Wednesday, 24 February 2010 09:28
WIKA POLSKA S.A.
PRESIDENT: Peter Koll
ESTABLISHED: 1916
EMPLOYEES: 970
www.wikapolska.pl
WIKA is the global leader in the production of pressure and temperature measurement solutions. Its leading position in the market is due to long-lasting experience and extensive knowledge which have been gained continuously over the course of past decades. Today, WIKA customers can benefit from a wide range of products and services which extensively cover all applications. WIKA measuring instruments are applicable almost everywhere, for example, in machine construction, pneumatics, hydraulics, gas supply, welding engineering, heating construction or medical sector. Written by Marcin Zimny
Exceptional offer within striking distance
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Located in the Polish town of Włocławek, WIKA Polska S.A. is currently part of the internationally acclaimed corporation leading in the manufacture of pressure and temperature measurement equipment. In December 2000 Polish plant Kujawska Fabryka Manometrów KFM S.A. (The Kuyavian Pressure Gauges Factory) was taken over by WIKA Alexander Wiegand GmbH & Co. WIKA Polska S.A., a name given to the spin-off towards the end of 2007, is therefore an integrated part of the WIKA family. The enterprise is the continuation of a 90-year-old tradition of the KFM brand, which was originated in 1916. In day-to-day business the company focuses on the manufacture of analogue pressure gauges which are globally distributed from Poland. As its second activity, WIKA has set out to offer full measuring equipment service to local customers. While the enterprise is the producer of a well-known and recognized KFM brand, WIKA Polska is also one of the biggest companies in the WIKA group. It draws upon the latest developments both in technology and business and, what’s more, for a couple of years it has been using the Kaizen management system, thus making a steady improvement in manufacturing processes as well as quality of products and customer service. For the most demanding sector, a medical business, it set up Medical Focus Factory, a special section which produces pressure gauges for the medical sector, for which the quality translates into health and patient’s life. Many years of experience, as the company claims, played a decisive role in the assumption of leadership in the manufacture of control and measurement devices and regular workforce expansion gave it eleven times larger turnover in comparison to that when the company was formed in 2000. In 2008 more than 23 million devices left the assembly line of WIKA Polska. The philosophy of WIKA is based on comprehensive offer. Thanks to a wide spectrum of products, the company is capable of adjusting its offer to specific needs of customers. Comprising almost every possible device for pressure and temperature measurement, WIKA offer is an attractive alternative. Arranged into four product types, it includes analogue devices (Bourdon pressure gauges, bimetallic and gas thermometers), electronic pressure measurement devices (pressure sensors, pressure control units, pressure transducers featuring level reduction option, programmable transducers with Hart and Profibus protocol), industrial processes measurement devices (stainless steel Bourdon pressure gauges, steam pressure gauges, diaphragm pressure gauges, bimetallic and gas thermometers, diaphragm seal, pressure transducers, resistance thermometers and thermocouples, thermowells, temperature transmitters) and Calibration Technology (pressure and temperature calibration devices).
Part of your business
WIKA products are components integrated into businesses of company’s customers. This is why the company considers itself to be not only a supplier of measurement components but also a competent partner that offers comprehensive solutions in close co-operation with customers. The standard of quality plays an essential role against this background. The quality level decides how reliable plants or machines are. Customers all over the world can be certain that they get uncompromised quality in all respects. This, in turn, is ensured by technologically sophisticated products for precise, reliable measurement. It is the quality that attracts many customers, therefore WIKA propagates a customer-oriented approach in business. Part of your business, a guiding principle of WIKA, is directed towards company’s fundamental philosophy to foster close relationships with customers in order to achieve common aims through partnership and co-operation. As Alexander Wiegand, WIKA CEO, declares, it is “a philosophy that we pursue day after day.” On the other hand, optimal closeness means choosing the right location. That is why WIKA is represented all over the world by numerous subsidiaries and trading agencies that service company’s customers on site, as they are familiar with local business and the respective country-specific requirements, standards and applications. This network of subsidiaries is expanded step by step, which means both creating new locations as well as increasing the degree of service provided locally to meet the growing demands of customers all over the world in the future. Customer confidence building is a long-term process requiring a lot of effort and dedication. In WIKA’s case, the involvement in improving quality and the associated processes has significantly contributed to boost the customer trust. Confirmed by certificates ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, ISO 14001, quality improving measures are the company’s strategic aim. Within the last few years the enterprise has become synonymous with advanced pressure and temperature measurement solutions. The implementation of innovative technologies through reliable products paved the way for the most extensive offer of top-notch measurement equipment.
WIKA Polska, as a pressure gauges production centre, feels obliged to follow global trends in logistics. Polish market, which is undergoing a tremendous change, frequently draws upon the world’s best models in each and every aspect of business, a feature which is particularly easy to observe in logistics. The abundance of corporations calls for the growth in qualitative requirements in respect of supply chain management. Such circumstances impose new requirements on suppliers, hence Intelligent Supply Network or VMI solutions, consignment stocks, are merely some of the modern supply chain management systems which WIKA incorporated to its day-to-day business. Besides, in order to live up to customers’ expectations, the company develops own solutions which are tailored to specific needs of customers.
Success through qualification
As an international corporation, WIKA can boast a healthy growing professional environment with a clear strategic orientation, quick decision-making processes and an exemplary corporate culture that is characterized by the mutual respect and team spirit of all WIKA employees ranging from apprentices to chief executive. As a result, the company’s potential comes straight from highly motivated employees that show dedication, follow common aims and stand by their principles to take the road forward. Out of over five thousand employees in the whole WIKA group, a thousand of them work in Poland. According to the company policy, standing still is a step backwards. That is why its employees participate in numerous training through further education and training programs to gain qualifications and meet continuously growing demands imposed by the international markets. For example, thanks to special initiatives and projects realized by the Polish subsidiary such as “Investment in people: the basis for new KFM organizational culture” which has been under implementation since 2005, WIKA aims to bring more attention to employees working in a spectrum of different positions. The company also organizes picnics and contests for employees, subsidizes a local football team as well as publishes a newsletter “Manowieści”, where the staff can read the latest news from the company. And last but not least, owing to extensive training programs and internships, the firm’s would-be executives are prepared in the best possible way. Everything is done with a view to offering the first class performance with no ifs and buts.
Certified quality
While recalling significant distinctions received in the last decade, it is important to note that the firm’s quality assurance management system has been certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949:2002. What’s more, as an ecologically orientated enterprise with global presence, WIKA has been successfully certified according to the internationally recognized ISO 14001 environmental management system. As for some recent achievements, however, the company can boast iF product design award for electronic measuring instrument. The iF product design award is one of the most renowned and established design contests. For 55 years the iF design award has been an acknowledged brand worldwide when it comes to excellence in design. As an established manufacturer of the most up-to-date pressure measuring technology, the functional aspects are always at the heart of the product development. With this year’s award from iF, this has now been impressively underlined. The evaluation criteria for the iF product design award include design quality, workmanship, choice of materials, degree of innovation, environmental approach, functionality, ergonomics, visualization of use, safety, brand value, branding and universal design. Upon a thorough examination it seems that WIKA, with its top quality products, enormous human potential, location in 35 countries and international certification, connotes the high quality, reliability and flexibility, factors significantly contributed to the overall success of the company.
