FRANKE DYNAMIC CHANGE

Transcription

DYNAMIC CHANGE
The GROUP
PEOPLE
ONE HOUSE, ONE STRATEGY
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
INNOVATION
ENGAGEMENT
RED DOT AWARDS AGAIN
MAKING A SPLASH
FRANKE E-PAPER 1/2013
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INNOVATION
PEOPLE
ENGAGEMENT
CONTENTS
Dynamic change
The year 2013 marks the beginning of a new era
at Franke. Six of our business areas have joined
forces in a new constellation that will boost synergies and foster easier exchange across all parts
of the Group. Each business area is committed to
excellence along the whole life cycle of the products it makes and the customers it serves. Each
has an important role to play in the Group’s value
creation.
And while stories of innovative solutions based on
hard work flow consistently from all six business
areas, the selection presented in this e-paper can
stand for many such achievements Franke is making around the globe. We invite you to use the websites, videos, and various links in this interactive
document to learn more about the dynamic world
of Franke, where fine lines, flawless manufacturing, and sustainable technologies all combine to
make your world a more rewarding experience.
The GROUP
Dynamic Change – A Message from the CEO
One House, One Strategy –
A Portrait of the Franke Group
Future Trends
KWC Purchase – A Clear Win-Win
PEOPLE
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5
8
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INNOVATION
Red Dot Awards Again –
What Belongs Together, Fits Together
A Sanitation Innovation can Break Down Silos Designed for More Casual Living
“Turn to Save” Energy
Argos Eco Tap
Take Control of your Machine!
Energy-efficient: Coffee Machine “Pura”
A New Generation of Water Management
Going the Extra Mile –
Personal Fitness, A Human Resource
Franke Polska –
“Good Employer” in an Anniversary Year
Improving Health and Safety
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ENGAGEMENT
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Making a Splash – The Environment Arena
Working with ETH Zurich
The Eco-Design Workshop
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GET INTERACTIVE!
The gray arrow
helps to navigate throughout.
Use these icons for additional links:
Vocals
Video Website
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DYNAMIC CHANGE
A
s in any period of management transition, our staff, stakeholders and customers all have a number of questions. What factors will have most impact
on our day-to-day operations? What are our greatest
challenges going forward? What strengths must we build
upon?
This short e-report focuses on innovation, an attribute that we categorically foster at Franke. By innovation, we mean the design of solutions that not only meet
the diverse needs of our customers, but also add value to
their portfolios. We mean the innovation that has driven
our company from its earliest beginnings, when Hermann
Franke transformed a modest metalworking operation
into a forward-looking company offering improved hygiene and convenience products. And innovation again
– in subsequent generations – when that “Franke spirit”
brought tremendous expansion and diversification to the
brand.
By featuring select projects and products, and the work
of several of our colleagues, we have shown innovation as
being a key drive behind dynamic change. Why? Because
by anticipating today what our markets will demand
tomorrow, we have turned our company into one of the
world’s leading provider of intelligent kitchen and washroom systems.
By promoting dynamic change, we at Franke are
able to drive forward continuous improvements year after
year. As a result, our products in all six business areas
consistently excel in functionality, design, and adherence to the principles of sustainability. Ensuring that they
continue to do so remains our primary task.
Three questions for
Alexander Zschokke
Alexander Zschokke
“WHAT ARE
OUR GREATEST
CHALLENGES
GOING FORWARD?
WHAT STRENGTHS
MUST WE BUILD
UPON?”
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The GROUP
ne House, One Strategy
O
F uture Trends
KWC: A Clear Win-Win
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One house, one strategy
Any new organizational structure poses challenges, and to integrate it seamlessly is no
easy task. But to establish and maintain a front-runner position in all our business areas –
as well as expand into new markets – we must all embrace that task.
