WCA November 2019

Industry news

Harting’s new ‘Cathedral of logistics’

Technetics PTFE & Polymer Solutions, based in Houston, Texas, USA, recently completed the structuring of its product management and strategy department. The team is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the business’s long-term strategy and also responds for new product development activities. Andrew Bastian has been appointed director of product development and strategy. He has been with the Technetics Group for five years, The centre is also a clear endorsement by Harting of Eselkamp and the Minden-Lübbecke region. The EDC is a flagship project showcasing the company’s technological logistic competence when it comes to innovative and flexible intra-logistic solutions. “Our products are New staff at Technetics A musical interludes, plenty of words of recognition and an open day with a folk festival feel: the official inauguration of the Harting Technology Group European Distribution Centre (EDC) was celebrated with a celebratory programme. The day was staged before an audience of around 330 invited guests, including Detmold’s district president Marianne Thomann-Stahl; president of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) of East-Westphalia Wolf D Meier-Scheuven; district administrator Ralf Niermann; Espelkamp’s mayor Heinrich Vieker, and local members of parliament Bianca Winkelmann and Ernst-Wilhelm Rahe. CEO Philip Harting looked back to the company’s beginnings, when the first buyer had to fetch raw material on the train with a rucksack, and his grandmother Marie Harting delivered goods to the surrounding area by bike. Over 70 years later, the EDC is essential for opening up new markets and achieving €1bn turnover in the near future, said Mr Harting. The strong growth of the company and the demand of customers for fast delivery were the pivotal factors in the decision to build this large logistics centre at the group’s headquarters. spectacular show,

❍ There was an open day for employees and their families after the official inauguration, giving them the chance to take a tour of the EDC

Abiodun, recently hired as product design engineer. He holds a Master of Science in engineering chemistry/ polymer and material science from Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada, bringing his experience in R&D, plastics formulations, and material selection and characterisation to help Technetics develop products that meet the needs of the wire and cable industry. Technetics Group – USA Website : www.technetics.com The highlight of the opening ceremony was the handing over of the key, featuring a show under the roof of the high-bay warehouse and on a stage. Performers from the GOP Variety Theatre used the entire area of the 20m-high warehouse. Harting Technology Group – Germany Website : www.harting.com headed by managing director Peter Seipp, senior vice president Margrit Harting, senior vice president Maresa Harting-Hertz and the internal construction team under Sven Düker had made a “functional building” into an “architectural beacon.” From a “cathedral of logistics,” enthused Carsten Heil, deputy editor of the regional paper Neue Westfälische .

having served as process engineer and operations manager in other facilities before joining the PTFE & Polymer Solutions team in Houston. Rodrigo Costa has been appointed product manager. He has been with the PTFE & Polymer Solutions business unit for eight years, having worked with the PTFE tapes products in production, quality and engineering functions. The latest addition is Samuel “The EDC might not be the biggest but it is definitely one of the most attractive logistics centres in Germany,” was the praise from Philip Harting as he thanked everyone involved with the works. The collaboration between the team of architects from 3Deluxe everywhere in this building, in its technology, in its systematics and in its inner workings,” said Mr Harting. IHK president Mr Meier-Scheuven said that, thanks to innovative and courageous companies like Harting, the district of Minden-Lübbecke is the most powerful economic region in Ostwestfalen-Lippe after Kreis Gütersloh. “The EDC has brought world class to Mühlenkreis,” added Minden-Lübbecke district adminis- trator Ralf Niermann.

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Wire & Cable ASIA – November/December 2019