Hörmann UK have over 80 years’ experience in the manufacture of industrial doors and loading technology, being a key supplier to all the major developers across the UK including Prologis, Panattoni, GLP and St. Modwen.
Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK
With the experience and resources of an international organisation to hand, Hörmann UK are ideally placed to respond to a continuously expanding warehouse and logistics market. Providing a complete service from initial consultation through to design, installation, and long-term maintenance support, Hörmann provide an all-encompassing support package which is second to none.
Hörmann UK is also the market leading provider of garage doors, together with entrance and internal doors. Working closely with homeowners, architects, specifiers and housebuilders, Hörmann UK is committed to providing the highest standards in quality and performance.
Phil Thorpe, Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What products or services does your company offer?
We supply a comprehensive range of quality products for the warehouse and logistics market including loading bay systems, level access doors, high speed doors, fire sliding doors and steel door sets.
Which industries do your customers operate in?
Most of the work we undertake is for major site developers such as GLP, Prologis St. Modwen and Panatonni, whose end users operate in the logistics and distribution sector.
Do you have any examples of a project you have recently completed?
We have recently been working with Panattoni on the development of Crewe 305 which will provide 305,000 sq ft of logistics space.
Twenty-seven loading bays consisting of Hörmann SPU F42 sectional doors with HTL-2 dock levellers have been installed together with twenty-three ‘single bay’ and 4 DSS-G ‘double/euro bay’ dock shelters.
These provide protection from the elements for both operatives and goods, helping to reduce heat loss during loading and unloading operations.
Other elements of the loading system include reinforced dock bumpers, traffic lights and dock lights which all provide the highest standards in safety and operational efficiency.
Fourteen D65 steel fire exit doorsets, installed through the facility, completes the impressive range of products supplied.
How did your company react to the Covid-19 outbreak and consequent lockdowns?
Like everyone we had to adapt and be more creative in the way we conducted our day-to-day business. Where possible people worked from home however, observing strict COVID guidelines, departments such as our service department remained open for business helping to keep vital distribution channels open.
All the Hörmann group manufacturing plants remained open during the lockdowns so there was a steady stream of product being shipped into our Coalville headquarters, a clear commitment to supply from our German colleagues.
Over a year on from the start of Covid-19, what lessons has the company and the industry learned from the pandemic?
How to do things differently and being ready to respond quickly to changing circumstances. For example, with the closure of our Training Academy we produced a range of training videos which are available for everyone to view on our YouTube channel.
We have also recently held our first virtual Innovation Day which explored the Hörmann Difference. Before Covid this event would have been conducted in person. However, the move online proved to be so popular that in the future we will be holding similar events in the virtual world.
Do you think some of the trends that began or were accelerated during Covid-19, such as the increase in e-commerce, will become permanent?
Without doubt the unprecedented expansion in online shopping and home delivery will become the new normal. This will continue to feed the demand for more distribution units together with an increased requirement for last-mile facilities.
What products will you be introducing in the next year?
The Hörmann group traditionally use the bi-annual BAU exhibition as a launch pad for new products. Even though BAU was cancelled in 2021 a full range of new products were introduced for the industrial market, including our high-speed Series 60 sectional door.
2022 will see new products for the perimeter protection side of the business, in particular a new entry level automated barrier system which will be ideal for warehouse and logistics operations.
In what areas are you making technological advances?
The Hormann group work continuously to be at the forefront of every market sector ensuring that our product offering is in line with end user requirements. For example, we have recently launched a new Series 60 industrial sectional door which when fitted with our new WA500 FU operation can achieve an opening speed of 1 m/s. This makes it the fastest sectional door on the market providing the benefits of lower ventilation heat loss, together with speeding up and streamlining internal processes.
What training do you provide for your staff?
As we offer such a diverse range of products staff training is an on-going priority. The launch of our Training Academy in 2019 not only provides us with an ideal facility to train our engineers but also our trade partners and subcontractors.
With the arrival of Covid product training normally undertaken in person with our German colleagues has moved online and is delivered via online seminar with courses taking place with up to forty people from all over the world attending.
What is the company’s commitment to social responsibility?
As a family business, we take our social responsibility very seriously and it affects all aspects of our daily lives. 100% of our electricity is generated from renewable sources and we offset over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 by promoting wind energy and reforestation projects in co-operation with Climate Partner.
Our UK headquarters in Coalville is powered via solar panels and all our products are produced with confirmation of sustainability through our Environmental Product Declaration.
Are you helping customers boost the level of automation in their business?
Our range of controls are flexible to allow easy integration into automation systems. We also continually collaborate with our customers and end-users to manufacture bespoke control systems if required.
Do you help customers maximise the use of their existing warehouse space?
Our new range of loading houses are now fully CE marked to EN1090. They are fitted externally, which saves utilising valuable internal warehouse space for the dock levellers and are suitable for new build or retrofit projects.
Will you be investing in your premises over the next 12 months?
We have an ongoing programme of investment and 2022 will see us re-mapping the footprint of our warehouse and production areas. This will help us improve efficiency in the light of the continuing increased through-put being experienced.
Next year will also see us making a further push into the perimeter systems market. To support this the first of three new sliding gates will be installed at Coalville, together with an automated barrier system. Not only will this improve our access control on-site, but it will enable us to showcase new products in a working environment.
What industries do you believe offer your business the most potential over the next year?
The continued expansion of the logistics market and demand for both new build and refurbished distribution centres will ensure that we continue to be remarkably busy next year and well into 2023.
How future proof is your business?
We are extremely fortunate to be part of a large, family-owned international group so we are a sound and ethically run business. Being an OEM who manufacturers all the key components for our loading systems and doors places us in a strong position to meet market demand, together with the ability to adjust to an ever-changing marketplace.
How would you sum up your company in three words?
Responsive, innovative, friendly.
Hörmann UK
01530 516880
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