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Franke Kitchen Systems
Franke Kitchen Systems is the world market leader in
kitchen sinks and water taps, and number two in ventilation hoods. It has factories on four continents and
employs more than 5,000 people. In a little less than 80
years, Franke’s systematic approach and forward-looking
vision for the modern kitchen turned the company from
strictly a sink manufacturer to the first name in integrated
kitchen systems, systems that are now found in over a
hundred million kitchens worldwide.
The Franke Group
5% Beverage Systems
7% Coffee Systems
6%
Washroom
Systems
32%
Foodservice
Systems
*Net sales 2012 in TCHF: 2,012.4
1% Franke Industrie AG
49%
Kitchen Systems
Marked by ageless elegance and contemporary convenience, and designed to reflect the individual lifestyles of
their owners and operators, Franke innovations make
work in the kitchen as pleasurable, hygienic and environmentally friendly as possible, and are widely viewed as
style icons. Further, Franke Kitchen Systems’ value to the
company is obvious. It is the tree trunk from which the
other Franke businesses grew, and its annual turnover
represents the largest percentage of the Group’s annual
sales.
Where are we going from here?
The Franke Kitchen Systems’ target now is to project
Franke more effectively as a kitchen systems brand with
“intelligence,” namely: where systems work so smoothly
they appear to run themselves. Products made by spe
cialized manufacturing facilities around the world are
hallmarked by the highest quality standards. In response
to the increasingly global markets, business structures,
systems, and processes are under constant review for
optimization, particularly with an eye to being more
customer-centric.
FrankE Foodservice Systems
Franke Foodservice Systems is the world’s leading pro
vider of comprehensive systems and services for the
food service industry. As greater distances habitually
covered between people’s homes and their workplaces
spurred the need for greater convenience at mealtimes,
Franke’s supply of kitchens to popular quick-service main
chain restaurants came in direct response to customer
requirements.
Franke Foodservice Systems’ delivery of products and
services supports all areas of restaurant development,
ensures the supply of spare parts and smallwares, and
provides expert technical support post-sale. The USP of
Franke Foodservice Systems continues to be the planning and construction of kitchen facilities and kitchen
equipment, product development for select customers,
security, and the whole life cycle of the restaurant op
eration. This includes technical support in the form of
a 24/7 hotline, a competent service network, and the
offer of individual consultancy in all matters that relate
to service.
The Franke Foodservice Systems’ target in 2013 is to
continue and expand our set course: to help our valued
customers enhance their businesses by insuring that
their food service installations run efficiently and troublefree at every stage of their operations’ life-cycle.
Franke Washroom Systems
Franke Washroom Systems is the leading manufacturer
and global supplier of innovative sanitary systems to
the public and semi-public sector. Systems and solutions are designed and carried out by seasoned Franke
professionals who bring technical expertise into play with
architects, contractors and building-complex planners.
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The comprehensive range of Franke Washroom Systems
components includes water management and controls,
commercial sinks and washroom facility accessories, and
hospital equipment.
Always on the ready to improve its offer of durability,
functionality and adherence to the principles of sustainability, Franke Washroom Systems branched out from
stainless steel equipment when, in 2009, it began to offer
products in Miranit, a composite granite material that
adds the attribute of versatility to the product range. With
the expansion into new materials, and several strategic
business acquisitions, Franke Washroom Systems is now
in a strong position to benefit from the ever-increasing
demand for hygiene and comfort in public places.
Franke Coffee Systems
Franke Coffee Systems has a keen focus on international
key accounts and geographical growth markets, targeting
further expansion into the various customer segments,
and catering to their specific requirements. Franke Coffee
Systems continuously strives to innovate in the field of
coffee solutions, by “going the extra mile.” That means
extending its current product portfolio of traditional
coffee- and vending machines by tapping a superb global
service network, and promoting both its specialized training offer and coffee competence consultancies.
The declared Franke Coffee Systems goal is to seek
optimal solutions that support the application of Franke
Coffee Systems technology worldwide. Applications
should continue to support high performance, fully
“The more we understand
the customer, the more
we understand their
needs, the better we can
serve them.”
