Power and precision Schiess

POWER AND PRECISION

Machining specialist to the engineering industry, Schiess GmbH is currently undergoing exciting investment and restructuring. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to sales director Andreas Borgwardt to learn about the aim of these changes.

Established in 1997 in the German city of Aschersleben, machining developer and manufacturer Schiess GmbH offers large-scale machines to the engineering industry. With one large facility in Aschersleben and no current plans for additional sites, Schiess’s increasingly global presence is enhanced by its on-going investment and restructuring strategy.

Sales director Andreas Borgwardt told Industry Europe more about these plans, and what they hope to achieve. He said, “We are continually focused on ensuring our wide product range of machinery for sophisticated tasks is as advanced as possible. We have an exceptional manufacturing facility that supports us in our quest to deliver the most efficient, reliable machinery to our customers across the engineering industry worldwide. Our development plans reflect that ongoing aim – we are putting a great deal of money into innovative tooling as well as restructuring our current facilities to guarantee we have the most modern equipment and plant available.”

Responsible restructuring

Schiess’s huge restructuring of its current facilities has already seen a €12 million investment in new machine tools. Purchased from leading names in Germany and Switzerland, Schiess’s upgraded plant now includes a brand new large-scale measuring machine that provides exceptional quality checking.

Mr Borgwardt continued, “This huge measuring machine is incredible – it’s a terrific addition to our plant. It will be installed in a separate room which is carefully climatecontrolled at a steady temperature 24 hours a day.”

The major investment in upgrading the already-modern facilities at Aschersleben also includes the five state-of-the-art tooling machines already installed this year, with a further three machines planned for installation before the end of 2012.

Time for investment

The impact of the global financial crisis has not left Schiess untouched. The company has seen changes in expected orders due to customers experiencing a downturn in their own demand and, with the challenges of the Euro and bailouts from Germany, it appreci-

ates that this is not necessarily the best time for customers to make investments.

Mr Borgwardt said, “Our machines are major investments. They are large-scale machines that offer enhanced processing capabilities which boost our customers’ bottom line, but they still have to invest in the machines in the first place. Our machines have a value of some millions of investment, so our customers have to be in a position to invest, and now is not the best time for that. But the fact is the situation is the same for all our competitors, and it is likely that the situation will improve across much of Europe soon, so we have decided to concentrate on making sure our product offer is as varied and reliable as possible and that our service is second-to-none. That way, when more customers are in a position to invest, Schiess can be sure of being the best supplier and partner.”

For the past eight years, Schiess has been owned by a Chinese corporation (Shenyang Machine Tool Corporation Ltd), so its impressive global business development has a valuable helping hand into Asian markets. With its parent company spe-

cialising in machine tools, it gives Schiess unrivalled access to both commercial support and active markets throughout Asia, which is seen as a very strong prospect for future growth.

Positive about potential

Mr Borgwardt continued, “We’re positive about the prospects in Europe and in Asia. We have potential for growth in both areas, with our historic heartland in Europe likely to pick up through existing customers ready to make new investment in upgrading their machines and new customers in Asia keen to establish a world-class manufacturing location. Our Chinese owners help us in communicating in a suitable manner in accordance with local language and culture, which is great for us and for potential customers. We can also ‘follow the customer’ as they expand into Asia, which is a valuable tool in our supplier offer.”

With Schiess very positive about the future. Mr Borgwardt explained, “Even though the present situation in many world markets is difficult, we are optimistic. It seems as though the reflection of the early part of the crisis was visible again in 2011 and 2012, but we expect 2013 to be the start of a real return to positive trading conditions. With the restructuring of our Aschersleben facilities, our valuable relationship with our owners Shenyang Machine Tool Corporation Ltd and our market-leading product range, we know that 2013 and beyond will see customers making investment in our large machines for engineering applications. We are more than ready for this as we have concentrated on preparing our site, our people and our products.” n