We help companies win in times of crisis
NRGcore is a specialised consultancy that partners with companies deeply embedded in steel-intensive industries — upstream oil & gas, downstream petrochemicals, and all forms of power generation (conventional, nuclear, renewables). In an era of tough market conditions driven by Chinese overcapacity, European deindustrialisation, increasing energy costs and unpredictable trade policies, we refuse to offer band-aid solutions. Instead, we deliver radical, sustainable transformation that turns pressured businesses into agile, profitable market leaders.
Our promise: survive today, dominate tomorrow.
Who are our target groups?
Distributors
Specialised traders and stockists handling project packages of pipes, valves, fittings and instrumentation for energy projects.
Producers
Mills and forgers manufacturing carbon, stainless, duplex, super-alloy steels and flow-control components.
EPC Contractors
Global engineering firms that design, procure and construct multi-billion greenfield plants or execute complex brownfield turnarounds and revamps
These three interdependent groups form the critical European steel-to-energy value chain now under increasing stress.
Which markets do we serve?
- Oil & Gas upstream (exploration, drilling, production facilities)
- (Petro)chemical downstream (refineries, crackers, polymer plants)
- Power Generation: conventional thermal (gas, coal), nuclear new-build & decommissioning, renewables (offshore wind, solar farms, hydrogen, biomass, hydro)
These sectors share dependence on high-specification steel pipes, valves, fittings and flow-control equipment that are exposed to tough physical and chemical conditions.
What market challenge do we see?
The European steel ecosystem faces strong headwinds. Subsidised Chinese production floods even high-grade segments that Europe once dominated. Simultaneously, majors in oil, gas and petrochemicals accelerate capital flight from Europe due to uncompetitive energy prices, carbon taxation and regulatory burden. New trade restrictions further choke global flows. Traditional 5–6 year “hog cycles” are more frequently broken. Margins slide, cash burns quicker, investments vanish. Fundamental business-model reinvention is required, for distributors, producers and EPCs.
What are the needs of our target groups?
Facing tougher market conditions, they need:
- Immediate survival tactics against decreasing margins and liquidity crises
- Structural defences that make the business less vulnerable to geopolitical shocks, energy prices and cyclical swings
- A complete capability upgrade to consistently win profitable orders in a highly competitive global arena. They risk exhaustion by frequent boom-bust cycles that force hiring/firing and destroy long-term value. They need lasting resilience and predictable growth.
What do we do?
We systematically dismantle three patterns that keep companies weak:
- “Vest-pocket” gut-feel decisions → rigorous financial discipline, transparent KPIs and healthy ratios
- “We chase everything, master nothing” → sharp commercial strategy with deliberate focus, clear positioning and prioritised segments
- “Wait-and-see, hope-for-the-next-upturn” culture → proactive, innovative and fully independent organisation that creates its own future instead of reacting to it.
How do we do that?
We become temporary co-pilots of the leadership team. First we co-create a bold and realistic winning strategy grounded in market reality. Next we translate it into detailed and sequenced action plans with clear owners, timelines and KPIs. Finally, and most importantly, we stay on board for months to drive implementation, remove roadblocks, coach people and embed new behaviours until the organisation runs autonomously at a higher performance level.
What can you expect from us?
Faster
We hate 300-page reports and endless workshops. Tangible results from week one, short customer journeys.
Sharper
Relentless focus on real root causes, never symptom treatment or PowerPoint cosmetics.
Simpler
Pragmatic, robust solutions that stick because people understand and believe in them. We love measurable P&L impact, liberated cash flow and organisations that run profitably.
How do we go about it?
Step 1:
Free 60-minute quick-scan intake — we listen intensively, challenge assumptions, spot leverage points and decide mutual fit.
Step 2:
One-week deep-dive assessment by two senior experts — full diagnosis, quantified opportunities, concrete roadmap.
Step 3:
Tailored impact intervention (typically 1–12 months) — intensive side-by-side execution support, weekly steering, and monthly reviews until new ways of working are irreversible and results are locked in.
Our rates
Assignments are fully bespoke. Indicative bandwidth:
- Deep-dive assessment (1 week): €10,000 – €20,000 fixed
- Impact intervention: €10,000 – €30,000 per month (usually 2–3 experts part-time)
- Significant result-dependent or success-fee elements possible when KPIs (EBITDA, cash, order intake) are clear and measurable. Pricing always reflects scope, starting position, ambition level and value created for the client.
Who are we?
A compact, high-calibre team of experts, each with 20 to 30 years of direct P&L responsibility in the sectors and regions we serve. We master the five decisive levers in combination: Commerce, Operations, Finance, Organisation and Technology. We have repeatedly helped steel, valve and pipe businesses in Europe achieve measurable transformation within 12 months. No juniors. No theory. Only proven operators.
Aart-Jan Dekker
Commercial expert
Passionate about enabling sustainable growth: I help organizations define a clear direction, break destructive patterns, and strengthen constructive values. Experience in strategic and operational leadership across scale-ups, commerce and steel.
m. +31 6 123 003 85
e. aart-jan@nrgcore.nl
Erik Grim
Operations expert
28 years of global end-to-end supply chain experience in consumer goods, combining strategic vision with operational execution. Expert in supply chain turnaround and integrated business planning, driving value creation through strong change leadership and consulting experience. Sharp, no fluff.
m. +31 6 150 109 76
e. erik@nrgcore.nl
Raëma de Lange
Organisation expert
Organisational architect who aligns people, processes, and technology into coherent, high-performing systems. With deep experience across industrial value chains and transformation, he helps teams move from friction to flow and build organisations that learn, adapt, and thrive.
m. +31 6 526 838 71
e. raema@nrgcore.nl
Rob Mulder
Technology expert
Tech entrepreneur since 2005. Build business-critical applications for companies such as TotalEnergies, LifeWatch and TenneT. Expert in making concepts and processes concrete using quick prototyping. Experienced product owner in tech teams.
m. +31 6 246 977 24
e. rob@nrgcore.nl