From hospitality to the maritime industry.
Fabian spent more than ten years working in hospitality. He loved the fast pace, the contact with people and making sure every detail was taken care of. But he also realized that the lifestyle would be difficult to combine with the future he envisioned.
"A friend asked me, 'Is this really what you want to do for the rest of your life? Late nights, working in the weekends and missing holidays.' That made me think and I started looking for new opportunities.” That search led him to Lavastica. Although he had no maritime background, the company saw something more important than experience.
"During my interview, they weren't just interested in what I had done before. They wanted to know who I was as a person and whether I was eager to learn. That gave me confidence."
Never stop learning.
His curiosity didn't stop after joining Lavastica. The more he learned about the industry, the more fascinated he became. "When I started, I realized how much knowledge there was. During a performance review, I told Daan, the Managing Director at Lavastica: 'I don't want your position, but I would love to have your knowledge.'"
That conversation became the starting point for an ambitious plan. Together with Lavastica, Fabian decided to pursue a part-time degree in Naval Architecture.
It wasn't an easy route. Coming from hospitality, he first had to catch up on years of mathematics, physics and engineering before even starting the programme. Alongside a full-time job, he spent evenings and weekends studying.
"Knowledge is incredibly important to me. It's something no one can ever take away from you." Four and a half years later, he's finished. Throughout that journey, his wife supported him every step of the way. "It wasn't just my investment. We did it together."
Building solutions instead of selling products.
Today, Fabian combines his commercial background with his technical knowledge in his role as Project Manager. Where account managers mainly supply spare parts, Fabian focuses on complete system replacements and service projects. From the first customer conversation to engineering, planning, installation and aftercare, he stays involved throughout the entire process.
"What I enjoy most is working with customers to find the right solution. You're not just selling a product. You're helping someone solve a problem." He's currently specializing in fire detection systems, but his ambition goes beyond a single product group. "I want to understand ships as a whole. The more knowledge I gain, the better I can help our customers."
The Coolblue of the maritime industry.
When asked what makes Lavastica different, Fabian doesn't hesitate. "I always say we should be the Coolblue of the maritime industry."
For him, excellent service is about much more than delivering the right product at the right time. It's about being available, building relationships and genuinely helping customers. "We don't want customers to choose us because we sell the same products as everyone else. We want them to choose us because they enjoy working with us."
Growing together.
One of the reasons Fabian still enjoys working at Lavastica after seven years is the freedom to keep developing. "When I wanted to study, the response wasn't 'No'. It was: 'Come up with a plan.' That says everything about the company."
As Lavastica continues to grow, so does his own role. He enjoys helping colleagues, connecting departments and building new ways of working together. "I don't like saying, 'That's not my job.' If someone needs help and I can contribute, I will."
Getting to know Fabian.
Outside work, Fabian's passion for ships doesn't stop. On his days off, you'll sometimes find him at the Maasvlakte with a pair of binoculars, simply watching ships pass by. He loves learning new things, speaks multiple languages and enjoys travelling to visit customers around the world.
European Head Office
Vareseweg 45
The Netherlands
+31 10 265 5070
Asian Office
Star Avenue 5, 169/105
San Phak Wan
Hang Dong District
50230 Chiang Mai
Thailand
Our team.
Our team is a dedicated group of professionals with years of experience in the
maritime industry and industrial industry.
Our sales team is committed to provide you with the best possible service.
“Whether you are looking for a single piece of equipment or a complete solution,
we have the expertise and resources to meet your needs.”
Our technical support team has deep technical expertise and experience. The
service team is available to answer any questions and provide guidance on the
use and maintenance of our products.
“We provide expert advice to ensure that you get the most out of your equipment.”
Our logistics team is responsible for coordinating the delivery of our products to
customers all over the world. They make sure that shipments are delivered on
time and in perfect condition.
“We understand the importance of timely delivery and strive to ensure that all
orders are fulfilled as quickly as possible.”
