Page 38 - KWH Group – Annual Review 2016

Collaboration and automation are the keysThe Company has actively and successfully developed a close working relationship with several major players, and has earned an ex- cellent reputation as the most reliable and most innovative supplier in the water trap sector. As a result, it is a market leader in its sector in Scandinavia. The Company’s sales amounted to EUR 27.1 (21.0) million. 88% of the Company’s output is exported from Fin- land. The products are delivered either di- rectly from the factory in Finland or via the Prevex central warehouse in Austria.Production takes place on highly-automated production lines and cells. The workforce plays an active role in ensuring quality, with the aim of constantly improving quality assur- ance for both products and deliveries, as well as the quality of process monitoring and man- agement. Prevex protects the environment by continuously working to reduce the environ- mental impact of its production. Both start- ing points and goals are rmly rooted in the Company’s quality and environment policies. The Company’s operations are certi ed under the ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2001 qual- ity and environmental management systems.The sales organisation has been enhancedAt the end of the year, the Company em- ployed 231 people as against 125 at the same point in the previous year. The average num- ber employed was 198 (127). The increase is largely due to a corporate acquisition.The Company has continued to strengthen its sales organisation, which is based on its own sales force covering Finland, Scandina- via, Poland, France, Italy and Spain, as well as sales agents in Poland and Central Europe.Prevex has been particularly active at trade fairs such as the ISH Fair in Frankfurt and a number of wet-room fairs in Scandinavia.Prevex introduced a whole new way of think- ing when it launched the new bathroom wa- ter trap model – Easy Clean. The product has been warmly received, and sales are ex- pected to rise. The major advantage of this water trap is easy cleaning.Winkiel –design products for EuropeIn June 2016, Prevex took the rst step in op- erating a production unit with its own mar- keting and sales, located in a major market and in an optimal geographical location with respect to the European market. Prevex pur- chased the family-owned company, Winkiel Sp.z.o.o., Based in Poznan, Poland.Winkiel manufactures and markets injec- tion-moulded products in the heating, ven- tilation and sanitation sector, specializing in water traps for kitchens, designer bathroom products and designer drain covers for vari- ous shower solutions.The company has a strong position in the Pol- ish market and annual sales of around PLN 20 million. At the close of the year, Winkiel employed 95 people. The acquisition means that we can offer both existing and new cus- tomers competitive, high-quality products.Positive outlook – continued growthPrevex has continued to invest to create pro table growth, EUR 6.3 (4.6) million in to- tal. Despite the current economic climate, growth is expected in 2017. Prevex is cur- rently in an exciting phase where growth is tangible and signi cant.36