Delivering innovative electronics Heried

The Hareid Group is a leader in the design, development and installation of complex electronic systems for the maritime and construction industries. Philip Yorke talked to Henning Moltubakk, managing and technical director of the company’s marine division, about its latest acquisitions and its move into new market sectors.

DELIVERING INNOVATIVE ELECTRONICS

The Hareid Group is a privately owned company that was founded in Norway in 1950 and began by selling electrical components for domestic kitchen installations. Since then the company has grown significantly to become a leading player in the design and manufacture of complex electrical systems for the shipbuilding and construction industries. The diversified Hareid Group is comprised of 11 distinct companies that cover marine, construction, product design, property development and financial services in the commercial sector.

In the private sector the group designs and delivers electrical installations to new buildings as well as for properties requiring renovation. Furthermore, the various companies within the group offer expertise in computers and broadband installations as well as in phone systems and fire and burglar alarm technology. All work carried out by the Hareid Group conforms to the highest government and EU standards for quality, safety, reliability and energy savings. Today the group employs more than 350 people in Scandinavia and eastern Europe and in 2011 recorded sales of over NOK 414 million.

Energy-efficient marine technology driving sales

The marine division of the Hareid Group represents more than 50 per cent of the company’s turnover and is located in the heart of the Norwegian shipbuilding industry off the north-west coast of Norway.

This densely populated industrial area consists of shipping companies, shipyards, component manufacturers and maritime supply companies. In this dynamic environment the Hareid Group employs highly skilled electrical engineers that specialise in the field of maritime electrical systems and installations. This well-proven expertise has made the Hareid Group one of Norway’s most successful and respected suppliers of electrical installations to the shipping industry.

Moltubakk said, “Our switchboards and advanced electrical systems are all tailormade for installation in ships’ bridges and for communication control units throughout the vessels. At Hareid we offer a complete turnkey service for the installation of all the main electrical systems on board ship as well as an in-depth technical support and after-sales service. When it comes to land-

based industries such as those involved in transportation and construction, we offer traffic solutions and services for infrastructure projects such as tunnels and roads, as well as complete electrical installations for offices and domestic dwellings.”

Moltubakk added, “We are currently seeing strong organic growth but we are also investing in some exciting new acquisitions which strengthen our position in the market and open up new markets for us at the same time. I am talking about the recent acquisition by our Danish company of 51 per cent of the shares in an electrical installation company in Greenland and a joint venture with Kleven Maritime (KMT) of Norway which is the largest Norwegian-owned shipbuilding group.

“In order to increase our capacity we have moved some of our switchboard manufacturing to our extensive facility in Poland in Gdansk, where we currently employ more than 120 people. We are also increasing our presence in South America where KMT already have a service network through a joint venture with ORN of Brazil. In addition, we are also applying our specialised technology to applications for fire and safety communications purposes. Over the years we have established very good long-term relationships with our customers and much of our new business comes from personal recommendation and the ability to grow alongside our clients.”

Warning signals for ship, off-shore and industrial use

www.marinsupply.no

New markets broaden scope for growth

The Hareid Group has always been a diverse and dynamic organisation and no more so than today when the company is branching out into new regions and new markets. The group’s recent acquisition of 51 per cent of the Greenland-based company, Polar El Aps in Nuuk, offers services for the construction and infrastructure industry. The company believes this will offer the group new opportunities for growth in the infrastructure, energy and mining industries as well as the possibility of becoming involved in larger projects for the gas and oil sectors.

In a separate move, the Hareid Group has acquired a specialist Norwegian company, More Kantakt AS, which manufactures electrical switchboards and control systems for the buildings and infrastructure sectors. This acquisition will strengthen the group’s production capabilities and expertise in this area and bring added scope for further onshore business activities.

Perhaps the most significant development at the Hareid Group recently is its joint venture with ORN (Offshore Reparos Navais) of Brazil in association with Kleven Maritime, which supplies maritime electro services to offshore vessels. Ronald Dyrhol, CEO of the Hareid Group, said: “Being based in Brazil will improve our response time and we will be able to provide customers with the service they ask for much faster. We will utilise the extensive experience we have in companies in Norway to support our new entity in Brazil.” n