Innovations need to bring value to the customer

Source： Release Date：2010-09-17 117

Correctly targeted R&D spend is always important in any economic climate, PETER GRIMLEY tells H&N

FOLLOWING two challenging years, all industries and manufacturing machinery and speciality equipment suppliers are taking stock and reviewing their strategy as they go forward. Sartorius Mechatronics, one of the leading providers of laboratory and process instrumentation and industrial scales, is amongst these companies. Peter Grimley, vice president - Sales Europe and Asia | Pacific for Sartorius Mechatronics, provides us insights on how the company is going forward and promising developments in the Food & Beverage business.

For many companies, 2009 was a challenging year to do business. What lessons are you taking from this experience and how will these re-energise your strategy in Asia-Pacific?

I think 2009 re-taught businesses a number of lessons that although perhaps not new, are well worth to remember as a guide even in the good times. Markets can be volatile and prone to change very quickly; this is especially true when considering capital items to the manufacturing industries, where market uncertainty hits first and hardest the investment projects. This will always be a fact of life, and the effects can only be lessened by having a strong plan, a solid cost base and a cohesive and attractive proposition of added values the customer wants to buy from you.

There's a general sense of optimism in the region's food & beverage manufacturing industry. What sectors do you expect to rebound more swiftly?

I think certain sectors, for example the Non Alcoholic Beverages business, have been less affected by recent events than some others and all information suggests that this area will continue to grow. I am also extremely optimistic that the dairy industry will rebound fully in 2010.

How important is R&D in a sluggish economy? Does Sartorius Mechatronics batten the hatches and hope to ride the storm, or does it do just the opposite in terms of innovation?

Correctly targeted R&D spend is always important in any economic climate. Sartorius has a long history of innovation and design excellence and this, in no small part, has lead us to a globally leading position. Certainly our view on the importance of innovation and development excellence will not change. Now is exactly the correct time to be working on innovations that bring value to the customer.

What 'targeted alliances with external partners from science and industry' are in store for the Mechatronics Division? What benefits can we expect for the food & beverage companies as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms?

In today's market conditions the ability to leverage position in technology, market position or general operating costs and operational excellence will surely come more and more from partnerships and alliances. Sartorius is not alone in continuing to develop alliances in academia and industry to compliment our own resources. However for me the most exciting and potentially fruitful future alliances are based more around the increasing cooperation and knowledge sharing between classic customer / suppliers relationships where products and services can be bespoke, or in the extreme, conceived to fit the strategic aspirations of the food producer.

What food and beverage sectors do you see taking the leap and overcoming the sluggish economy? What segments are you optimistic about?

If I look specifically to Asia I am very optimistic about the growth and future potentials in a number of sectors. Processed foods clearly continue to gain importance as consumer lifestyle, affluence and demands grow. Of course the market volume and value potentials are exciting in themselves, but I believe they will come with the real challenge foMarki