Established in 1935, the family-run company employs more than 6,000 staff and is renowned for its quality and innovation in sectional, high-speed, double-action and fire sliding doors, strip curtains, rolling shutters and grilles. Specialising in loading bay technology, Hörmann also produces loading houses, and dock levellers, shelters and seals for the logistics industry.
The headquarters are based in Leicestershire, and over 80 individual sales locations in more than 30 countries, as well as hundreds of authorised dealers in over 35 additional countries.
Cost-effective maintenance and repair solutions are provided alongside its product portfolio to a client base that includes Prologis, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Amazon and thousands of domestic end-users.
Mark Moore, Service Manager, Hörmann UK Ltd spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News
WLN – As the loading bay category experts, how has the category been performing in the last 12 months? What are the major trends and developments?
Over the last year, we’ve seen significant growth in our maintenance support services, having won a number of new contracts to maintain doors and loading bay equipment manufactured by Hörmann and other brands. As with any area of business, the logistics industry is continuously looking to reduce unnecessary expenditure, so we’ve witnessed an increase in demand for preventative maintenance packages from companies looking to cut down on costly emergency call outs.
WLN?- What are your core products and services: what are you best known for providing?
On the industrial side, Hörmann is probably best known for supplying loading bays and curtains. We’ve worked with some of the UK’s largest retail brands and are consistently viewed as a high-quality original equipment manufacturer.
With the service side growing, however, we’re also becoming well regarded for offering exceptional maintenance support. We’ve been providing technical information and product training to the industry for many years now, so our expertise is already widely recognised.
WLN – What developments or upgrades have you made to your core products and services in the last 12 months?
We’ve recently introduced a new web-based system that allows our service engineers remote access to the customer database, to instantly update service and asset records.
Businesses will rely on these kinds of technologies far more as time goes on, so we’ve taken steps to future proof the software and ensure it can be adapted as our customers’ needs change. The software now allows engineers to report on maintenance activities in real time, and provide up-to-date, accurate and detailed documentation for regulatory purposes.
WLN – What makes you the ‘go to’ supplier in your area of expertise?
Hörmann are the ‘subject matter’ experts for industrial doors and curtains. We know the products and how to install them, as well as troubleshoot, service and repair. Our trade partners look to us for training on installation and maintenance, and we work closely with a range of industry specialists to ensure our products meet the changing needs of our customers.
WLN?- Have you launched any new products and services in the past year? How are they performing?
The last few years have seen a significant increase in online shopping and, consequently, strong growth in the parcel delivery market. This year we launched the Parcel Walk Door, which has been specifically designed for these types of depots, accommodating the loading and unloading of both vans and trucks from the same level access bay.
Extended warranties and price matching are two extra benefits we’ve launched this year for our service customers. We promise to match any like-for-like quote for service and maintenance, and now offer longer warranties on our industrial products when one of our maintenance packages is taken out.
WLN?- Which industry sectors are your customers in?
Retail is one of the main sectors for our industrial division but we work with a range of businesses across a wide variety of industries. Recent projects have included everything from doors for Aston Martin’s assembly site in Warwickshire, to supplying car dealerships and fire stations.
WLN – Can you name some of your major customers and tell us about the work you do for them?
Hörmann has worked on distribution centres for some of the country’s biggest retailers, including ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, John Lewis, M&S and Amazon. These projects usually include the design and installation of loading bays and equipment, such as insulated and fast action doors for use in temperature controlled areas.
WLN – Can you tell us about your latest major projects, and what they involve?
Our business tends to reflect trends in the wider industry, with a greater demand for our services in sectors that are performing well overall. This year we’ve started working with some of the UK’s biggest recycling and waste management companies. These types of businesses often utilise fast-action doors to prevent odours from their processing plants escaping into the local environment.
Understandably, it’s important that these doors don’t break down, so Hörmann is providing 24/7 service and maintenance. This not only means that we schedule regular checks to ensure the doors continue to operate effectively at all times, but that we’re also available for an emergency call out, should the worst happen.
WLN?- Have you made any big moves recently in terms of investment in the business, recruitment and so on?
Hörmann is continuing to grow, with appointments across the business. In the service division, we have taken on two new members of staff and are looking to recruit a further four in 2015. As a business, we are also looking to take on more young talent and are in the early stages of developing an Apprentice Training Academy. This will see young school leavers joining the company in various departments, where they’ll receive quality on-the-job training supported by college studies.
WLN – What was your company’s single biggest achievement in the last year?
Our biggest achievement of 2014 would probably be continuing to strengthen the business. Hörmann was able to increase annual turnover throughout the recession, and this year we’ve consolidated our market position. We’ve seen a 15 per cent growth in our maintenance support service and a 40 per cent increase in over-the-counter sales – achievements we hope to replicate next year.
WLN – What are your plans for 2015? Are you planning to bring out any more products or services, move into new markets or enter new countries?
The UK economy is set to grow in 2015 and we plan to expand with it. We work with a number of the big industrial real estate developers and an increase in demand for fit-for-purpose commercial property means we have a few exciting projects in the pipeline.
Manufacturer-backed service support has been particularly successful for us in 2014, so we’re also planning to grow this offering further. We expect to see more logistics businesses making the most of our extended warranties and a wider overall uptake of our maintenance packages.
WLN – Are you exhibiting at any major trade shows this year?
We’ll be returning to Maintec at the NEC in March, after a successful first year of exhibiting in 2014. We launched our multi-brand servicing package this year, and are looking forward to promoting our extended warranties and price match service this time around.
WLN – What are your predictions for the industry in 2015?
As a business, we are hoping to secure the same level of growth as 2014 and to continue to expand our personnel. For the industry, we would expect to see some major new projects with supermarkets, as this seems to currently be a big area for development.
Sustainability is also a major focus at the moment, so new projects will likely have a strong focus on carbon reduction – something we have extensive experience in.
WLN – What other headline news from your company can our readers look forward to reading about in Warehouse & Logistics News in 2015?
We’re looking forward to the launch of our Apprentice Training Academy, which will be big news for 2015. Readers should also keep an eye out for some big service contract announcements and major installations. 2015 looks set to be an exciting year for Hörmann.
Phone: 01530 516888
Email: info@hormann.co.uk
Web: www.hormann.co.uk
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