Significant jump in sales with new products
27.04.2013
Scheuchl company from Ortenburg invests five million euros at its Lower Bavarian production site - opening up to Asia
Published on 27 April 2013 in the Passauer Neue Presse - by Ariane P. Freier
The internationally active R. Scheuchl GmbH from Ortenburg can look back on an extremely successful 2012 financial year: sales rose by more than 25 percent compared with the previous year, and the number of employees climbed from 110 to 130, says Managing Director and company founder Richard Scheuchl. One reason for the upward trend: “We have increasingly focused on product innovations.”
Among other things, the specialist for processes and customer-specific systems developed, in cooperation with BMW Landshut, an inorganic core sand regeneration plant that allows the sand to be reused. “In 2011 we manufactured and commissioned the world’s first series plant, the second is currently under construction,” explains Managing Director Dr. Udo Dinglreiter. As with a similar project for aqueous rinsing liquids, the savings potential is enormous - in Europe the plants pay for themselves in just under three years.
In addition to the product innovations, which are manufactured entirely in Ortenburg, Scheuchl was also able to defy the 2008/09 crisis and its consequences with the introduction of a new merchandise management system and various improvements to a broadly diversified product range, adds the third managing director Ulf Scheuchl (Dipl.-Ing.). Decoring machines, for example, were further developed.
The innovative processes that the company develops individually for customers also include the arc wire spraying process for the automotive industry. With it, a wafer-thin steel layer can be applied directly to the aluminium running surfaces in crankcases. “This layer is significantly lighter than the previous steel liner, thereby reducing weight and consumption,” says Dinglreiter. “It was developed, tested and brought to series maturity in many years of close cooperation with BMW.” For its productivity, Scheuchl was honoured with the coveted “Supplier Innovation Award 2013”.
Given the high demands placed on its employees, the company has only one thing to struggle with: the shortage of skilled workers. “It is clearly noticeable and it is difficult to find suitable employees,” the three managing directors have observed. Because they should not only be excellently trained, but also mobile and willing to qualify.
Since numerous customers - from the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, brickworks, chemical or textile industries - are internationally oriented and are relocating their business to China, Scheuchl will also be very active in Asia, announces company head Richard Scheuchl. “We are prepared for this and feel well positioned for the future.”
This is clearly reflected in the investment behaviour. In 2012/2013, Scheuchl invested five million euros in a new building at the Ortenburg production site, creating additional office space and expanding the production area by around 30 percent.
