Welding, joining and fastening
because of the re-localisation of production
when it comes to addressing markets such as
there from Europe. Profil, however, is not
China.
working as actively in the Chinese market
“Our watchword is technology,” Hubert
because of the wide availability of cheap
Rautenstrauch explains. “We are convinced
labour. In ten years time, as salaries go up,
that our integrated fastening systems will work
Rautenstrauch feels that this market will be
in other cultures and environments where there
more attractive for Profil. Similarly, the Korean
is cheap labour. It is a question of improving
market will offer more opportunities for the
quality and product for customers. If you want
company in a few years’ time, when salaries
to do this correctly, you are also satisfying the
are at a level where manual labour costs will
developed market. Our technology is impor-
become an issue for OEMs.
tant for this. We cannot reduce low labour
“In the last month, we have seen a signifi-
costs for China but we can help it to improve
cant increase in RFQs from Korea and Japan,”
quality by using our technology. Technology
Rautenstrauch tells ISMR. “We believe that
will be a stepping stone to improving the qual-
they will constitute a more important market
ity of Chinese products. We prefer to take small
for us in two or three years. We are position-
steps, but solid ones, in these markets.”
ing ourselves for this market and have local
people over there.”
Right:
Machine
tools on the
Profil shop
floor
Left:
Analysing a
part at the
So, what do the next few years hold for this
design stage dynamic company? Vieth is quick to answer.
“Our vision is to continue the concept that
The way forward
we established in the market, which is quite
The company is not looking at forming more
unique, combining the development and pro-
new partnerships, having increased its pres-
duction of fasteners with the consultancy and
ence in Asia over last the last two years. It
cooperative work we do with our customers.
intends to build on the existing relationships
We think that this is the way forward, also in
it has established and has no plans for more
new markets. We have to monitor the mar-
production facilities elsewhere in the world.
kets, especially in eastern Europe, the Far East
“We are trying to optimise our own pro-
and India. We want to optimise our concept,
duction, however,” Vieth tells ISMR. “We
not change it, and broaden the number of
see a lot of opportunities to reduce costs in
markets we serve. Profil is, when all is said
our own production. Labour costs are quite
and done, externally driven by the market and
high in Frankfurt, but you also find skilled
internally driven by the technology.” ISMR
people who contribute to high quality levels.
CONTACT
:
To maintain that quality level is currently of
more importance to us than the establishment
Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG
of additional facilities elsewhere with lower
Otto-Hahn-Straße 22 - 24, D-61381 Friedrichsdorf, Germany
labour costs.”
Tel: +49 (0) 61 75 / 79 90 • Fax: +49 (0) 61 75 / 77 94
Quality is also a selling point for Profil
E-mail: info@profil.eu • Website: www.profil.eu
24 May/June 2007 International Sheet Metal Review
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