Power players SPARKY GROUP

POWER PLAYERS

SPARKY GROUP is one of the world’s leading producers of power tools. enjoying the benefits of its considerable investment in equipment and resources in recent years. Industry Europe looks at what this has involved.

Established in Berlin, Germany in 1990, SPARKY GROUP is the majority shareholder in two state-of-the-art factories in Bulgaria, both listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. One of the most well-positioned professional power tools brands, SPARKY also manufactures power tools and components for OEM customers, as well as welded parts and machinery.

Over the past few years the company has invested some €43 million in new plant and equipment across its three factories. The most recent investment programme, totalling some €8 million, was set in train in 2013 and is due to be completed in 2015.

A company spokesperson explained: “We are investing all the time in developing innovative new products and training our staff, but this major investment programme was primarily focused on making sure our two production facilities were fully equipped with the very latest technology.”

Production facilities

The first Bulgarian factory received €16 million of the original €35 million investment, which was spent on upgrading its power tools manufacturing capabilities. This factory produces high quality power tools for the professional industry sector and for the DIY sector.

The second Bulgarian SPARKY factory benefited from an €11 million investment. This factory focuses on manufacturing steel components including welded machines and steel parts. The steel parts produced at the SPARKY site are primarily supplied to major producers in the fields of construction, cranes, agriculture and railways, with SPARKY being a globally-recognised name in the OEM sector.

In addition to enhanced production capabilities and global competitiveness, another reason behind SPARKY’s extensive investment programme was to mark its 50th anniversary in 2011. “We felt very strongly that we wanted SPARKY to be more than prepared

for our next 50 years in business. We wanted to stake our claim at the forefront of power tools manufacture and so our investment was a statement of intent. I am proud of how this huge amount of money has been carefully and cleverly spent to ensure the best possible return, both for us and our customers. Our facilities are truly second-tonone, with the most advanced manufacturing equipment and very highly trained workers able to use each machine to the best of its potential. We can continue to develop new products using our equipment and can also implement the most effective processes for using the equipment.”

Thanks to these investments, the company’s manufacturing process is fully closed, which allows it to maintain full quality control at all times. Both of SPARKY’s factories are accredited to the widely-recognised ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. The investment and these certificates illustrate the importance SPARKY places on keeping all aspects of its business up to date with the latest requirements of a competitive market, particularly as it is rapidly increasing its global reach in terms of its customer base. Comprehensive product range

SPARKY’s range of power tools have applications in a number of sectors, split into four divisions: concrete, drilling and hammering; metal cutting, grinding and polishing; wood working; and special power tools.

In the area of concrete, drilling and hammering it offers impact drills, concrete grinders, demolition hammers, rotary hammers and drywall screwdrivers. Its metal cutting, grinding and polishing products include bench grinders, jig saws, angle grinders of various sizes, polishers and sanders, sabre saws and so on.

Its wood working tools include belt sanders, chain saws, circular and mitre saws, cordless drills, planers, routers and vacuum cleaners. Lastly, its special power tools encompass products such as bench grinders, Li-ion cordless impact drivers, cordless impact wrenches, cordless flashlights, heat guns, nibblers, paddle mixers, straight grinders and tools for wet & dry surface preparation.

The company’s products are considered to be amongst the best in the industry – and it has the awards to prove this. In September last year (2013), for example, two new products from its SPARKY HD Professional series received gold medals and Diplomas from the International Technical Fair – Plovdiv

2013. These two products were its R 10E Tapper machine and its SM 728E and SMA 728E flat head sanders.

Future plans

SPARKY intends to continue to upgrade and improve its product ranges as technology develops and production allows. One such area where new generation products are being introduced is the cordless machines market, where SPARKY has been creating a number of products for both the professional and DIY sectors.

With customers all over Europe and a marketing department that is embracing social media in order to engage with existing customers and connect with potential customers, SPARKY’s current customer base, which also includes customers in North Africa, South Africa, South America and the Middle East, is set to grow further in the coming years. n