Looking ahead, we aim to offer our customers a comprehensive range of products and services that includes
a high-level standard keg portfolio, in all international
norms; a specialty keg portfolio where the focus is evolving market requirements, and dependable keg service,
helping retain the value of our customers’ keg pools.
— Alexander Zschokke, CEO
automated and intuitive machines hallmarked by their
aesthetic design, that can offer a delicious cup of coffee, whatever the variation required. The Franke Coffee
Systems’ pledge is to quality – whether in the 50 cups of
coffee a day for the small business office, or the 5,000
enjoyed around the clock at a major hospital.
Franke Beverage Systems
Franke Beverage Systems is the global leader in manufacturing and selling kegs for the beverage industry: stainless
steel kegs, party kegs, and RSR kegs, those easy-to-
handle slim and space-saving models produced with a
rubber top and a bottom chime vulcanized onto the stainless steel body. Today’s business also includes the supply
of containers for the chemical and pharmaceuticals
sector, and offers an extended service from Franke Blefa
GmbH in Kreuztal, Germany. The Kreuztal facility provides
Franke with a strong position in the European market
for beer and non-alcoholic drinks in the 30–50 kilo keg
range, and serves such name brands as Heineken, Guinness, Carlsberg and Miller Coors.
Franke Industrie AG
Franke Industrie AG is the expert for hot gas path parts
used in the energy and aero (aerospace/space) sectors.
Our components are fitted into the new engines of the
leading players. Sound knowledge of the market, combined with an active and productive network, are key to
our business model. Further strengths of Franke Industrie
AG are our highly qualified employees, innovative capacity, and conviction to “go the extra mile” for our customers in the areas of forming, machining, welding, and
non-destructive testing.
Franke Foodservice Systems
Franke Washroom Systems
Franke Coffee Systems
Franke Beverage Systems
Franke Industrie AG
Contact
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future trends
“…not for change
alone, but to stay
ahead of change”.
Driving international sales
The quantum leap in foreign sales is expected to continue. Consolidated sales outside Switzerland have shown
marked gains since 1980. While in that year, sales in
other countries amounted to 69.2% of CHF 261.00 million
total sales generated, that percentage had grown to 96%
by 2012, when the company enjoyed total sales of over
CHF 2 billion.
Engineering intelligent systems
The company will commit resources to the development,
design and engineering of increasingly intuitive (“intelligent”) systems, steered by more visual icon trends, much
like those on smart phones. Such signs may make users’
manuals as we know them obsolete, inasmuch as icons
easily cross language borders and the diverse behaviors
of a broad range of demographic groups.
Cultivating customer-centric behavior
Franke will strive to make its business activities even
more customer-centric, improving its response, both to
changing designs for living and particular target group
preferences. The brand promise will be made more
visible.
Commitment to sustainability and dynamic change
There will be even greater conviction placed on the adherence to sustainability as a measure for the company’s
success. “Dynamic change” will be the thrust of our
operations in world class products and services, not for
change alone, but to stay ahead of change.
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KWC Purchase – A Clear Win-Win
In deciding to buy Swiss tap manufacture KWC in early
April, the Franke Group not only boosts its core competency in water management, but also strengthens its
market presence in Switzerland. The acquisition underscores Franke’s research and development capability in
the kitchen and bathroom taps sector, and diversifies
the company’s existing washroom portfolio. By the same
token, Franke offers the long-established KWC brand additional growth potential.
“The management team and all our
dedicated workforce are looking
forward to developing KWC as part
of the Franke Group.”
— Roland Gloor, CEO of KWC
KWC
Franke Press Release
Contact
KWC, the Swiss market leader in the world of taps, is
renowned for the fine quality, advanced technology, and
striking design of its products. CEO Roland Gloor and the
rest of his management team will be continuing with KWC
to insure a seamless transition into the Franke group.
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INNOVATION
ed Dot Awards Again…
R
What belongs together fits together
A Sanitation Innovation can Break Down Silos
Design for More Casual Living
“Turn to Save” energy
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RED DOT AWARDS AGAIN…
The innovative products described in this next section nicely demonstrate Franke’s
commitment to energy efficiency, modern convenience and striking design.
