Power from innovation Hoppecke

“For example, every one of our four production halls has its own specific manufacturing focus and there is a clear and logical set-up for practically everything that happens in the company. We are also very keen on quality control so the testing appliances that monitor quality, at every stage of production, are very important and, needless to say, are modern and effective.”

Working with customers and suppliers

Whether it is Siemens, AEG, Vestas or any other customer, Noratel ensures that its engineering advisory service is always there and available for clients. As Ms Żytkowiak explains, the company’s strength and market advantage lies also in the fact that it is able to actively engage with customers at every stage of a project, thus enabling it to advise on the best possible solutions. “Our partners are very demanding but this is a challenge that we like as a company, as it drives us to perform to the best of our abilities,” says the sales director. “We are often audited by our customers and have a dedicated internal audit team within the company. This ensures that absolute client satisfaction is something we can always guarantee.”

The same goes for the way in which Noratel works with its suppliers – working with the best and the most reliable in the industry is crucial to the company’s success. Just as its customers audit the company’s operations, so does Noratel regularly audits its suppliers. “Since October 2013 we now have a dedicated person in the company, a supply chain manager, who ensures that all aspects and elements of our production – from working with suppliers to selling finished products – is a controlled and logical, efficient process,” points out Ms Żytkowiak.

Opening further markets

Noratel recently purchased a company in the United States and is thus now operating a unit that is producing and distributing specifically for the needs of that market. With the geographical proximity of Mexico or other Latin American countries, the move to the US has been strategically very important for the future expansion of the company. “We plan to expand our export operations further, as well as to maintain our position as the market leader in Poland,” concludes Ms Żytkowiak.

“We want to ensure that clients continually choose Noratel as their principal supplier of choice, in products such as transformers and reactors but also current and voltage transformers – another very important product group for us. Acquisitions in the near future are possible, depending on the actual opportunities and benefits, as is further internal expansion and the addition of another factory. After all, the company has already purchased an additional plot of land for this purpose, so the ‘foundations’ have already been laid.” n

POWER FROM INNOVATION

Hoppecke develops and produces energy storage units and power supply systems. Marco Siebel spoke with Björn Riechers, Managing Director of the company’s business unit Motive Power, about this year’s investments to expand its production facility in the USA, and about the company’s remarkable achievements.

Hoppecke batteries was founded in 1927 by Carl Zoellner, who named the company after the nearby river Hoppecke, in central Germany. The company is still family run, by the fourth generation Marc Zoellner. Turnover in 2012 was 300 Million Euro, generated by 1400 employees.

Björn Riechers: “About 40-45 per cent of turnover is generated in Europe, 50 per cent in Asia and Africa, and between 5-10 per cent in the USA. We expect to reach the 500 Million Euro turnover mark within the next five years. We currently have one production facility in the USA, two in China, and three in Germany. In 2014 we intend to expand our production facility in the USA and to build new production plants over the next couple of years.”

Two of the company’s six production plants are in Brilon, a town in North Rhine Westphalia. It is in Brilon where Hoppecke first produced special alkaline batteries on a fibre-structured basis, in a joint enterprise with two major German car makers. All German plants received quality certification in accordance with DIN ISO 9001, twenty years ago. Hoppecke received an innovation award for its glass mat technology. It was named as being a top-100 innovator and German Customer Champions 2009. In 2011 Hoppecke opened its technology centre in Zwickau.

Björn Riechers: “We as a company are very much aware of the fact that it is our employees that generate our turnover, and make our company grow and keep it strong. We train both our employees and our trainees in such a way that they are among the best in our region.”

Motive trak®power products

Hoppecke’s Motive Power business unit develops and produces the trak® line of energy storage units and power supply systems.

Björn Riechers: “Hoppecke’s development of the lithium-ion basic module, trak®power LiOn, gives customers an innovative solution for the continually changing technical requirements of the market towards longer life in applications and overall enhanced performance. The trak®power LiOn basic modules are produced at the German site in Zwickau and are then interconnected to form battery systems.”

The Hoppecke trak®power LiOn, lithiumion battery systems are of modular design, built up from 24V and/or 36V basic modules. These basic units are designed so that they may be used as individual blocks or combined to build larger battery systems.

The trak®power LiOn modules are available as High Energy variants (with high energy content) or as High Power variants (able to take high current loads). Hoppecke trak®power LiOn systems may therefore be designed for a wide range of applications. The redundant structure of the modules ensures maximum reliability. Operation can be maintained even if one module is disconnected.

The trak®power LiOn saves space in the vehicle or machine due to its very compact, lightweight and modular design. The system is capable of rapid charging, has low operating costs, and is maintenance-free.

Typical applications include installation in industrial trucks, lifting platforms, electric boats, electric commercial vehicles and municipal authority cleaning vehicles, wheelchairs, golf carts - any conceivable electric or hybrid vehicle.

Focus on safe operation

Batteries involving lithium-ion technology require permanent electronic monitoring to ensure their safe operation and to protect their lithium-ion cells from damage.