A quarter of a century of craftsmanship
Jan’s contribution to sustainable road surfacing
In 2000, Jan van de Water started as head of the asphalt laboratory and since 2008 he has been head of materials science at Ballast Nedam Infra Regionaal in Leerdam. ‘In that role, I am responsible for quality controls, pavement consultancy and the development of new, sustainable products in the field of road surfacing,’ Jan explains.
‘Twenty-five years ago, the asphalt industry looked completely different. Innovation played only a minor role, and less attention was paid to the quality of asphalt. Through smart entrepreneurship and a step-by-step approach, our organisation grew into an innovative, knowledge-driven player. Over the course of a quarter of a century, the position of Ballast Nedam Infra Regionaal in the asphalt sector was elevated to a higher level, with quality, consultancy and development as strong pillars.’
‘I’m a chemical analyst and after graduating, I first worked for seven years as a chief laboratory technician for the municipality of Rotterdam. But I wanted to get more into the business side of things, which is how I ended up at Ballast Nedam. Here, there’s more room for innovation and entrepreneurship than in the public sector. And that’s what I like most about my job.’
‘Yes, when I started in 2000, we were actually only carrying out quality controls. But in the years since, we’ve gradually expanded that with consultancy and innovation. Together with DIBEC Materiaalkunde, we also work for external parties, such as governments and other contractors. That means we also gain a lot of knowledge and experience outside Ballast Nedam.’
How many people do you manage?
‘Not that many actually, because the lab technicians are managed by a colleague. I’m responsible for that, but I don’t manage them directly. However, I do manage five advisors. That only involves content to a limited, as they are the real experts in that area themselves. I see myself more as a coach who tries to get innovative ideas off the ground from a creative perspective.’
‘For about fifteen years now, I’ve been passionate about how we can build smarter, better, and more sustainable roads in the Netherlands. That’s why I’m involved in all kinds of working groups and knowledge clubs in this field, such as CROW, ASPARI at the University of Twente, and the Bitumineuze Werken working group. A few years ago, I gave a presentation at Asphalt Day on how we should work together in order to make road construction more sustainable. That didn’t fall on deaf ears.’
What do you mean by that?
‘After that presentation, I was asked to become programme manager of the Nationaal Platform Duurzame Wegverharding (NPDW). Within the NPDW, governments, companies, and knowledge institutions work together on innovations in the field of sustainable road surfaces. I’m pleased that Ballast Nedam gives me the space and the opportunity to take on these kinds of initiatives. And Ballast Nedam is pleased that I am a sort of ambassador for the organisation and DIBEC. So it’s a win-win situation.’
Are you also interested in working at Ballast Nedam?
At Ballast Nedam, you can develop and become a little better every day. In the Netherlands and abroad. Together with almost 3,400 colleagues, we are committed to a future-proof living environment. Will you join our team to contribute to this?
