Our strength lies in cooperation

Transcription

1 Our strength lies in cooperation

2 Insulating glass also means quality of life The idea Twelve separate companies from the fields of insulating glass manufacture and glass finishing had the same vision: achieving an independent cooperation in order to concentrate their strengths, so that they could operate even more successfully on the market. That idea led in November 1995 to the creation of uniglas, a union of European glass-processing companies: a cooperative group benefiting from the experience of each partner company in the use of glass at the construction site, and from an active partnership. Since being established, its membership has grown to now 21 companies. A network of competent partners and glass specialists in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Slovenia, with almost 1,500 skilled employees and decades of practical experience. uniglas stands for innovation and technical progress, but also for the entrepreneurial spirit of every single partner company. The strength of this cooperation lies above all in the concentration of skill and experience, together with a continual transfer of technical knowledge and expertise between all the uniglas partners. Cross-company support and independence from the basic glass production industry ensure maximum flexibility when responding to client requirements of each and any type. Production locations with the very latest production and finishing equipment and a comprehensive product range enable every client need to be met however individualized it might be. 2 uniglas

3 Independence when purchasing glass The philosophy and the structure The companies involved have within uniglas the status of a partner. However, they are and will remain independent, small and medium companies engaged in insulating glass manufacture and glass finishing. As partners, their voting rights give them influence over all decisions made by the general meeting, the advisory body or the committees. All uniglas companies are independent and hence free to purchase suitable glass grades and preliminary products. The uniglas partners demonstrate strength by presenting a common appearance, and by doing so achieve the maximum possible benefit for their clients too. The most important aim of uniglas is to improve its own competitiveness and to move ahead together. Every partner of uniglas has the option of working actively in the technical committees and other committees, also covering the field of centralized marketing, and in doing so helping to determine the common course of action. The decisions and results of the committees are coordinated and implemented by the uniglas central office. The foundation for success of this cooperative arrangement is the exchange of views between the companies involved during specialized discussions and working meetings at every level: at shareholder, company manager, production director and marketing manager level. Being a uniglas partner means we can offer a wider range of products, give the client independent advice, provide a better service and benefit from very well-trained employees. Regardless of this, however, it is the technical knowledge transfer within the Group which is the best proof for a partnership that has life. Reinhard Cordes, managing director of Frerichs Glas GmbH (founder member of uniglas GmbH & Co. KG) uniglas 3

4 Our advantages at a glance: Engineering The Technical Committees continually check and improve in cooperation with the float glass industry, the suppliers and the partners the technical standards of all uniglas products. The technical managers at the uniglas central office provide expert assistance to the partners in all engineering questions, such as: n Improvement and further development of proven products n Development and launch of innovative products n Provision of specialized information n Assistance to the partners in all engineering questions n Technical inspections, also in cooperation with specialized institutions n Provision of all relevant inspection certificates n Assistance in quality assurance monitoring, both in-house and external n Documentation of agreed quality standards for preliminary products n Preparation of tender texts for architects and planners n Creating of processing guidelines for all uniglas products n Development of software programs for a wide variety of applications n Technical newsletter on important changes and information Training Further training of its employees is another important pillar of uniglas cooperation. This is why courses, seminars and workshops relating to the subjects of glass, consulting and sales are regularly offered by the uniglas Academy and are also highly popular. With targeted qualification measures like this, uniglas is setting new standards for the technical expertise of all the cooperation partners. The training measures available include the following subjects and areas: n Technical training courses on flat glass (basic and advanced courses) n Specialized technical courses on specific topics n Seminars on current regulations and standards n Practically minded workshops matching current needs n Specialized seminars for production management, employees in job scheduling etc. n Exchange of experiences and specialized seminar for dispatch managers n Teaching of communications techniques n Sales and marketing courses n Seminars and workshops for a wide range of requirements 4 uniglas

