ast offers potential for innovation - where the swords profiles Hoesch GmbH today?


Almost no industrial truck without mast - a paradise for the few states that is vendor profile? You would think, but it is not always so. About the time after the crisis, on the position of the world's active CALVI group in the aftermath of the crisis and new challenges TRUCK WORLD spoke with Theo Odenthal, managing director of Hoesch swords profiles since March 2011.

STW: Can you give us an overview of CALVI group?

TO: The Calvi Holding is a group of companies, which are located mainly in Italy, France, Germany and the United States. With around the world. 1,400 employees, the company generated in 2010 a turnover of approximately € 237 million.


STW: YWie does the interplay Lift-Tek, Siderval, HSP?

TO: the main supplier of rolled sections with lift-Tek in Italy is Elecar HSP profiles for pressed the sister plant Siderval / I. Due to the adverse exchange rate movements € / U.S. direct deliveries came under pressure in recent years, so that a local supply of Lift Technologies Inc. in the U.S. was inevitable. HSP provides today custom sizes, which are not related to local.


STW: HSP disadvantages arising from other manufacturers, because Lift-Tek as a sister company with these ggfls. in competition?

TO: Lift Technologies Inc. is focused primarily as a niche supplier to the construction of special poles. Thus we do not collide with the interests of other customers. Customers appreciate the know-how of a specialized profile manufacturer.


STW: The economic crisis has led to significant changes in HSP, as the company is now slim?

TO: CALVI has expanded with the takeover (01/01/2006) its international position. The crisis in 2009 has hit the entire group of hard and requires a restructuring of all areas (including the removal of approximately 200 jobs). Together with a consortium of banks, however, conditions have been created to ensure in the future a permanent presence in the market.

STW: standing in profile competitors from China market at the door or have to do with the home market enough?

TO: Some Chinese manufacturers are already on their way in "hoesch typical" industries. However, the profiles are currently used only for local products. Due to the enormous learning but also copying capability, we assume, however, that is to be expected from these markets over the next 5 to 10 years with growing increasingly competitive.

In particular, Chinese companies have won market share in mass-market products abroad and expanding their position (pipe couplings, running disk profiles, hinges). This development applies not only to special sections. Even customers with international operations, e.g. Cultivation equipment manufacturer in China, such as Cascade, Bolzoni and Kaup have to struggle with these changes.


STW: Where there is potential?

TO: HSP is a leader in the Hubmastprofilfertigung. From our annual turnover (100 to € 110 million) come around. 70% of the material handling equipment industry. We are looking for other markets and show the industrial truck industry always new approaches. Thus, for example, by the so-called SE | M | effective method to demonstrate competitive advantages for the customers, resulting in significantly reduced at Kammermaßtoleranzen mast profiles. But in other areas resulting far-reaching innovation potentials. Are produced from the homogeneous compound technology, the tubes with two different materials in the indoor and outdoor grown primarily for the power industry, significant cost advantages.


STW: Is still the best hot rolling process for the production of mast profiles?

TO: Basically, the hot rolling process, a reliable and certainly the most economical method when it comes to larger quantities. Complex profile shapes or profiles with special surface properties, we realize with hot extrusion and cold drawing. An innovation in the lift mast production presents the aforementioned SE | M | - Here is dar. process is a process in which the previously hot-rolled profiles are processed in connection with a special cutter. So we reach Kammermaßtoleranzen of 0.2 mm in all major functional areas. By removing the layer randentkohlten the profiles to work with almost no wear.

STW: What additional services does HSP its customers?

TO: Of course, the actual manufacturing process includes numerous steps of further processing, such as straightening, stretching, turning, or milling of the profiles. We also offer surface finishing, heat treatment and processing in various fields (drilling, threading, submerged arc welding) to. Following customer requests, we provide our profiles cut to specified lengths, descaled or pickled. In addition, we also allow the role of induction hardening on raceways for support arms reach trucks.


STW: How do I develop the markets for the material handling profiles?

TO: HSP sees the market for trucks in Germany and Western Europe near the saturation point. Whereas there are in Eastern Europe (especially Russia) have potential. The U.S. is stagnating. Furthermore appears due to the high degree of mechanization in North America grew only realistic in small steps. In Asia, we see China mainly for the medium term, the greatest growth potential, followed by India. In these countries, the likely need for profiles in the next 5 to 10 years to grow by 10 to 20% / yr. Whether you are involved with and what percent are manufacturers from western profile, you can currently difficult to judge. Primary medium, we can only participate in the rising share of exports of Chinese manufacturers, because the imported profiles are significantly more expensive than the local provider.


STW: How important is the South American market, German semi-finished products during import it easier than complete machines, which are coated with high punitive tariffs?

TO: All investing market leader in South America, we supply some local industrial truck manufacturer. The percentage was low in the past mainly because of import restrictions. Generally the South African market of interest, since for large events, namely the football World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016, pending a major investment and therefore especially logistical challenges to be mastered.

HSP
For more information: Hoesch swords Profile GmbH, 58239 Schwerte, Phone: 0 23 04 - 106-0, www.hoesch-profile.comhttp://www.hoppecke.de