FMI accelerates growth strategy with participation in VOVU Machining

The participation aligns with FMI’s strategic ambition to grow towards a turnover of more than €100 million by 2030. This growth will be achieved through a combination of autonomous development and targeted investments that deliver clear strategic value.
 

Scalability and continuity
VOVU Machining represents a strong addition to FMI’s existing capabilities.

The manufacturing company specialises in serial production and operates a highly automated production process, enabling the efficient manufacture of series at competitive cost levels. As such, VOVU fits seamlessly within FMI’s Manufacturing division, where scalability and continuity are becoming increasingly important.

“With VOVU, we are not only adding capacity, but also gaining a different way of thinking about automation and series production,” says Bart Beune, CEO of FMI. “That is something we can truly learn from and continue to build on as a group.”

In addition, the participation results in an immediate expansion of the team by approximately 40 experienced professionals: a significant step in a market where technical talent is increasingly scarce.

Strengthening market position through diversification
With a strong position in the Automotive market and AS9100 certification for aerospace applications, VOVU broadens FMI’s market scope. The participation therefore aligns with FMI’s broader strategy of controlled diversification alongside its core markets Semiconductor, Analytical and Medical, with expansion into Aerospace, Leisure and Offshore.

The market focus per business unit remains clearly defined:

• Precision primarily serves the Semiconductor and Analytical markets.
• Instrumed focuses mainly on the Medical market.
• Manufacturing serves the Semiconductor, Analytical and Aerospace markets.

Stability for customers, partners and employees
For existing FMI customers, the participation primarily means increased scale and flexibility, including the ability to manufacture larger products, up to sizes comparable to a shoebox and beyond. For VOVU’s customers, partners and employees, joining the FMI Group offers greater stability and long-term continuity.

“VOVU customers gain access to FMI’s broad technological foundation,” Beune adds. “At the same time, the speed, commitment and pragmatic approach they are accustomed to will remain unchanged.”

Ivo Kolman, Managing Director of VOVU Machining, sees the partnership as a logical next step:

“As Managing Director, I am very pleased with the structure that has been agreed. It represents a win-win situation with a clear future plan, bringing stability to the organisation and benefiting everyone involved. The fact that we are located so close to each other is also a real advantage for our employees.”

Strong cultural match
In addition to strategic and technological considerations, cultural alignment also played an important role. Like FMI, VOVU is a family-owned business, characterised by short lines of communication, an open culture and a strong focus on collaboration and reliability.

“We are a group of technicians at heart,” says Beune. “That mindset is immediately recognisable at VOVU. A promise is a promise, customer focus comes first, and responsibility is shared. That makes this collaboration both logical and sustainable.”

Next step in the strategic plan
With this participation, FMI underlines the direction in which the group is developing: controlled growth, further diversification and risk distribution. This strategy has already proven its value in recent years.

“VOVU provides us with an additional pillar to build on,” Beune concludes. “In a market that continues to grow and evolve, this step gives us even greater resilience to keep moving forward.”