You have been at the helm of Philipp Kirsch GmbH for a year now. So, how has the year been?
| Dr Jochen Kopitzke |
The year has been outstanding. We achieved a new sales record and have stepped forward with our products and production technologies. Thanks to constant innovations, we have a solid base for further growth in the future.
What are the major changes that you bought in after taking over the reins?
For a company that exists for almost 150 years, the major change is the change itself. Changes began in 2010 when I entered the company to became the successor of Mr Kirsch in 2012. In this two-year transition period I developed the long term strategy and made the corresponding investments in product development and new production technologies. Today, we practice change every day by constantly improving our products and processes.
Tell us about the products and its applications offered by Philipp Kirsch GmbH?
We are a German manufacturer of highly reliable refrigerators and freezers for medical purposes such as the storage of blood, pharmaceuticals or laboratory samples. Those delicate goods are expensive and need a constant storage temperature. Our products feature warning devices for the case of critical temperature deviations and a state-of-the-art temperature documentation for quality assurance.
What makes the products in your portfolio different from its counterparts in the market?
Thanks to the experience we gained during our long history, our products are leading in technology and quality. Quality leads to reliability. The latter is a key factor for our clients. Our long lasting business relationships and product certifications made by the independent TÜV-Institute demonstrate that we fulfill this prerequisite. When I entered the company, I was impressed by the amount of product features our refrigerators and freezers have and how they facilitate the customers every day use. These are the reasons why we are market leaders in German hospitals with a market share of approximately 90 per cent.
How is the market for these products at the moment? What are the challenges and opportunities?
The market in Germany shows a solid growth. As in India, the healthcare sector is getting more and more important in many countries. Higher standards of storing sensitive goods go hand-in-hand with the growing healthcare industry. So I see good opportunities for our high quality products made in Germany. Our challenge is to guarantee highest product quality for a reasonable price. So we have to constantly improve.
What are your plans for the Indian healthcare market in 2013?
This year, we launched our new “ESSENTIAL Line”. It is designed for the Indian market, because it combines all the key features like quality and reliability for a reasonable price. I expect a positive response from our Indian customers so that this product line will play an important role in our portfolio.
How vital is the Indian market to you and how is it different vis-a-vis the global markets?
The Indian market has played an important role in our strategy to increase export activities. The market is very diverse. For some customers, the product price is very important, for others it is the state-of-the-art technology and quality. Together with our strong sales partner in India we will continue to develop the market by supplying products for different groups of buyers. We can learn a lot from doing business with India.