Presenting one of the leading and most innovative manufacturers of hydraulic braking systems for heavy industry in the world
Written by Ben Lobel & Produced by Thomas Baverstock
When you think of Svendborg Brakes, you think of a world leading and innovative operator in the field of hydraulic braking systems for heavy industry. The range of industries served includes wind power, mining, cranes, ship propulsion and offshore.
You also think of a company of heritage – the firm dates back to 1889 when the company was founded and, understandably, a lot has happened since. In 1989 the company changed its product portfolio, entering into a completely different business in the form of the hydraulic brake business, at which point Svendborg Brakes changed its name.
As the website states, the new braking solutions are customised to precisely match the customer’s requirements and applications. The solutions in which hydraulics, electronics and advanced brake engineering are combined, as brakes have to operate when other parts have failed – when lives are at stake.
NEGOTIATING TOUGH TIMES
So how has the firm done in the past year or so? Chief Commercial Officer Claus Sejersen reveals all. “We have been able to keep our revenues constant, even to increase revenues 10 percent compared to 2008,” he says. Indeed, the firm had predicted a larger growth – but that was before the financial crisis really started.
Drilling down into the work the company does, you find the work is mainly supplying to the wind energy business. Indeed, the company has established a position as the leading supplier of both yaw and rotor brake systems, as well as compact power units and the patented “rotorlock” to the global wind industry.
But the company also acts, among other disciplines, in the mining and oil and gas business. Not content with merely servicing the industry, Svendborg Brakes actively sets the standards in braking equipment for mining, offering everything from brakes and hydraulic to electronic and service contracts to meet the demands of the sector. For the year of 2010 the main focus for the company as a whole will be on South Korea and. particularly for the oil and gas business, very much on China.
This certainly follows a trend of a global presence for the firm. As Sejersen confirms: “We are already now more or less present all over the world, with our own production facilities in Germany, Denmark and China.” The plan on the table is to inaugurate a small office in Korea during the first quarter of 2010 and an entity in the USA by the end of 2010.
It is a symbol of a bold expansion, and this boldness must be a contributor to the firm staying ahead of its competition. How else does Svendborg Brakes manage to keep a cut above? “There are several reasons,” explains Sejersen. “The first is definitely that we have chosen not to compromise on prices and thereby have been able to keep a very high quality level. The second reason is that we, although there is a large variety of industrial applications for hydraulic brake systems, have focussed very much on just a few of them – primarily the mining, oil and gas and wind energy sectors. One further reason is definitely that we have been able to keep our old experienced staff and have succeeded in hiring new, young and ambitious people.”
Indeed, staff have always been very important to the business. “50 percent of our success over the last 10 years has been based on our staff, their experience and know-how in the business,” awaysays Sejersen. This has led to a steady increase in personnel numbers.
“10 years ago we had 40 employees, and now we have 210, so we have been increasing the number of employees every year over the last 10 years,” says Sejersen.
A growing army of dedicated personnel – with the experience and skills to make the difference.
Are there any new products in pipeline? The answer is yes, with 2010 seeing an increased investment in innovation and development for the firm. “Momentarily we have five major medium-term projects and 14 smaller short-term projects in the pipeline,” says Sejersen. He is in no position to elaborate on the actual innovations at this stage, but watch this space.
A FIRM ON THE MOVE
The signs all point to a firm on the move, but questions of the industry remain, such as how much is the targeted wind market set to grow or change in the near future? “Well, we expect the wind market to really take off again by the middle of 2010 after the financial crisis and so achieve a total market increase of approximately 20 percent in 2010 compared to 2009 and an even higher increase in 2011 which could rise to around 30 percent compared to 2010,” says Sejersen.
Next for the firm is the mission to consolidate its position on the Chinese wind market, where Svendborg Brakes has been able to achieve a market share of more than 75 percent.
Furthermore the next major projects will be a local presence (manufacturing, assembly or distribution centre) in the USA as a backup for the firm’s already established commercial activities.
“And in 2011 we’ll potentially set up a manufacturing facility in India to support our sales organisation on site,” adds Sejersen.
Although Svendborg Brakes is known as a flexible supplier with a very high product quality and always meeting required delivery dates, it is always putting a lot of effort into various process management systems.
Consequently, the firm has just received a group-wide OHSAS 18001 and a ISO 14001 certification covering all aspects and corners of the business and, during the second quarter of 2010, Svendborg Brakes expects to finalise a group wide ISO 9001 certification on top of its already registered certification for the individual units.
Energy Digital wishes this exciting and dynamic company all the best for the future.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
COMPANY NAME: Svendborg Brakes
CEO: Martin Rambusch
OPERATIONS: Brake and hydraulics manufacturer
ESTABLISHED: 1884
EMPLOYEES: 220
HEAD OFFICE: Vejstrup, Denmark
www.svendborg-brakes.com
View Digital Corporate Profile of SvendborgBrakes in Energy Digital February 2010