5 marketing The Marketing Committee adopts a standardized market and advertising approach for uniglas to ensure that the skills and the strength of the cooperative group are perceived by the public. It develops marketing measures tailored to the needs of the partners. The marketing managers at uniglas central office implement the target agreements and support the partners with expert advice in all marketing questions. Examples of this might be: n Planning and coordination of marketing activities n Writing of brochures and informative texts on the products n Writing of press releases and reports in specialist media n Writing and placing of product and image advertisements n Public relations work and information on market-relevant events n Writing and publishing project reports of the partners n Centralized handling of targeted sales promotion measures n Design of trade fair stands and product displays for in-house shows n Joint appearance of uniglas at trade fairs (BAU, fensterbau/frontale, glasstec etc.) n Designing and updating of the website n Continuously informing all partners about a common Intranet platform n All materials of our print communication and brochures in various languages (incl. our Website) Guarantees for the clients As part of its obligation to all clients and partners, uniglas has established a guarantee fund for all its partners. With the uniglas guarantee fund, which is a dedicated solidarity fund, we ensure that recognized demands from clients of a partner arising from a guarantee obligation are met even if that partner is no longer solvent. uniglas products are CE certified and comply with all requirements of the Construction Products Directive of the European Commission. For our core business, the manufacture of functional insulating glass, what s crucial for success on the market is the so-called differentiation strategy: distinguishing ourselves from competitors by a better product quality, by faster delivery and by better applications consultancy and service quality in general. In all these points, active membership in uniglas cooperative group offers us enormous added value, in the form of knowhow transfer, technical support and development, marketing skills and specialized training. Klaus Köhler, managing director of KÖWA Isolierglas GmbH (partner of uniglas GmbH & Co. KG since 2006) uniglas 5

6 Strength lies in cooperation Our strength your success uniglas is an independent cooperative group of small and medium companies providing services to its partners, and thereby contributing to the success and welfare of every member. The most important advantages, briefly summarized: n uniglas has established itself on the market as a dynamic industrial brand n Partnership-based product development and training ensure innovation and maximum quality standards n Assistance to the glass processing companies by professional and centralized marketing n Qualified technical consultancy and a comprehensive training program ensure a high level of expertise for all partners uniglas enables its partners to concentrate on the essentials, and by doing so it provides them with an edge on the market plus more time for innovation and development. uniglas has succeeded in creating an alliance which is beneficial to all. Our cooperation partners and their clients are offered economic and sales-oriented added value. That added value is the guarantee for joint success. Client orientation and client satisfaction are the most important factors necessary to survive on the market in the long term. Knowledge transfer in uniglas and joint information and developments help us here every day. Heinz Schneider, managing director of uniglas and Glas Schneider GmbH & Co. KG (founder member of uniglas GmbH & Co. KG) 6 uniglas

7 General meeting 2015 in Brussels, Belgium UNIGLAS at a glance EGGER GLAS Isolier- und Sicherheitsglaserzeugung GmbH A-8212 Pischelsdorf Ertl Glas Steklo, proizvodnja stekla d.o.o. SI-1310 Ribnica D. FLINTERMANN GmbH & Co. KG D Salzbergen FRERICHS Glas GmbH D Verden (Aller) Glas Ceyssens Group BE-3550 Heusden-Zolder GLAS MARTE GmbH A-6900 Bregenz GLAS SCHNEIDER GmbH & Co. KG D Hachenburg GLASINDUSTRIE BEN EVERS B.V. NL-5482 TN Schijndel HENZE-GLAS GmbH D Hörden am Harz HOHENSTEIN ISOLIERGLAS GmbH D Redekin KÖWA Isolierglas GmbH D Wackersdorf KUNTE Glas GmbH & Co. KG D Nordhausen Martens Glasindustrie N.V. B-2321 Hoogstraten - Meer PETSCHENIG GLASTEC GmbH A-2285 Leopoldsdorf PICHLER GLAS GmbH A-4880 St. Georgen im Attergau PREUSSENGLAS GmbH D Eisenhüttenstadt J. RICKERT GmbH & Co. KG D Bocholt-Lowick SINSHEIMER Glas und Baubeschlaghandel GmbH D Sinsheim SOFRAVER S.A. CH-1754 Avry-Rosé WAPRO GmbH & Co. KG D Diedorf uniglas 7

8 The independent cooperation of Insulating Glass Manufacturers and Glass Processors UNIGLAS We offer more! n More product variety thanks to access to the entire product range of the European glass industry! n More good advice, since uniglas finds the right solution regardless of the interests of a certain grouping! n More service, since cooperation between independent insulating glass manufacturers and glass finishers is open and unrestricted. n More quality by better trained employees, since the uniglas training programme covers every aspect of our industry. uniglas GmbH & Co. KG Robert-Bosch-Straße 10 D Montabaur Telefon: +49 (0) 2602/ Fax: +49 (0) 2602/ info@uniglas.de uniglas 2/2016