EXPLORING THE SHIFT IN STEEL FABRICATION WITH GERRIT TEUNISSEN

INTERVIEW APRIL 2026: HGG MARKET PERSPECTIVE & INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

READ TIME: 10 MINUTES

The steel fabrication industry is evolving fast. Rising pressure on efficiency, digitalization, and workflow integration is forcing fabricators to take a critical look at their production setup. How do you prepare your fabrication for the future? And how is that shaping the direction HGG is taking?

Ahead of NASCC and MACH Exhibition UK – two key events on the steel fabrication calendar – we spoke with Gerrit Teunissen, Global Sales Manager at HGG, about the latest market developments, the value of face-to-face events in an increasingly digital world, and the industry’s shift toward a fully integrated workflow approach.

NASCC AND MACH ARE KEY EVENTS ON OUR YEARLY CALENDAR - WHAT MAKES THEM ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, AND WHAT DO YOU PERSONALLY VALUE MOST ABOUT BEING THERE?

“For us, these events are important because they keep us close to the market,” Gerrit explains. “We spend a lot of time with customers, partners, and fabricators, and that’s where the real learning for us happens – in honest conversations about what’s working, what’s not, and where the pressure points are in their day-to-day operations. Not focusing too much on the solutions we offer, but looking at the full picture: workflow, automation, software, and the broader direction of fabrication.”

“Moments like these are also opportunities to challenge our own thinking. Last year, we celebrated our 40th anniversary, and historically we are known for our pipe cutting solutions – especially in offshore and shipbuilding. But by visiting and now also exhibiting at events like these, we’ve created the opportunity to listen, challenge our own thinking, and evolve. That’s exactly where innovations like our RoboRail and the APC are born out of.”

ABOUT:

GERRIT TEUNISSEN | GLOBAL SALES MANAGER HGG

Gerrit Teunissen is HGG’s Global Sales Manager. With extensive experience in the steel industry, including leadership roles at Australian steel supplier Southern Queensland Steel and as General Manager of HGG Inc. in Houston.

ABOUT:

GERRIT TEUNISSEN | GLOBAL SALES MANAGER HGG

OVER THE YEARS YOU’VE ATTENDED THESE EVENTS - HOW DO YOU SEE STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATION EVOLVING?

“Off course there currently is a lot of talk about the tariffs and steel prices in general but the main evolution that I personally see is in the conversation itself,” Gerrit says. “For us it really has moved beyond just talking about the machine on its own. Today, it’s about the entire workflow: how information flows into production, how material moves through the shop, how dependency on manual processes is reduced, and how to create a setup that is consistent and easier to manage. The market is clearly moving towards more connected, digital, and automated environments – but in its core, it’s still just about practical efficiency. In the end the solutions that we together come up with and create need to deliver real and tangible improvements on the shop floor.”

HOW IS THIS FOCUS ON THE FULL WORKFLOW INFLUENCING THE DIRECTION HGG IS TAKING?

“It really forces us to focus more than ever on the upstream and downstream processes that fabricators rely on,” Gerrit explains. “For example, I recently spoke with a customer working on a project to replace an old, rusted roof at a paper mill. In the past, they would build everything based on drawings, transport it to site, and then often discover that things didn’t quite fit resulting in a lot of extra time and costs for on-site cutting, adjustments, and rework.”

“Today, these guys approach it very differently. They start by scanning the existing structure, and they use that data to create an accurate 3D model. From there, bringing it into a system like Tekla and design directly on top of real-world conditions. By overlaying the model with the scan data, they can identify potential issues before anything is produced. That same data flows directly into production, making the process way more efficient. The files they now create digitally can, in our case, be brought straight into work preparation software ProCAM. This essentially eliminates the need for manual programming. By going straight from the model into a cutting file, you not only save loads of time, but you can also be way more efficient with how the raw material is being used. “

"We deliberately choose to be part of that ecosystem of specialists and focus on what we do best."

“This shift in how fabricators work also directly defines how we position ourselves within the broader fabrication ecosystem. We deliberately choose to be part of that ecosystem of specialists and focus on what we do best: helping our customers get the best possible cutting results by building top-quality 3D coping machines and providing the right work preparation to match. We’re not here to replace systems like Tekla or SDS2, and we’re not all the sudden going to produce automated welding machines – but we sure integrate with them and help them perform at their best. Our aim is that fabricators know that if they want to have the best 3D coping machine in their shop, they need to have an HGG.”

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE WORLD OF 3D PROFILING MOVING TOWARDS IN THE FUTURE?

“Like said, integration into workflows and software will continue to play a major role,” Gerrit says. “If we zoom in on the 3D profiling itself – our part of the ecosystem -, our goal is to make the machine output even more predictable and efficient. “

“I think we’re already doing a strong job when it comes to both prep and execution. You can really see that come to life when visitors see during demos that what comes off the machine matches exactly what was drawn. The realization of that possibility really blows their minds. But we want to take the next step and go even further – especially on reducing dependency on operator skill. To me it really shouldn’t matter if an operator, for whatever reason, is having a bad day; the cutting result should always be the same. We believe the machine should take the lead, only involving the operator when necessary. And if the operator needs to step in the machine should guide the operator, not the other way around.”

"Fabricators these days aren’t just looking for a machine anymore; they demand reliability, efficiency, and someone who actually understands their world."

“Another important development we see is a shift in how maintenance is viewed. Fabricators these days aren’t just looking for a machine anymore; they demand reliability, efficiency, and someone who actually understands their world.

We pick up a lot on by just talking to them – when we are on the road, during installations, and at events like NASCC and MACH – but also from how our machines are actually used, both in our own cutting facility and, increasingly, through insights from customer data. By knowing how the machines are actually being used in the field we learn how to improve them but also how to help our customers push the most value out of them. For example, a customer running two or even three shifts a day needs a completely different service approach than someone on a single shift. It really all comes down to understanding the customer’s reality.”

LOOKING AHEAD TO MACH AND NASCC - WHAT CAN VISITORS EXPECT WHEN THEY MEET HGG THERE?

“We are here for a real conversation,” Gerrit says. “Talking about what fabricators are dealing with today and where the opportunities are going forward. That includes machines, of course, but also workflow, software, automation, and support. We spend a lot of time in the market, so those conversations are grounded in what’s actually happening in fabrication shops right now.”

“Off course the market is evolving quickly, but the fundamentals of it remain the same: customers want better workflows, stronger support, and practical solutions that help them stay competitive. That’s where we aim to make a difference – and that’s the message we bring when we meet people face-to-face.”