluminium Donk in product development. "The company Donk is a supplier that really suits us," Robert Bosch observes. "In my experience over all these years, they have unparalleled expertise within the field of aluminum casting. For decades, Donk has supplied the many aluminum casting parts we need for the production of our articulated and drop awnings, conservatory awnings, screens and so on. Donk knows the properties of our products like no other, so there is always a razor-sharp test to see if everything we want is technically possible. This makes Donk an important cooperation partner in the development of new products." 

"Sometimes these are trajectories of several years," says Erik. "Although I am in contact with Rainbowsol at least twice a week about all the ongoing issues, so there are also regular strategic sessions with each other around an idea or design. The contacts are intense." Robert acknowledges this and adds that in addition, it is also "really nice" that Lopik and Leerdam are not too far away from each other. "So it's very easy to drive by to exchange views." 

Made in Holland

The pride is not only in the long-standing cooperation but also in the credo "Made in Holland. "There are plenty of aluminum foundries and manufacturers - even abroad - that we could cooperate with. But Rainbowsol is a truly Dutch company. As much as possible, we look for our suppliers and cooperation partners close to home. That doesn't always work out, of course, but with Aluminium Donk the cooperation goes very smoothly. And because we keep the links between our companies short, we are very sustainable. So 'Made in Holland' is not a catch-all term, but has very concrete, positive effects!" 

Erik nods. "In my experience, Rainbowsol is the market leader for articulated screens. The price-quality ratio of Rainbowsol's products is, in my opinion, one of the best in the Netherlands. And when innovating, Rainbowsol does it well. Especially in terms of design, they always manage to put a special twist on it. The designs are sophisticated. They dot the i's. And yes, then it makes sense that we as a supplier are proud to be able to contribute to those beautiful products with our aluminum."

Does Erik himself actually have blinds from the Rainbow Collection on the facade at home? He laughs. "I wouldn't dare choose any other brand! I went and go all the way for 'Made in Holland'! And for 'Making Shadow Beautiful'!"