We received the sad news over the weekend that Dutch crane and access veteran Dick Schalekamp Senior, founder of Richards & Wallington International and Riwal, has died.
He passed away on Monday, August 3rd at the age of 95 after a long and active life. Sadly, his wife Maria passed away around 20 months ago, just shy of her 94th birthday.
Dick Schalekamp with wife Maria in 2007
He leaves behind his son Dick Schalekamp Junior and seven grandchildren. Tragically, he lost his two other sons, the eldest Jaap, who passed away in 2019, and his middle son Jan-Dick, who died in his mid-30s, following a heart attack while playing football in 1995.
The Schalekamp family, (L-R) Jaap, Dick Snr, Maria, Dick Junior and Jan-Dick
In addition to all his work and family achievements, he was a keen supporter and sponsor of Dordrecht Football Club, which held a minute's silence in his memory before the game on Friday August 7th, with Jong Ajax, which they won. They will also wear black armbands during the season opener.
Dordrecht F.C held a minute’s silence for Dick Schalekamp before their game on Friday evening The story /history
In 1968, Dick Schalekamp joined British crane rental company Richards & Wallington to set up a Dutch offshoot of its UK business, under the name Richards & Wallington International bv, its first overseas operation, and soon became a success, which encouraged the British company to open other crane rental companies in continental Europe.
The early days of R&W International with Dick Snr on the far left
Richards & Wallington Radius International News sheet
In 1980, the Richards & Wallington group ran into financial difficulties, so Dick Schalekamp took over the Dutch business and stepped up its expansion.
The business became one of the leading companies in the Dutch crane rental market with an extensive fleet including a good few Rough Terrains, some of the earliest All Terrains and truck cranes of course.
1982 a rare 30t Coles Ranger 530 All Terrain in the fleet
The Dordrecht Carnival – 1985
In 1987, youngest son Dick Junior joined the company, and the family decided to enter the powered access rental market, which Dick Junior was charged with setting up and developing, while eldest son Jaap managed the ongoing crane rental operations. Around this time, they also took the decision to change the company name to Riwal. Two years later, Dick Senior transferred the ownership of the company to his three sons.
Dick Schalekamp Snr with the new Riwal branding
In 1995, JLG made the decision to change distributors from pure sales company HDW to sales & rental company Riwal, with the promise of major stock orders if they did. The move was an important step in the ongoing growth of Riwal’s aerial lift business, and true to its word, the company more than kept its promise to JLG typically placing orders in excess of 1,000 boom and scissor lifts. (As an aside, HDW replaced JLG with Genie).
The Riwal yard in Dordrecht
At the turn of the millennium, the family began working more closely with Doron Livnat of crane company Hovago and his holding company Pro-Delta, which took a stake in the business, acquiring a third of the equity with Jaap and Dick Jnr holding the rest. In 2008, this was extended to 50 percent when Jaap left the business, and then 100 percent in 2012 when Dick Jnr left the company.
Dick Schalekamp receives his knighthood with his characteristic smile/laugh
In 2007 Dick was made a Ridder in de Orde van Oranje Nassau ( a Knight of the Royal Order of Orange-Nassau) for his voluntary work over more than three decades, during which time he gave of his time, expertise and financial support to a number of clubs, foundations and charities, all the while building up the business that he had founded.
Dick Schalekamp was truly a great man in every way and a key player in the Dutch crane and the European aerial lift rental market, he was also a true family man and widely respected by Riwal employees, long after he handed over the business.
The world is very much a poorer place this week without him. He really was one of the good guys and was always ready with his fantastic laugh, a massive smile and a bright twinkle in his eye. He had a great generosity in his heart and was a warm and thoroughly decent individual as well as a character.
His passing will be mourned by many, not only in the Netherlands but across Europe and North America.
slava.rentalift
It was great owner for me to know and cooperate with this family.RIP. 🙏. Dick Jr please accept my condolences.