interCo Success Story „made in Germany"
12.10.2009
In spite of the recession, the medical products manufacturer interCo is extending its production site and creating new jobs. The provider of complex, paediatric rehabilitation solutions is thus setting a clear signal and significantly expanding its production in Germany in contrast to many other companies in the sector.
While there is great uncertainty in numerous German companies due to the current economic situation, the company interCo domiciled in Eitorf/Sieg has decided to show the recession a cold shoulder. The positive development in recent years has been completely in accordance with the motto "attack is the best defence" and the expansion of the production site planned for a long time has been realised within a few months. A new hall extension with two levels now provides additional 600 m² for a total production area of more than 2000 m².
There was a particular focus on the expansion of the storage area, the core of the company. Due to the numerous individual solutions which interCo provides, there are more than 2,000 various individual parts in addition to many demonstration products in the storage area. For example, the dynamic AKTIVLINE seating system - a patented product specially suitable for patients with cerebral movement disorders - already uses more than 300 individual parts; there can be severe production delays if even only one part is not available. "The warehouse is the lynchpin in our company and we have made a significant step forwards with the new structuring in order to be able to work even more quickly and efficiently in the future", is how Michael Markwald, Managing Director, proudly describes the expansion of the production area. Due to the gain in area, the shell department, the sewing shop, the cushion area and the final assembly could also be enlarged.
Something also changed on the personnel side in the course of the expansion actions. A total of 4.5 new jobs have been created and a systematic rotation of tasks with absence management has been implemented in the complete production area. Michael Markwald, Managing Director, places particular importance on the appointment of skilled personnel. Thus, only orthopaedics mechanical engineers and upholsterers work in the shell department. Following the expansion, interCo can now cover the complete product development process internally. From the product development to prototype construction, metalworking, shell construction, upholstery, sewing shop, final assembly, shipment to the complete order processing, the manufacturer of innovative rehabilitation equipment provides everything from one source and that even "made in Germany". "Over the years, we have established again and again that particular competence and flexibility are required to develop and produce high quality individual seating. Suppliers often do not have this competence and flexibility. We differentiate ourselves here from other companies by implementing the complete process independently. It is only in this way that we can provide the specialist medical trade and finally the patients with high quality solutions", explains Michael Markwald.