InterDam is a Dutch company specializing in fire, explosion, and shock-resistant solutions for high-risk environments. Their products, such as doors, walls, windows, and cladding, protect professionals in places where working safely is crucial. That responsibility means that the reliability and protection of their innovations are of the highest standard.

Although the company has existed in its current form since 2007, its history dates back to 1906. Over the years, InterDam has developed into a reliable partner in passive safety systems. Jeroen Egberts, R&D project manager at InterDam: “We do this for sectors such as offshore wind, petrochemicals, defense, and tunnel infrastructure. These are environments that must be safe in the event of a disaster.” From its headquarters in Ridderkerk, a team of around seventy colleagues works daily on solutions for extreme conditions.

InterDam is the market leader in a niche market. Patents for the doors and explosion- and fire-resistant wall systems they manufacture are indispensable in this regard. InterDam employs a well-considered and explicit patent strategy in which patents are used both defensively and commercially. This strategic choice is aimed not only at legally protecting the invention, but also at actively strengthening its market position. Egberts: “With our patents, we want to keep competitors out and consciously increase our credibility with (potential) new customers. Our customers are concerned with the certainty, reliability, and predictability of our products. Our experience is that customers choose the party that holds the patent, because that party knows the most about the product. In tenders, this can be decisive.”

InterDam also successfully employs a filing strategy whereby a patent is first filed in the Netherlands. Partly on the basis of the novelty report, an assessment is then made of the prospects in Europe and a decision is taken on whether or not to apply for a European patent.

Jeroen Egberts, R&D project manager at InterDam

InterDam's R&D department works according to a strict process of development, testing, and certification. “Without certification, a project cannot move forward. The risk of damage is enormous if the certificates for our products are not in order. Otherwise, a customer's project cannot proceed to the next phase, and the financial damage can be enormous.” A fire door is tested in a four-by-four-meter oven. It is tested for fire resistance of one or two hours under various conditions. “We usually test our products more extensively than necessary to the highest safety standards. This prevents us from having to recertify later on. That gives us an advantage for the future.”

Through a combination of patents and certifications, InterDam sets the standard in the market.

One of InterDam's most recent innovations arose in response to a challenging customer request for a large project in Europe. In tunnels with complex airflows, escape doors are almost impossible to open due to back pressure. Electronics or pneumatics cannot be used to solve this problem. The solution had to be robust, predictable, and always available. Egberts describes the invention: "We came up with a kind of reverse door closer that allows the door to open easily, even when there is counterpressure. The system recharges itself as soon as the door closes. The client was extremely enthusiastic when he saw that this design actually solved the problem," says Egberts. That conviction prompted InterDam to patent the invention immediately.

InterDam works closely with V.O. on patent applications. This collaboration is very pleasant. Egberts: “V.O. is quick to think along with us. If their assessment shows that we have something great on our hands that is also commercially interesting, then it's a no-brainer for us to have an invention protected.” Kasper Haak, patent attorney at V.O.: “InterDam understands better than anyone which innovations are commercially important to arrange patent protection for.” Egberts: “Patents give our customers, investors, and partners confidence. And that is the engine of sustainable growth.”

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