Monday 8 April 2024

Hörmann celebrates 45 years in the UK

Hörmann celebrates another major milestone this year, with 2024 marking 45 years since the company first opened its doors for business in the UK.

Looking back to 1979 when the company moved into its first warehouse and offices in Whetstone, Leicester, it is hard for most of us to recall that time, in fact, many readers may not have even been born.

1979 was a year when the UK faced considerable industrial unrest with the Winter of discontent, Margaret Thatcher became the first woman Prime Minster, Tim Martin opened the first J D Wetherspoon pub in London and McDonalds introduced the Happy Meal.

However, throughout all of the challenges and events in the following years and decades Hörmann has remained committed to its UK operations and in that time has developed many long, mutually beneficial partnerships both in the domestic and industrial markets.

So as the company celebrates its Sapphire Anniversary, it is perhaps apt to reflect on what makes Hörmann such a well-respected and trusted brand within the marketplace.

There is little doubt that Hörmann UK has benefited from being part of a large multinational Group, which after 80 years in business they are still 100% family-owned.

This means that the Group can operate with a view to the long term, can choose their objectives and make their own decisions in the way they run the company without interference from outside stakeholders.

The Group is now run by the fourth generation and maintains its core values of running an ethically sound, resilient business that recognizes environmental concerns and places sustainable manufacture at the centre of its activities.

This provides the UK operation with a strong and stable platform for running its business and provides the market with a long-term, dependable partner.

Hörmann UK have a simple strategy, to continue doing what they are well known for -  an undoubted well-earned reputation for quality products and high levels of service, together with the ability to go that ‘extra mile’ that they like to describe as the ‘Hörmann Difference.’

For the domestic garage and entrance door market, this has meant a constant drive to lead the field in terms of product choice and innovation.

Its range is second to none and consists of everything that dealers and end consumers could need, with a concentration on creating a range of ‘fitter friendly’ products for their dealer network and the guarantee of long-term reliability and problem-free operation.

Not the cheapest on the market, but always offering ‘value for money’ and the guarantee of a high quality, well-engineered product.

Over the years this wide-ranging product portfolio has been well supported in the market and now has an enviable brand presence.

Recent years have seen the company adopting new and creative methods to communicate with the end consumer market and drive sales through to its dealer network.

Whether it be through its Partner Standard programme, eye-catching social media campaigns, the Installer Rewards initiative, or the more traditional methods of marketing support Hörmann UK work hard to position itself at the forefront of the market by producing effective and creative campaigns.

In recent years Hörmann has also expanded its product range in both the industrial and domestic sectors whilst still keeping true to its key business principles.

The launch of the Hörmann Truedor range of composite doors in May 2023 has opened up the opportunity for dealers to supply the market with competitively priced, quality doors and creates a one-stop-shop for entrance doors whether it be for composite, steel, or premium aluminium doors.

On the industrial side of the business, the acquisition of the Fen-Bay group in 2021 has seen a huge increase in the company’s service and maintenance capacity.

It now operates a service team of over 100  engineers on the road, available 24/7, 365 days a year. The acquisition has also given the company access to additional loading bay and lifting solutions and has enabled it to create a specialist Perimeter Protection division.

Looking forward sustainable manufacturing will most certainly play a major part in the company’s continued growth, an area in which it has firm plans to innovate and improve.

Hörmann has been an early adopter of solar power and renewable energy, with 100% of the electricity requirements of all of their European production sites now using green electricity.

With intelligent and certified energy management systems, the saving and upcycling of packaging, the recycling of all reusable materials, and the use of recycled paper, more than 75000 tons of CO2 are saved each year.

In addition, any remaining emissions generated are offset by promoting renewable energy, forest protection and reforestation projects in cooperation with ClimatePartner.

A first for any garage door manufacturer is the installation of a trial Hydrogen Power Plant at the company’s sectional door manufacturing facility in Ichtershausen, Germany.

If successful, the trial will be upscaled and will lead to similar installations across other European plants.

The company is also proud to be the first and only construction component manufacturer to offer CO2 neutral garage doors, entrance doors and residential internal doors.

As 2024 looks like it’s going to shape up to be a challenging year, Hörmann is well-placed to weather the storm.

It is a resilient company that is committed to the UK, its customers and to creating a successful, sustainable future for everyone.





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