Strong synergy drawn from an ideal union

Since mid 2009, the Fr鋘kische corrugator types FDC and FMC are only available from UNICOR GmbH in Hassfurt. UNICOR has taken over, as already reported, the machinery sales activities, the spare parts service and the after sales service from Fr鋘kische Rohrwerke in Koenigsberg, Bavaria. Mr. Klaus Kaufmann, UNICOR抯 managing director, shared with the International Plastics News for Asia (IRNA) some insights into the current business situation of the corrugated pipe-extrusion systems manufacturer.

IRNA

: UNICOR has decided to take over the manufacture of and technical assistance for Fr鋘kische corrugators. This was a big surprise, especially in your industrial sector. What has driven you to go for this union? Kaufmann: This deal with Fr鋘kische has united two market leading corrugated pipe-extrusion systems manufacturers. As a result, technological synergy effects which are of a huge importance for corrugated pipe manufacturers in the world, have been created. UNICOR and its new additional brand 揢NICOR Fr鋘kische Corrugators?have become, due to unique and complementing patents, a warranty for machines which are of outstanding class in economic efficiency, performance and pipe quality. This is the idea I had in mind before the agreement with Fr鋘kische. And we have achieved this with all advantages included for our customers.

IRNA

: How did the market react to this merger? Kaufmann: You probably can imagine what sensation was stirred by the takeover of the machinery business from Fr鋘kische. This was not only a surprise for the competitors, but also for the pipe producers. A new power, which had not existed before, has been created due to this union. Finally, all well-known European corrugated pipe producers have become part of our customers. When I consider the feedback until now, we can say that the union has been seen very positively on the market and furthermore, I would like to emphasise this, the integration of the machinery business of Fr鋘kische into UNICOR has even been very warmly welcomed. Thus, I am very optimistic that UNICOR together with Fr鋘kische will extend their importance in the market, and yield to advantages for the pipe producers.

IRNA

: What exactly are these advantages? Kaufmann: Please let me begin by firstly having a look at the existing customers of Fr鋘kische. For them it is of tremendous importance to get clarity as to where they will stand in the future in terms of more qualified after sales service and original spare parts, but also with regard to new investments. It was the most important point for us, to be a professional partner in the long term and to give them the contact persons they have been familiar with in UNICOR. Overall, we took over six experts from Fr鋘kische in the sales department, construction and in the service department. Thus, we guarantee all existing Fr鋘kische customers, as well as all future UNICOR Fr鋘kische customers, our quick, worldwide after sales service and the delivery of the well known Fr鋘kiscSNEAKERS