Our team speaks volumes
You may have noticed from our social media channels such as Facebook and LinkedIn that we like to bring some dynamism into our busy office life. We are definitely known as a hard-working, sociable bunch who enjoy a good laugh and whose top priorities are respect and well-being.
This is also reflected in our professional relationships. Just like our colleagues, we think of our customers as great partners, who help us make amazing creations.
Would you like to get to know our dedicated editors, designers and software engineers? Why not pop by our modern office or take the virtual office tour.
The Crius Group storyline
From a back room in Baal to a fully equipped office in Hulshout and an editorial office in Amsterdam. Crius Group has grown tremendously over the past 30 years and that’s something we are proud of. Giving up is not in our vocabulary.
Jos Willems started in the attic with Style
Jos Willems started his own company, Style, in his attic room more than thirty years ago. His mission? To automate tasks, and thus take a leap forward in the typesetting sector. It immediately became the basis of our Crius Group philosophy: a smarter approach to processes.
Behind every great man stands a strong woman, and so Jos’ wife joined him in the company. Along with another, equally strong female colleague: Zita Vanderauwera. She has now been working there for more than 25 years!
Proud partnership with Wolters Kluwer Belgium
Wolters Kluwer Belgium discovered Style and brought in the team to keep legislative texts up to date and publish them across different media. We were proud as punch! This collaboration led to scaling up and continuity for Style. The company became the expert in medium-neutral storage formats.
In the meantime, the team was expanding into a sizeable group, and Style moved from Jos and Linda’s private home to renovated premises on the same street.
Younger generation at the helm
Jos and his wife have passed their passion for typesetting on to their sons Jurgen and Jordy, making it a true family business. In 2003, the sons took on a role in management, and so the time had come for a larger workspace. A 1250 m² building in Hulshout was awaiting a thorough renovation.
Jurgen and Jordy noted that the prepress market was changing rapidly, and that Indian suppliers were gaining market share. Thanks to the takeover of the Indian company Genesis Textware, Style was able to offer competitive prices and sufficient capacity with shorter lead times.
The company continued to experiment with new technologies, and the publishing sector in particular remained eager for such innovations. A new focus for Style.
Crius Group was born
Style changed its name to Crius Group and headed for the Dutch market, where it has gradually become an established firm.
The design firm Mediacombo was also taken over during this period. With this acquisition, Crius Group sought to take advantage of the introduction of the iPad and to address educational publishers. The unfailing process expertise of Crius Group was thus gradually combined with creative design experience. 🎯
Content management became a new focus, allowing the team to help publishing companies to create, manage and publish their content even better.
Expansion of the offer with Core, Alex and Casper
Crius Group continues to invest in process optimisation and now seeks to free publishing companies fully of their editorial tasks. 👊 A joint venture with the Dutch B1 Detachering would soon follow, and in 2016 the Crius Group carried forward its activities in Flanders independently.
The team is more motivated than ever, and launches a new concept for making textbooks efficiently: Core. Overamstel Uitgevers bit the bullet. The result? With Core, the publisher saves a lot of time and money.
In the coming years, Crius Group continued to innovate in both print and online typesetting. The team therefore decided to expand its offer for content and asset management with their software solutions Alex and Casper.
Office renovation and publishing congress Crius Update Live
Renovation alert! 🚨 Due to the increase in the number of employees and departments, there was a lack of space at the office in Hulshout. A reorganisation, with attention to an attractive and inspiring workspace was needed. The result? A colourful and open interior with lots of space and light.
In the meantime, Crius Group has been investing in its own publishing congress, Crius Update Live. This event combines relevant publishing stories with networking opportunities for colleagues from Flanders and the Netherlands.
New office in Amsterdam
Becoming even stronger editorially in the Netherlands? Naturally. In October 2021, Crius Group launched an intensive collaboration with Amsterdam University Press (AUP) and Walburg Pers. Two AUP employees joined in a secondment process, the aim of which was to further professionalize their editorial services and production.
On April 1, 2022, the concept expanded, and Crius Group established itself in Amsterdam. The team there now consists of three desk editors. This way, they are even closer to the publishers based in the Netherlands.
More than a workplace
One big family
Jos Willems and his wife Linda founded Crius Group 30 years ago as a secondary occupation. Together with a few loyal employees and their sons Jurgen and Jordy, they turned it into a real family business.
Because whether you are related or not, at Crius Group we are one big family. We see each other as the beating heart of our company. Like the binding that holds a good book together.
Working at Crius Group means working in a family atmosphere and having fun. For me, these are the ingredients of a successful place of employment. A place where you have the opportunity to develop your professional qualities. Even after 23 years, I still experience every day as a day of learning.
Elke Rubens
Desktop Publisher
Meet our team...
... our editors
... our desktop publishers
... our technicians
Quid pro quo
In 2019, we started a new chapter and our office was given a major makeover. As always, the team was at the centre of this. We installed a pool and football table and even built a gym! After all, people who work hard need to relax as well. Our monthly team lunch and many team-building sessions also keep us perfectly in sync.
There is still some room in our team.
After reading all these great promises, are you on the edge of your
seat? Do you have a talent that you want to use for to the full or
hone still further in the publishing industry? Do you also want to sign up for personal development? If so,
we would very much like to meet you.
Walk the talk and check out our vacancies or send an unsolicited application! Convince us that Crius Group is in your blood.
