Richter Maschinenfabrik AG (Display enlargement with mouse click)
The range of products and services offered by
Richter Maschinenfabrik AG of Hessisch Lichtenau has so far
involved manufacturing and machining large welded structures
weighing up to 250 tonnes. Axel Richter, sole shareholder and CEO,
is currently realigning his company with the requirements of the
market. There is quite clearly a trend towards the so-called system
supplier who can manufacture and offer his customers complete
modules and assemblies. Especially with the vast machines and unit
components normally supplied by Richter, there is no denying that
minimising the need to shop around for parts creates considerable
scope for cutting costs, especially within the area of transport.
In addition, there are benefits due to shorter delivery times and
the fact that it is no longer necessary to give two separate
warranties from the welding shop and the mechanical shop. With
these advantages in mind, Axel Richter regards it as only logical
to take a step forward, by improving his company's performance
profile with the added benefits of customer-oriented assembly of
parts, components and modules.
In the light of
increasing globalisation, the plant and machinery manufacturer in
Hessisch Lichtenau near Kassel has recognised the higher standards
in terms of flexibility, competitiveness and cost awareness.
Richter AG is not embarking on entirely new territory because the
company has occasionally handled assembly work and even extremely
complex systems such as pendulum shears for hot strip rolling mills
and cluster mill stands for cold strip processing. For the
manufacture of presses too, the company has assembled platens,
heads and rams. Richter certainly has the know-how. Apart from the
purely technical aspect of equipment, the company also has at its
disposal appropriately skilled staff who are able to meet the
demanding requirements. According to Axel Richter, his company's
increase in performance is not only reflected in the bare facts of
sales figures (the staff of 200 were responsible for revenues of
EURO 32.5 million last year), he expects all his members of staff
to optimise the quality standards within the scope of continuous
improvement processes. That is why, especially as far as welding
operations are concerned, the rules laid down by the DIN EN
ISO 9001 and DIN EN ISO 3834-2 quality
systems are implemented meticulously at Richter. "We're aware that
our customers can only place their products in the world markets if
the top quality expected is met at all times. We as a supplier of
large assemblies, which rank as key items, have a direct
commitment," says Axel Richter, managing director.
Richter Maschinenfabrik AG accepts the challenges
of global business, Axel Richter emphasizes. "Our customers must be
able to rely on us, our strength in terms of performance, our
on-time delivery and our quality. We must assume that we can only
secure long-term partnerships in future if we meet this
requirement, otherwise we would harm our customers, but ultimately
the most serious harm would be done to ourselves."
Source: Ursula Hoffmann, Maschinenmarkt
24/2001, June 2001
