Multotec Europe is growing

Andrej Schulakow-Klass, Managing Director, Multotec GmbH, elaborates on the growth of Multotec in Europe. 

Founded by Steingaus Germany, Multotec Europe has sought to build relationships with the different STAFAG sales offices, like Siebtechnik-Tema, Eurositex and Steinhaus. After 2 years of starting up though fundamental processes, infrastructure and market research, the company is taking the next development step.

Now Multotec South Africa will join the company as an equal shareholder to ensure a successful growth phase. The fundamentals of both “local service” and “closeness to customers” should be based not only on closer communication with our customers via the sales network and technical consulting, but increasingly, through consistent warehousing of equipment and spares. To build-up that “Logistical Centre” is also to prepare for a future “Assembly Centre” where, for example, cyclone configurations can be assembled per project and client request. How it should work, is now the question. 

Multotec Europe will order all relevant proprietary items of the products, (e.g. cyclone casting parts) as single parts from South Africa. Ideally, parts should be transported to our Logistical Centre, where they can be used as spare parts or assembled to a specific product configuration. Standard items (e.g. bolts, seals, motors or even steel frame constructions) which can be procured more cheaply in Europe, will not come from South Africa. The huge benefit of this approach will be the drastic reduction of transport costs, which is a critical cost driver to win contracts – a significant consideration even before Corona Virus. In parallel, the reaction time for delivery should be improved too. A targeted approach is required, especially for Europe’s focused industries, with specific cyclone and pump standards (e.g. sand & gravel, construction and recycling). Feedback from brand research is that customers, particularly those in the sand and gravel industry, would like to procure cyclones and pumps from a single source (i.e. from an OEM) and with short lead times. Short delivery time is, again, a key boundary condition. Additionally, the local availability of the spare parts during project discussions is key, where a short reaction time for spare parts should be ensured.

In Mörlenbach, Southern Germany, a warehouse where the first pumps and spares are stored has already been established. But for anticipated future growth, that location will be too small. We are pleased that the physical infrastructure will be expanded in combination with Steinhaus’s new factory location. The actual Multotec warehouse in Southern Germany will be moved into the new Steinhaus factory, which is currently under refurbishment. This huge premises in Leverkusen, Western Germany, will be the logistical centre for Steinhaus and Multotec. 

Multotec is the first occupant of this building and is already storing different types of cyclones and spare parts, which are arriving during the (northern) summer of 2021. The cyclone types and sizes, selected based on analysis of our installed base, should cover the spares requests for several months. 

Based on the knowledge gleaned and the analysis of this delivery, to achieve the lowest “kg/€” transport factor, packaging and transport issues should be optimised next. Using the motto "Step by Step!" we will reach the optimal solution.

#AdaptAndLead