In focus: efficient production

• Australian delegation visits Terex Material Handling

A high-ranking Australian business delegation has recently visited Terex Material Handling at its production location in Wetter, Germany. As part of their fact-finding trip to Germany, leading representatives of companies from the Newcastle Region, a coal mining and manufacturing region 160km North of Sydney and from the University of Newcastle gathered detailed information about successful German business models. There was great interest in gaining insights into the predominant conditions influencing Germany as a business location and, at the same time, learning about best practice examples from production.

Safety first: Dr Lars Brzoska, Vice President & Managing Director of Terex Material Handling, spelled out this maxim in his presentation of the company and the Demag product world: “As mechanical engineers, we have always focused on the subject of safety. With the incorporation of the Material Handling business group into the Terex Corporation, the theme of product safety and occupational health and safety has gained further weight and is now even more firmly anchored in our corporate philosophy.”

An additional focus of the agenda was the strategic development of the emerging markets in Asia. Dr Lars Brzoska: “In China we have a large distribution and dealer network for Demag products. With our global development team we have developed new products for the mid-segment market in order to develop the potential of these markets further.” For the Australian guests, topics concerning customer focus were at the centre of the subsequent round of questions. Dr Brzoska: “As an innovation leader in crane and hoist technology, we aspire to making the customer and his needs the focus of our work to an even greater extent. Our global distribution and service network thus provides the best prerequisite for acting in a customer-orientated manner.” The Australian delegation was also keen to gather further information about production in such a business location as Germany. This wide-ranging set of themes included working and economic conditions, questions about co-determination in the company and the concrete implementation of projects in ongoing production processes. Dr Lars Brzoska expounded, “We work out solutions in a dialogue between the company management and employee representatives. This applies to models for transition to flexible working hours and optimum organisation of work spaces.”

On their visit to Wetter, Germany, the Australian visitors were also concerned with acquiring first-hand information about consistent implementation of modern production techniques for Demag products. Dr Rainer Harkort, Head of Production, Germany, emphasised the cooperation between the company and employees with which the restructuring of mechanical production was also implemented. In this area, the company also produces the components for Demag gearboxes, rope and chain hoists. Dr Rainer Harkort: “All those involved pulled together in implementing this project successfully and gave it a broad foundation. The main results are the considerable reduction in lead times of more than 60 per cent and the higher qualification of all employees involved.” The delegation of visitors was subsequently able to learn about the restructured, prize-winning production location in Wetter. In addition to mechanical production, the efficient production of components for the new KBK Modular Crane System, which was originally launched onto the market 50 years ago, also met with great interest. With this modular system, Terex Material Handling is a market and innovation leader in the light crane systems market segment. The Australian guests, who came to Wetter thanks to the involvement of the Australian regional subsidiary of Terex Material Handling, showed that they were impressed by the organisation at the production location. Their spokesman, Adrian Price, Australian Industry Group, explained: “Demag products also enjoy an excellent reputation and are highly regarded on our continent. We are impressed by the depth of manufacture, the high standards of quality and safety and the palpable motivation of the entire team.”

In KBK production, too, the visitors were impressed by the efficient production arrangements at the location in Wetter, Germany.

About Terex Material Handling

Terex Corporation is one of the world’s leading suppliers of crane technology with Demag industrial cranes and crane components. The core competence of the Terex Material Handling business group lies in the development, design and production of technically sophisticated cranes, hoists and components and the provision of sales and services for these products. The business group manufactures in 16 countries on five continents and is present in more than 60 countries, reaching customers in more than 100 countries.

Terex Corporation is a diversified global manufacturer of a broad range of equipment. A core activity of Terex Corporation is the provision of reliable, customer-driven solutions for many applications, including the construction, infrastructure, shipping, transport, quarrying, mining, refining, energy, utility and manufacturing industries. Terex reports in five business segments: Aerial Work Platforms; Construction; Cranes; Material Handling & Port Solutions; and Materials Processing Terex Financial Services offers a wide range of products and services to assist in the acquisition of Terex equipment. Please visit our websites at www.demagcranes.de and www.terex.com for further information.