Hörmann are the recognised leader in the industrial door and loading bay sector, a lead that has been achieved through attention to detail in all aspects of the design and build process.
The industrial division of Hörmann is dedicated to providing integrated solutions and to achieve this, Hörmann design, engineer and produce a wide range of products aside from loading bay doors.
The range also includes dock levellers, dock shelters, integrated control panels, warning light systems, fire doors, security doors and pre-cast concrete loading bay sections. This whole solution approach sets Hörmann apart and makes the company a one-stop shop for their customers.
Hörmann industrial products are made to order and as such every customer effectively benefits from a bespoke service, where each component is manufactured in a specialist factory equipped with state of the art machinery. This approach ensures the best quality is produced in the most efficient manner, so Hörmann can offer better products at the market price.
Warehouse & Logistics News – First of all, Alan, what does your role involve day to day? Has your role changed since last year?
On a day to day basis I oversee industrial sales and projects. This involves liaison with our sales and service teams, our trade partners and key customers. While there has been no significant change in my role this year what has increased is the sheer volume of work as we continue to grow our business.
WLN – 2012: how was it for you?!
2012 has been an excellent year for our industrial division with sales over 60 per cent up on 2011. Investment by the food retailers and e-tailers has been the main growth area. Exchange rates have remained reasonably constant throughout 2012 and we also forward buy which helps to maintain a fixed rate.
WLN – Was your company involved in the logistics for the Diamond Jubilee or the Olympics or Paralympics? Have you noticed any lasting effect after these events?
For the Olympic village we did supply a wide range of our products including sectional doors, rolling shutters and grilles and many hinged doors. The lasting effect for us will be ongoing maintenance and service work.
WLN – What effect did the lack of a summer in 2012 have on your business?
The wet summer did not impact on our sales side but did put greater demands on the service side of our business. The ingress of water to many sites led to calls for maintenance and repair work, which traditionally gets noticed when the colder weather arrives in Autumn and Winter.
WLN – What is your particular proposition for customers in the warehouse & logistics sector? Has that changed since last year?
As the leading supplier of industrial doors and loading bay equipment across Europe, we aim to provide a one-stop-shop for our customers for all their loading requirements. To this end we are developing more integrated solutions and have increased both our products range and our service provision.
WLN – How has your business sector been performing in 2012? What do you see as the most important recent developments?
We have been particularly busy with new builds for both major food retailers and e-tail operations. The desire to reduce the carbon footprint of their supply chains and move to better insulated, more energy efficient distribution centres has had a big influence on this market.
WLN – What proportion of your business is within the Warehousing and Logistics market? How has that changed since 12 months ago?
Approximately 35-40% of our Industrial turnover is directly related to the Warehouse and Logistics market
WLN – Has your company grown in the last 12 months?
In the UK we have grown our business significantly with sales up over 60 per cent on last year.
WLN – Have you been investing in improving your premises, taking on more staff, enhancing your IT etc in 2012?
We have invested in a new SAP system and increased our staffing levels notably with additions to the management team with the appointment of both a new operations manager and new service manager.
WLN – How are your existing products and services doing?
Our existing products and services are the cornerstone of our business growth, however one key element is the continual improvement we look to achieve with both our products and our service.
WLN – Have you launched any new products or services in 2012? What are they, and how are they performing?
We have introduced a new basic rolling shutter that has been very well received by both our direct customers and our trade partners. A new addition to our service provision, pre -winter checks has also been sucessful.
WLN – What’s been your company’s single biggest achievement in business this year?
The overall growth has been a great achievement. When it comes to projects, we have completed two major distribution centres for Asda working alongside the main contractor, McLaren Construction. These two projects are particularly notable amongst a great number of successful installations.
WLN – Do you operate in any other countries besides the UK? How are you getting on there? Have you gone into any new countries in 2012? What’s that been like?
We are part of he Hörmann Group that operates a tight network of more than 50 company owned subsidiaries and numerous authorised dealers in over 30 countries. New territories have been added with a new presence in both India and Brazil this year. In the United States, investment continues with work starting on a new factory near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
WLN – Which industry sectors are your customers in? What applications do people use your products for?
With such a broad range of products and services we cover a range of industries. The biggest sector for us is the warehouse logistics sector, including food retail, temperature controlled distribution and pharmaceuticals. The supply and installation of doors for the emergency services is a significant proportion of our business too, while the retail sector is a strong market for our folding and hinged doors.
WLN – Do you sell your products direct or through distributors? Has that strategy changed in the last year?
We sell through both routes. We are keen to keep growing our links with professional industrial door specialist distributors throughout the UK as this has proved to be beneficial to both ourselves and our trade partners. The complexities of working as a sub-contractor to a main contractor and the highly competitive nature of this sector of the market means we do supply and install direct for bigger projects.
WLN – Can you name any of your major projects in the last 12 months, and talk about what you have done for them?
Significant projects completed this year have been dominated by the major supermarkets. We have completed the loading bays on distribution centres for Asda, The Co-operative Group, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose amongst others. We continue to work with Prologis to help develop better, more flexible solutions, an example of which is the BMW parts distribution centre.
WLN – Have you developed your web site in the last 12 months? What difference has it made to your business?
Our website is predominantly an information resource for our customers and has extensive product information. One of the important additions to this has been our Energy Saving Compass. This is a free modular planning tool that examines all the key aspects of energy saving that can be affected by industrial door systems and loading technology. As well as examples of well planned bays this tool can calculate cost savings that can be achieved and the payback time for any options chosen.
WLN – How does your forward order book compare with a year ago? What about the waiting list for your products compare with a year ago?
Early investment in our production facilities has enabled us to keep our lead times down even with such a significant growth this year. We anticipate this level of business will continue as our order book is currently 30 per cent up on this time last year.
WLN – Which trade shows did you exhibit at in 2012? How were they? Are you exhibiting at IMHX in March?
We will be exhibiting at the IMHX, a natural event for us with our market leading position. The international exhibition at Bau kicks off 2013 in January followed by both the Homebuilding and renovating how for our domestic division followed by IMHX and he TCS&D show.
WLN – What would you like the Government to do to help your company in 2013?
Relaxing fuel duty would be a benefit to us all as would the promotion of investment for business.
WLN – What are your new year’s resolutions for 2013?
As with this year we aim to increase market share and further improve our service support wherever possible.
Hörmann UK Ltd
Tel: 01530 516888
Email: info@hormann.co.uk
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