Andreas Haimer, MD, Haimer GmbH & President of the Haimer Group
You found the sales and service subsidiary at Pune in 2007, how are you planning to expand further in the subcontinent suing IMTEX as a catalyst?
By now the HAIMER standard products made in Germany such as the 3D Sensors, high precision tool holders and shrink or balancing technology have been well accepted and established throughout the Indian subcontinent. However, now it is time for HAIMER India to proceed with high-end products and prove to our customers that HAIMER offers unique solutions in terms of productivity and customer orientation.
Visitors can especially be excited about HAIMER Power Mill solid carbide endmills and the revolutionary Duo-Lock™ system which will celebrate its Indian premiere during IMTEX.
With the help of IMTEX we will be able to introduce the new hig- end solutions much easier to the Indian market. Since it attracts a large domestic and international participation it is considered an excellent opportunity to form important alliances and partnerships as well as to develop a vast vendor and customer base throughout India and overseas.
What has been your experience since the instating of the new government in India? Please state whether the policies or initiatives have benefitted you so far?
Within the last few years the Indian economic growth has slowed down significantly. Since the Indian government has changed recently, many people believe that the Indian economy will be able to recover soon. I, too, am of the opinion that the prsent administration has some very good ideas and has already introduced some important steps in order to improve the current business conditions. However, it might take some time and effort for India’s economy to fully recover. In the long run, we have a lot of confidence in the huge growth potential of the Indian market.
How will IMTEX contribute towards gaining necessary confidence in today’s uncertain market condition?
An exhibition is always a good indication regarding the market situation. It can be a reflection of the current economy, but at the same time it can also be the initiator for new developments and trends within the market. As we participate at over 50 international exhibitions each year we often see that an important show/ event can be a turning point in a stagnant economy as it initiates investments and establishes confidence among important decision makers. I hope this proves true for IMTEX as well and that the recovery of the economy will be accelerated. By participating at IMTEX 2015 all exhibitors, especially global players are proving that they are committed to the Indian economy and want to expand their businesses.
As a participant what are your expectations from the show?
Of course, we do have high expectations participating in such a global event like IMTEX. Participating in this exhibition is a great opportunity to show new and existing customers what HAIMER has to offer and to establish our latest innovations. Each year we try to give every customer a short, compact overview of our complete product range and at the same time we try to focus on some specific products we think are suitable for Indian demands. This time, for example, we will introduce our latest shrink fit machine for the Indian market, the PC Mini. It is a machine with an outstanding price-performance ratio, 100% Made by HAIMER in Germany. This is a statement we care about very much since Made in Germany and Made by HAIMER are core values of our company philosophy and reasons for our superior quality of our products.
How do exhibitions like IMTEX help identify and solve challenges faced by the metal cutting tools industry?
Events like IMTEX are very important to us. The Haimer Group participates in more than 50 international exhibitions each year, as we want to be close to our customers and listen to their ideas. But, at the same time, exhibitions also give a clear overview about the current market situation and the market’s demands. Exhibitions are the place to meet with customers, exchange ideas and find out more about their individual challenges. For example, the need for our patented cutting tool pullout protection Safe-Lock™ was customer specific and challenged us to find an appropriate solution. This example shows that direct interaction and dialogue with the customers is still one of the most important source for inspiration and development. IMTEX provides us with the opportunity to talk to industry professionals and find out what their demands are.
