Annual review 2017: Stronger for the future
with new organisational structure
12/2017 PFEIFER Group
For PFEIFER, 2017 was one of the most
eventful years in recent times. There were numerous reforms within the group of
companies – both at the headquarters in Memmingen and in the more than 30
operative subsidiaries. The biggest change was the introduction of a new
divisional organisation.
Reorganisation into four divisions
In order to bundle the strengths of the
PFEIFER Group more effectively in future, the company is currently reorganising
itself. In this context the traditional company has this year already combined
its eight business units into four independently manageable organisational
units, taking into account common markets, customers and business processes.
"In international terms the PFEIFER Group has grown strongly in the past
years and has reached a size that makes a new, sustainable organisational
structure necessary. We are facing this challenge with our divisionally
oriented realignment into four operative units", explained Gerhard
Pfeifer, President of the PFEIFER Group.
Increase in turnover
Overall, the PFEIFER Group was able in 2017
to increase its turnover significantly to nearly 260 million Euros. For
instance, the Connecting and Lifting Systems business unit recorded very good
business development both at home and in many international markets, which was
supported by the upward trend in the building sector. Following the acquisition
of several companies in the USA, China and Austria, the PFEIFER Cable
Structures business unit completed its first projects as a fully integrated
full-range supplier in the lightweight construction industry. Examples are the
renewal of the roof of the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart and the repair of
the membrane roof of the Aquatic Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Despite difficult
boundary conditions, PFEIFER Wire Rope and Lifting Technology was able to win
additional orders from crane manufacturers for original equipment. The
after-sales business has also developed most satisfactorily. The fact that more
cranes are being built in China again was a further positive factor.
Local presence in important export markets
Asked about developments in the
international market, the company boss said: "In our most important export
markets we will be concentrating in future on local structures so that we can
best meet the local demands. For instance, in 2017 we moved into two new
locations in China and opened a new manufacturing centre in the USA."
Digitalisation – a project for the future
Digitalisation, too, will continue to keep
PFEIFER busy in the coming years. "Our challenge is to fully understand
the importance of digital tools and to put them to use for ourselves and our
customers. On example of this is our telescopic coil grabs. They are now
capable of networking with their environment by means of intelligent sensors
and transmitting data in an illustrative manner in an app", said Gerhard
Pfeifer.
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