With Copy & Paste into the New Year?
The Alfra Year in Review
Remember the movie 'Groundhog Day?' In the 90s hit comedy, Bill Murray gets caught in a time loop and is doomed to relive the same day over and over again. No matter how hard he tries to influence the course of fate - the outcome remains unaffected. That's how many of us feel right now, except that the time loop is not about a particular day, but about the year 2020. Strictly speaking, we could copy and paste parts of the 2020 annual review into an updated version for 2021. But that would do an injustice to the past 12 months - as well as to the message of the film. In the end, every experience gained in the time loop leads to the goal bit by bit.
That's why I'm taking the start of the new year as an opportunity to highlight the small and large successes that the Alfra team had in 2021, despite or completely independently of Corona:
Promising start
Hopes that the Corona epidemic would go as it came after almost a year were definitely not fulfilled. Nevertheless, the order situation gave us reason to look into the future with confidence. At the same time, we used the time to tackle various pending issues, for example, new hardware for our IT. As part of this project, the physical units moved from the basement to the ground floor, which is less prone to flooding. Other investments were implemented, for example, in the areas of workplace improvement and processes.
Training for our staff
It is not only the technology that has to be up to date in a company. Further training was therefore also a topic at Alfra in 2021, both internally and externally. Whether it's innovative software for milling machines or 'soft skills' - the Alfra team always wants to get better. We are particularly pleased that we were able to fill some managerial positions internally - including further training for managers, of course.
Increasing our in-house production
The interest in our products has been very motivating. Nevertheless, we had to recognise that the global supply chain issue also posed major challenges for Alfra. What were we going to do now? In addition to adjustments in procurement management, we pursued a goal that is part of the Alfra philosophy anyway: to increase the share of in-house production for our products further. Our factory in Herborn, Hesse, for example, manufactures parts for a wide variety of products from our range and custom-made products. This requires not only precision, but also a high degree of cooperation.
Finally, Alfra to touch again
Virtual worlds are booming, especially in times of Corona. The cancellation of the 'big' trade fairs for our industry in spring 2020 was an incident that showed us particularly vividly how 'serious' the situation had become. In autumn 2021, it was possible again for a long time to see our tools and equipment in action at international trade fairs - often in close cooperation with our local partners. Examples were the CIMT in Shanghai in spring 2021 and the MITEX tool fair in Moscow in autumn.
Change of captains
The captains change, the goal remains the same. In September, Dr Marc Fleckenstein followed our long-standing Managing Director Markus Döring. The 'new one' took the wheel in stormy times. He has found products that are in demand and staff that sticks together - a tradition rooted in Alfra's history as a family business. Unaffected by this are the challenges we have to face. We have a lot planned and are excited to see how Dr Fleckenstein will help shaping and steering the development of Alfra.
Proven competence, new projects
We can rely on our competence as a manufacturer of tools for industries such as switch cabinet and control construction, metal construction and magnet and lifting technology. We also offer the possibility of implementing individual projects according to customer requirements. Last year there were some exciting challenges in this area. For example, our engineering department developed special sheet metal punching machines for the production line of a well-known sports car manufacturer, which have been produced at our plant in Herborn.
Here we go again
To return to the groundhog - the ups and downs around Corona will most likely accompany us throughout 2022. But this is no reason for us to rest. This year will again offer a multitude of opportunities to improve internally and externally as a company - as a supplier, as a partner and as an employer. We are working on this and wish everyone connected with Alfra a happy and, above all, healthy new year.