With over 80 years’ experience in the manufacture of industrial doors and loading technology, Hörmann is a key partner and supplier to all the major developers across the UK including Prologis, Panattoni, GLP and St. Modwen.
Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK
Being able to call upon the experience and resources of an international organisation, Hörmann UK are ideally placed to respond to a continuously expanding warehouse and logistics market. They provide a complete service from initial consultation through to design, installation, and long-term maintenance and service support – an all-encompassing support package which is second to none.
The acquisition of the Fen-Bay Group, which included Transdek has allowed the company to create one the largest service and maintenance teams in the UK through FBS Hörmann. Whilst Hörmann Transdek supply the UK and European markets with a specialist range of modular loading and lifting equipment.
Phil Thorpe, Industrial Division Manager at Hörmann UK spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.
What are your best-known products/solutions/services?
Hörmann UK supply an extensive 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. This is all backed by a comprehensive maintenance and service capability provided by FBS Hörmann.
In the past Hörmann UK have primarily worked on new build projects but the creation of FBS Hormann means the company can now provide a specialist service for the refurbishment of existing warehouse stock. A dedicated Perimeter Protection Division is also available to provide full turn-key solutions for access and security projects.
A modular range of products including surface-mounted, rapid-install double deck lifts designed to load high-capacity double deck trailers, V2G (vehicle to ground) lifts for loading vehicles on level-access sites, dock levellers, scissor lifts and mezzanine goods lifts are supplied through Hörmann Transdek to complete one the most comprehensive product portfolios on the market.
Which industry sectors are your customers in and which ones are growing fastest?
80 to 90% of the work carried out by Hörmann UK involves large, new build projects for major site developers such as GLP, Prologis, St. Modwen and Panatonni, whose end users operate in the logistics and distribution sector. With 2021/22 seeing an unprecedented expansion in this market, 2023 has seen business return to more ‘normal’ levels, but still very positive.
Work continues to grow in more specialist areas for the company, with the supply and fit of industrial doors and loading systems for projects such as waste management plants, car dealerships and transport depots. FBS Hörmann are also seeing continued growth in the retail and food distribution sectors.
How were business levels in 2023 compared to previous years?
After huge growth in demand in the logistics and warehousing market during 2021/22, Hörmann UK reports that 2023 has been back to what they would call ‘normal’, but still very positive. The company has a very healthy open tender bank with there being plenty of work in the sector and the addition of FBS Hörmann and Hörmann Transdek places them in a great position. However, as 2023 has progressed there are the first signs of projects being put on hold or delayed.
What sets your company apart as a supplier in your category?
Hörmann’s ability to offer a one-stop-shop solution, which has been further enhanced by the addition of FBS Hörmann and Hörmann Transdek. As well as a truly comprehensive range of products, being able to call upon the extensive resources and experience of a multi-national organisation means that the company can provide a complete service from initial consultation through to design, planning, installation, and long-term maintenance support. An all-encompassing package which sets them apart in the market.
Experts from Hörmann are always on-hand to provide advice and support to ensure that the best possible solutions are selected to meet the needs of a project, whether it be large or small. Whilst a team of skilled Project Managers are available to work on-site who are able to develop new ideas and options to suit specific operational requirements.
What are your most recent product innovations?
Hörmann UK can provide a range of innovative solutions such as the Series 60 door which is the fastest operating sectional door on the market. It has an impressive opening speed of 1 m/s when installed with the Series WA 500 FU operator – designed and developed to work in perfect harmony. The high speed of the Series 60 door offers the benefit of lower ventilation heat loss, together with speeding up and streamlining operations.
The Series 60 door has also recently been awarded Secured by Design accreditation. This is in response to more developers and clients asking for industrial sectional doors with SBD status, both from a security perspective and often as a planning requirement. The Series 60 door now provides the most up to date accreditation, together with the ability to provide a high level of security and peace of mind.
Following the acquisition of a business in Germany call Grothaus, Hörmann have also recently launched a range of double action doors. Available in either polyethylene (PE) or a metal finish, they offer a high-quality product which is competitively priced. Designed for high impact, high traffic areas the doors are suitable for a variety of applications from warehousing to supermarkets, hospitals, and for food processing and preparation areas.
What is your strategy for succeeding in 2024 and how do you plan to grow your business?
Hörmann’s strategy in the market is simple, to continue doing what they are well known for – an undoubted well-earned reputation for quality products and high levels of service, together with the ability to go that ‘extra mile’ that they like to describe as the ‘Hörmann Difference.’
The addition of FBS Hörmann and Hörmann Transdek to the business also opens up new opportunities and there are ambitious growth plans for 2024 and into the future.
What is the company’s commitment to social responsibility?
As a family business, Hörmann takes their social responsibility very seriously and it affects all aspects of their daily operations. Following an established climate strategy of calculating, reducing, and offset, the Group have made sustainable manufacturing a core objective. 100% of the electricity used by their European production sites is generated from renewable sources and over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 are offset by promoting wind energy and reforestation projects in co-operation with Climate Partner.
In the UK, the company’s headquarters in Coalville is powered via solar panels and all products are produced with confirmation of sustainability through an Environmental Product Declaration.
Will you be investing in your premises over the next 12 months?
With an ever-expanding business in the UK Hörmann are constantly making improvements to all of their premises. Work has recently been completed at the company’s headquarters in Coalville which has seen the addition of new office facilities for the industrial team, along with the update and expansion of their showroom and product demonstration areas.
2024 will see the completion of a programme of works at Hörmann Transdek which will include the addition of automated racking, a new paint shop and the installation of a range of state-of-the-art production machinery all aimed at ensuring quality and service.
How would you sum up your company in three words?
Innovative, Diverse, Trusted.
HÖRMANN UK
01530 513000
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