Founded in 1959, Interroll is a global provider of material handling solutions and provides system integrators and OEMs with a wide range of platformbased products and services, including rollers, drives, conveyors, sorters and pallet & carton Flow. End users include Amazon, Bosch, Coca-Cola, DHL, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Siemens, Walmart and Zalando.
Hilton Campbell, Managing Director at Interroll Limited spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
In the UK we are best known for motorised drum motors, rollers and 24V motorised rollers. Our products are found in applications requiring speed and performance, hygienic environment and a reliability. In distribution centres, Interroll is also well known for pallet storage and dynamic carton handling. Since we launched the Interroll Modular Conveyor platform in 2014, our conveyors are increasingly being integrated in sortation systems.
Which industry sectors are your customers in and which ones are growing fastest?
Our customers operate mostly in food and beverages, and in warehousing and distribution. Both are growing rapidly.
What are your most recent product innovations?
In 2019 we launched our new EC5000 motorised roller in 24V and 48V versions. Ideal for light items and palletised goods, these rollers offer reduced energy consumption and lower cost of ownership. The EC5000’s enhanced diagnostics make it possible to manage predictive maintenance.
We have improved our belt curve in terms of noise reduction and ease of maintenance. In 2019 we rolled out the 138-diameter new drum motor platform. 80mm, 113mm and 138mm versions are also available.
What are the major trends and developments affecting your category and your customers, and how are you responding?
Our customers are demanding faster deliveries and scalable solutions. Market uncertainty is forcing businesses to work faster and deliver quicker results. They are looking for more energy-efficient solutions and predictive maintenance. Worries about labour shortages are driving demand for automation and customers that do not have a multichannel strategy will fall behind.
Can you tell us about any recent customer contracts and how you helped the customer meet their challenges?
Our route to market is B2B. This often leads to customers requiring us to mirror their promise to end customers in terms of performance and delivery. With our global footprint and strategy of working to a single worldwide product standard, we were able to source equipment for a customer in South Africa, made to our European designs, from our Regional Centre of Excellence in Suzhou, China. The equipment arrived on site early and installation was seamless, since our local integrator had previously carried out a similar job with equipment supplied from Germany. Working to a single standard enables end customers to source the right equipment from a proven supplier in a shorter time, with little or no risk. This strategy is particularly beneficial for global customers looking for regional service and support. In another example, the motorised drum motors we supply to leading machine manufacturer Marel Food Processing Company can end up on almost any continent. If spares or repairs are required for a machine assembled in Iceland, which has then moved to South Africa, this is immediately possible, under warranty or not.
How does business in 2019 compare to previous years? What’s your strategy for succeeding in the current climate?
Interroll is growing worldwide. We continue to deliver innovative solutions that provide a proven return on investment, while pursuing a platformbased approach and taking advantage of the accelerating digitalization trend.
What’s the latest news from your company?
Hilton Campbell’s appointment as Managing Director for UK and Ireland marks the dawn of a new era. Mr Campbell has over 20 years’ experience with Interroll, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, where he was a founding member of Interroll’s South African operation. Hilton has extensive experience in project management and company management. We look forward to him bringing his entrepreneurial spirit and ‘can do’ attitude to bear. We have just had our strongest year ever in terms of global turnover and orders and have high expectations for the UK and Ireland market.
Can you tell us about any areas where you’re currently making technical advances?
We are making advances in safety, sustainability and the environment. Our low-voltage solutions provide huge energy savings compared to gear motors. They are quieter and go on working longer. They are made in a Kaizen-based facility that avoids waste in the manufacturing process.
Are you investing in staff training and skills development?
Very much so! The Interroll Academy in Baal, Germany offers access to different types of training. Product training is high on the agenda, alongside leadership training and soft skills like IT and languages. Interroll has a “Culture for Growth” environment in which employees can provide feedback on their work and operating environment, to improve all aspects of Interroll’s business.
Are you taking part in any major trade shows? Can you tell us what you’ll be exhibiting?
We are exhibiting at IMHX from 24-27th September, showcasing our Interroll Modular Conveyor and Pallet Products and Interroll Dynamic Storage Products. We are also at PPMA in October, showcasing the new DC Platform products and the Interroll Drum Motors.
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