To understand Comtest, you need to know about Hein

This is Hein de Groot, the founder of Comtest and the father of Bas and Rik. You need to know about Hein to understand our company, so we asked Bas and Rik to share more about him.

According to Bas de Groot, “Hein has always been fascinated with electro technique, from boosting a little scooter with a moped engine to repairing radio and radar equipment in KLM cockpits. In 1985, Hein de Groot got the chance to start a company selling measuring equipment. Having bought a house and with a young family, this was a big thing to do.

However, the whole De Groot family breathes entrepreneurship. Hein took the jump and launched Comtest Engineering, and he soon realised that clients who needed measuring equipment also needed test chambers. Selling chambers was the logical next step. In that period, Hein started to professionalise marketing, including sponsoring the local table tennis club, which is why he is holding a ping pong bat in the photo.”

In 1999, Comtest wanted to focus on producing its test chambers, and that’s when the two brothers stepped in, explains Rik de Groot: “Bas and I joined Comtest and started helping our father. We bought a welding cart, drill string, and milling machine and started producing. We learned by doing, sticking our feet in the mud. This was a bonus because if we speak to our clients now, we know every little detail about our product, how it is built, and what it does. Nowadays, we have a highly skilled R&D lab, which, for example, invented the ‘Javelin Tip’ polystyrene absorbers for our sister company, Dutch Microwave Absorber Solutions (DMAS), and the patented oscillating wall stirrer technology for Comtest Engineering.”

Like its founding father, both Comtest Engineering and DMAS are all about people. Their products must be of excellent quality and developed by forward-thinking. This is a precondition. Bas says, “People make the difference. We are driven by stakeholder value, not shareholder value. We are and will be a family business. Although we’re from a small place and a small country, we think big and act globally. Our Dutch factory in Zoeterwoude is where all our magic happens. A can-do mentality is what we have to offer. It’s in our DNA. We can, and we will make it work. We have been doing that for 38 years now and will continue to do so in the future. But we prefer doing it together with our colleagues, suppliers, and clients.”

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A shielded room can perform conducted emission and immunity EMC measurements, eliminating harmful external influences, leading to more accurate and consistent test results. Being a Faraday cage, a shielded room will not only improve test results but will also form an excellent aid in protecting information and essential hardware. Comtest can assist governments, the military, financial institutions, and large corporations in protecting what matters most in critical situations. We offer the highest quality, sensitivity, and security before, during and after working with you.

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Comtest has been building high-quality antenna test ranges for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you, turning any problem you might have into a customized test solution. As for researching and developing your products, we know speed and return on investment are very important. That’s why we ensure your project is delivered on schedule, on budget and exactly as ordered.

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We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible. 

Comtest offers semi and full anechoic chambers that shield almost 100% of ambient emissions and reflect minimal internal radiation. We deliver or build your custom test chamber at your location, depending on what size chamber you need. If you tell us your challenges, we’ll offer a tailored turnkey solution from design to installation, including upgrades and yearly certifications.

We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible.