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To further support our endeavours, we already started
intercultural training sessions in August 2011. Employ-
ees working very close together with other Group loca-
tions were trained to understand why communication
with other cultures may sometimes be difficult. People
were made aware that other companies also have their
own mentalities, histories and values.
Our focus lies now on strengthening the Group identity in
order to establish a common basis. This basis is the sum
of all companies’ values which we need to advance.
Of course, we have already made steps ahead. We have
established regular Group-wide meetings with our syn-
ergy teams. Different specific topics are discussed in
these meetings and this helps to strengthen the whole
team. With the help of modern video conference sys-
tems, we are able to bring together the representatives
of all locations so they can update each other regularly.
Another useful tool is the intranet which we have installed
centrally for the employees all over the world.
The process shall take place not only internally, but shall
be perceived also externally. Therefore, there will only be
one central sales representing the HF MIXING GROUP
and selling products to our customers as a package
solution from the entire Group. Furthermore, we have our
technical centre which is at home in Freudenberg, but is
constructed for the products of all business units of the
batch mixing area. So customers can assure themselves
of the entire Group’s positive synergy effects and com-
petence in systems in only one place.
Mixing Together:
What is the Board of Management's
further agenda with the motto ‘One team – one passion’?
Mark Meulbroek:
The HF MIXING GROUP consists of
their employees. They are the essence of the Group.
Therefore, we want them to passionately stand for this
name. It is about the big picture and no longer about the
individual companies. We create passion by never-
theless letting competences and responsibilities remain
in the individual companies. Only that will produce motiv-
ation and identification in each of us and only in that way
will each employee be willing to commit himself/herself
passionately to his/her work. With this passion, we will
succeed in keeping and extending our position as the lead-
ing innovator.
Our goal across all business units is to provide our cus-
tomers with the best possible solution. For doing so, it is
sometimes necessary to take a step back and let others
go ahead – always for the good of the HF MIXING
GROUP. Our passion is not the individual machine, but
the best package solution. We want to accompany and
support our customer during the entire life cycle pro-
cess. This can only be achieved when working as a
team!
Mixing Together:
Which changes are necessary in 2013
for ensuring that the merger will work (also in the future)?
Mark Meulbroek:
This year’s focus is not so much the
changes but the new strategy that follows thereafter. Our
concern is to implement, live and follow up on this
strategy. We have established something that employ-
ees and customers can rely on in equal manner. Our goal
now is to consolidate the entire HF MIXING GROUP and
to increase the common efficiency, as per the approach:
‘1+1+1=4’.
Mixing Together:
What is your personal message to the
employees across the globe?
Mark Meulbroek:
At the end of the day, we need to
wonder which part of our actions creates value and be-
nefit for our customers and as a result creates value for
the entire HF MIXING GROUP. This must be our central
motivation. Only then is our passion real and has an ef-
fect – because one thing is certain: as soon as products,
services and new structures are worth something to our
customers, then they are of value for us as well. For this
reason, my personal message is: let’s follow customer-
orientated group targets, avoid competing with each
other, work as a team and win as a team for the customers
and for the HF MIXING GROUP!
‘As soon as products, services and
new structures are worth something
to our customers, then they are of
value for us as well.’
‘The integration of all companies is no
individual action or kick-off meeting on
which is worked only once and then
everything would go alone. This is work,
and this is a challenge for all of us!’
