Adams Music Centre
Exclusive excursion to Adams Music Instruments in Ittervoort: top quality from Limburg
22 KIVI members and their introductions had the privilege of being personally guided through Adams' extensive operations in Ittervoort. Mr Ton Ronckers, one of Adams' employees from the very beginning, was our expert host.
With passion and enthusiastic pride, we were shown around all parts of Adams' business activities, located at the Ittervoort industrial estate since 2000. At Adams, it started in 1970 with the manufacture of copper timpani in a small workshop in the municipality of Thorn. Since then, Adams has become the world market leader in making timpani and other percussion instruments such as concert drums, marimbas, xylophones, vibraphones and tubular bells ("Tubular Bells" for the Mike Oldfield connoisseurs among you). Since 2000, the company has also focused on making metal wind instruments such as trumpets, cornets, bugles, euphoniums, trombones and tubas, as well as the wind instruments for the typical marching and show bands. Since 2015, Adams has also been making more than 1,000 wind instruments a year.
Adams appears to be an impressive (fine) mechanical company, with around 130 well-trained employees, who are partly judged by their passion for music.
The tour started with the repair workshop where musical instruments of both amateur and professional musicians are expertly overhauled. It was shown, how even valve instruments not made by Adams, such as flutes and all kinds of saxophones, are carefully cleaned, fitted with new parts and then expertly reassembled. Next, all instruments are repolished so that they shine like new again.
Model parts / semi-finished products were also used to show the process of making beautifully designed wind instruments from basic metal parts made of brass, red copper or possibly 92.5% silver. It is very special and difficult to solder different metals together properly. The bending of a basic shape was shown as well as the hand-machining of valve housings and the assembly of the valves. Depending on the customers' wishes ( and purse), an instrument for professional musicians can be made completely 'custom-made' and - selected on sound.
Deep drawing of red copper plates provides the basic shape for Adams' world-famous timpani from Thorn / Ittervoort. Meanwhile, Adams has more than 45 years of experience in manufacturing timpani, which are in use by many famous orchestras, such as André Rieu's orchestra.
Adams timpani really do go around the world, as could be seen in the warehouse, with boxes destined for transport to countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Chile and the USA as examples.
Finally, a visit was made to: the shop's warehouse, the test room for playing instruments, the shop with the shop booths, selected by wind instrument, the showroom with the history of the manufacturing of Adams' timpani, and finally the company's own music theatre, in use for company performances, parties and possibly even music recordings.
It was a very impressive tour!
Jan Weerts.
Description
André Adams started repairing musical instruments in 1970.
Over the years, this one-man business has grown into a company that is known worldwide as a "leading" supplier and repairer of musical instruments.
We are invited to visit the factory, where explanations will be given about the various production steps involved in making musical instruments.
After the programme, you can visit the shop on your own and convince yourself that the host did not exaggerate a word during his introduction and explanation.
Location
Organiser
Region Limburg South
Name and contact details for information
ing. Jo Bergers