Don Quichotte through the years

First, the production of "normal nails" was started. Later (60s) came our worldwide known hardened steel nails. These hardened steel nails were introduced by Jan de Wit Jr. because he noticed that the market demand was moving in that direction. He quickly took on board the new ways of building with concrete instead of wood or softer building materials. In addition, the labour costs were getting higher and higher. Normal nails were too easy and cheap to produce, so there was almost no profit in them. Hardened steel nails are much harder to produce and correspondingly more expensive. In this way and with this new strategy, de Wit can cover its costs again and make a profit, so there is a win-win situation. Our customers were very satisfied with the hardened steel nails, but they needed more in the direction of electrical installation, such as nail-dowel combinations. Because of this demand in the market, Don Quichotte has also gone in the direction of plastic and into the field of electrical and plumbing installations.

Don Quichotte remained in family hands until 1972, when J.H. De Wit was succeeded by his sons, Jan Jr. and Wim (1948).

In 1972, Don Quichotte was finally bought by Nedstaal, a subsidiary of the former Thyssen Stahl AG - now ThyssenKrupp. Until 1996, Don Quichotte remained part of ThyssenStahl AG. Later in 1996, some Don Quichotte employees bought the plant back from Nedstaal.

By 2005, the nail and electrical installation manufacturer Quichotte continues to grow. As there is an increasing lack of space, Don Quichotte relocates to the industrial area of Helmond.

In 2014, Don Quichotte takes the next important step and invests in:

• Its new 20-metre high-bay warehouse and 1,744 m² of space; since then, 9,400 pallet spaces of Don Quichotte products can be stored
• a goods receiving hall with an area of 963 m²
• two covered loading bays for trucks