Quality comes first at Hirschmann™

2011-7-26

Despite a significant growth in demand for switches and their increasingly higher performance, Hirschmann^™ retains a strong focus on Quality – so that customers can be certain of getting the best possible solutions.

As a leader in industrial automation solutions, Hirschmann^™, a Belden brand, produces industrial switches and active devices at its main manufacturing location in Neckartenzlingen, Germany. The company’s global position is further enhanced by Belden’s extensive range of cabling, connectivity and cable management products, so customers are offered an unparalleled set of solutions for Industrial Ethernet networks, encompassing data cables, connectors, I/O modules, network equipment and systems for mobile automation.

Hirschmann^™ has the widest portfolio of switches, which are applied in key vertical markets including machine building, oil and gas, public transport, traffic control, alternative power generation, power transmission and distribution, data centers, professional broadcast and audio/video, safety and security, and enterprise. To serve this wide range of markets, the company manufactures a growing range of highly sophisticated switches. In 2009, the company produced an estimated 3.500 separate types of device – and since then, the volume of individual units has increased by a massive 20%. Ability to align the manufacturing capacity

According to Hans-Jürgen Springer, Director Operations, excellent customer solutions from Hirschmann^™ require a strong focus on quality: “More than ever, our business is defined by the switches we make, the customers we serve and the work environment we create for our associates. Our key strength is our ability to align our manufacturing capacity to be close to our customers and partners.

“We have adopted efficient, environmentally sound manufacturing processes and

Practices, so called LEAN manufacturing processes that help to reduce waste, and deploys energy efficient technology. The Hirschmann^™ production facilities employ a modest number of staff, who are responsible for our growing portfolio of switches, which serves the wide range of markets on which we focus.

“We only build to customer order, so there is no stock with finished goods, yet we are able to guarantee delivery within 10 days, and each switch is tested in accordance with a large number of requirements – meeting all approvals necessary for their specific application. Building to order, as we do, requires very detailed and accurate planning – and in practice it means that every week, we produce a new switch which we have never made before.

“Productivity and flexibility are key drivers for success. However, equally important is the quality of our associates. We have an ongoing training program that ensures we maintain very high levels of quality level - and motivation.

“The events of the past years have taught us a few lessons. For instance, we now know that almost everything can be done better, faster - and leaner. We have fully embraced this particular lesson, so we focus providing solutions that are cost effective and add significant value for our customers. Given the strong emphasis placed on quality, productivity and flexibility, customers can be certain that each of our switches meets the highest standards of quality – and that our overall solutions will deliver added value throughout their lifecycle.”About Belden

Belden^®: Sending All the Right Signals^™

Belden designs, manufactures and markets signal transmission solutions, including cables, connectors and I/O modules, wireless network systems as well as network devices and control, load sensing and load moment limitation systems designed for safety-critical applications ranging from industrial automation to data centers, broadcast studios and the aviation and aerospace industry. The company focuses on segments of the worldwide cable and automation markets that require both highly specialized and readily available products. With manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia, Belden has recorded a total revenue of USD 1.62 billion for the fiscal year 2010.

Together with its brands Hirschmann^™ and Lumberg Automation^™, Belden offers an extensive and highly specialized product portfolio covering the full range of data communications – from the information and control levels down to the field level. The company has more than 15 offices throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with manufacturing facilities in Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Denmark, Italy and Hungary.