The Netherlands is doing well internationally in advanced technological solutions, including measuring systems. It is a sector that relies on innovation and complexity, and Dutch companies with expertise in this field know how to deal with that.
Theresa Spaan-Burke is director of innovation at IBS Precision Engineering (IBSPE), which provides high-performance measuring, positioning and motion systems where ultra-high precision is required. She has managed multiple initiatives for institutes and companies across Europe around strategic goals for precision engineering and metrology. IBSPE operates around the world with offices in Germany, the UK and France, but their headquarters are in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The 'city of light' and surrounding region have an excellent reputation in numerous technological sectors. ‘’I am mainly concerned with new developments and our people. Measuring is our specialism, but at the front end we are always looking at new opportunities: what are the technologies customers need to keep innovating? Everything is getting smaller and smaller: the next step has to be quantum,‘’ Spaan-Burke explains.
Increasingly better precision
‘’That has to do with Moore's law,‘’ Henny Spaan adds. ‘’Or doubling the capacity every two years and halving the price. There is a lot of looking at 3D now, complexity is increasing.‘’ He is founder and CEO of the company, which he started back in 1993. He is mainly concerned with the market, but also fulfils various director roles in the industry. He received the Rien Koster Award in 2013 and the Martin van den Brink Award in 2023 for his contributions to mechatronics and precision technology in the Netherlands. What actually drives the sector, to continuously develop at such a pace, as in semiconductors? ‘’It's about the hunger for better data, where we provide even better precision,‘’ Spaan argues. In addition to the semiconductor industry, they are also active in machine tools, among others, printing and industrial test equipment and Big Science.
External partners
According to Spaan-Burke, continuous innovations require them to learn the rules each time. The majority of her people are highly trained, so they really add value. ‘’Ultimately, everything has to be faster and cheaper but, in particular, smarter. We work intensively with external partners for production, where we take care of calibration and intelligent applications,‘’ Spaan says. ‘’You can come up with wonderful new technologies, but in the end you still have to make something‘’, says Spaan-Burke.
Strategic partner
As a strategic engineering partner, IBS Precision Engineering has built an excellent reputation with their proven precision solutions. Advanced metrology is at the heart of everything they do. Spaan-Burke: ‘’We bring our expertise to the Dutch ecosystem and internationally. There is so much knowledge throughout our country's value chain. You shouldn't take that for granted.‘’
Original article (in Dutch) page 15:
https://fd.nl/krant/2025/5/30?publication=50 
Our CEO Dr. Ir. Henny Spaan and our Innvation Director Dr. Theresa Spaan-Burke have been interviewed by the Dutch Financiële Dagblad for a 'High Tech & Data Science' publication. This edition focuses on the high-tech innovations that strengthen the Dutch international competitiveness.
