STEERING NEW TECHNOLOGIES FORWARD The Backer Group is a global leader in the development and manufacture of advanced electronic heating components for industry. Philip Yorke looks at how the company has stayed at the forefront of its sector through innovation and the ability to deliver highly efficient element technologies.
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he Backer Group was founded in Sweden in 1949 by Christian Backer, and is headquartered in Sosdala, Sweden. From here it manages its 28 manufacturing sites and global sales and service networks covering Europe, Asia and North and South America. The company has grown consistently since its inception, and in 1989 this success came to the notice of the International NIBE Group, who acquired the company in order to expand its product
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range and to take advantage of Backer’s expertise in areas such as resisters, open coil elements and thick film elements. Today the group continues to expand despite the difficult economic climate and in 2010 recorded sales of more than SEK 1.7 billion. Developing new technologies for emerging industrial sectors such as high-speed rail and wind power has helped to keep the company ahead of the field, with particularly strong growth coming from the Chinese and South
American markets. This expediential growth reflects the success of the strategic decision by Backer to invest in the acquisition of new plant in China in 2005 and in Mexico in 2008.
Customised products for optimal efficiency The continuing success of the Backer Group can be attributed to three simple business values: innovation, quality and dedicated customer services. Furthermore, although the
