Story of our Founders

Hello my name is Ruud van Pol. After my training as a graphic designer, I encountered lighting through photography. After several years as an Electrician, Best boy, Gaffer, and Director of Photography for a large number of commercials and corporate films. During the period my interest in moving light was aroused. Back in those days moving lights were mostly used for the larger entertainment shows on television and massive events. As a lighting technician, I was able to participate in an wide variety of TV programs, shows, drama’s and events. During this period, I met my (current) business partner Joeri van Wageningen. This turned out to be a match made in heaven, he had been active as light designer and technician, for television drama’s and shows the previous 15 years, and our combined experience proofed to be successful. The collaboration was so successful that we almost immediately decided to set up shop together. In 2005 this resulted in the birth of HWM

We had the good fortune to be able to serve The Passenger terminal Amsterdam, Andre Rieu and a few more large clients national and international.  During this start up period the commercial work and drama for television continued. This allowed us to build HWM into an all-round healthy AVL company.

Sometimes one hears stories about companies that started at the kitchen table. With us it was the dining room table that we chose as our place of work. Our first employee Jan- Willem Schaap was to join within A matter of weeks. And we soon found our self’s having to make our first big decision, whether to investment in our first 8 LED-lamps. After a couple of sleepless nights, we decided to go through with it.  Making us one of the first AVL companies to invest in LED-Lights. The rented storage space and the dining room table soon became too small, and we moved to our first office/warehouse on the Zeeburgerpad in Amsterdam.

We cordially invite you to join us on our journey into the future, and lay the bricks for a solid foundation to establish A lasting relationship.