FRANKEE-PAPER
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What belongs together, fits together
Franke Kitchen Systems has high-end stainless
steel competence that develops, produces, and
distributes Franke products around the world.
From 2003, no less than seven red dot awards
have been conferred on our innovative solutions,
and for 2013, two Franke products received that
prestigious trade distinction: first, the Eisinger
Design-Line, and second, the Franke Sinos, both
of which were Aarburg developments.
“…ONLY THE WHOLE
TEAM WORKING
CLOSELY TOGETHER
MAKES IT POSSIBLE…”
— Myria Aeschbacher,
Marketing Communications,
Myria Aeschbacher, responsible at Aarburg for
Franke Kitchen Systems Marketing Communications, explained the process of “red dot award”
product selection in brief. Products and their descriptions – often even prototypes – are submitted to the jury, which, if interested, asks for more
comprehensive information. The criteria used for
the final assessment are not published, but here’s
a good idea of what they might include: a product
has a good development “story”, and presents
– in pure, clean lines – a form that nicely follows
function.
When asked what interests her most about working in Franke Kitchen Systems, Myria Aeschbacher answers: “It fascinates me to see something so
beautiful made out of something so simple. Only
the whole team working closely together makes
it possible, and we all get to share the excitement.” As for the many red dot awards over the
years? “I would guess,” she says, “that they prove
that things are really moving and dynamic here.
And each is a symbol that says we’re on the right
track.”
Sinos “Enjoy Friends”
Contact
Red Dot Award
Red Dot for sinos
The Sinos recently took a coveted “red
dot” award that stands for compelling
aesthetic form, well-conceived innovation, and ground-breaking functionality.
Sinos was commended for design according to EcoDesign guidelines, and
for adherence to sustainablity throughout its entire process, from choice
of materials, to production, and right
through to packaging.
The Sinos line uses the materials of today with a retro profile that has tremendous emotional appeal, and it offers
both visual and practical advantages.
Visual, because the relatively short
drains fit easily into its family of kitchen
components, and because all elements
– including the tap and the Clean Sink
System – work so well together in the
overall kitchen concept. And practical,
because the water flows off without the
slightest interference, so neither calcium marks nor water splashes are left
behind. Further, exclusive to this product, the cutting board is sanitized with
anti-bacterial material. And whether it
concerns the dishwashing liquid dispenser, cutting board, drainer, or bowl,
the Sinos accessories handsomely com
plement the overall look.
As with all Franke products, everything
that belongs together, fits together.
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A Sanitation innovation can break down silos
The innovative Franke Foodservice Systems products featured below offer
promising opportunities for cross-pollination with the other Franke business areas.
A revolutionary new application
Contamination of ice used to cool food
products is one of the most obvious risks
in foodservice operations. Bacteria, yeast
and mold can “infect” the ice while it is
being made. So, too, can operators’
hands and/or unsanitary utensils affect
hygiene once the ice has come out of the
machine.
The Franke Ec03Ice Sanitation Device is a
compact and safe ozone generator whose
technology continuously treats incoming water used by ice machines to fully
sanitize the water, evaporator, ice path,
and related ice bins. The result is a vastly
reduced risk of foodborne illnesses, removal of unpleasant odors from ice, and a
dramatic reduction in the number of times
ice machines have to be cleaned.
The patented diamond electrolytic process
used in the device has already gained
kudos in the industry. In early May, 2012,
the EcO3Ice Sanitation Device won the
2012 Kitchen Innovation Award presented
by the National Restaurant Association,
Hotel-Motel show in Chicago.
Powerful as bleach, but safe as water
Using the same revolutionary, patented
diamond electrolysis cell as our awardwinning EcO3Ice Sanitation technology,
the EcO3Spray Sanitizing Spray Bottle
turns ordinary tap water into a powerful
sanitizer for use on hard surfaces throughout the foodservice operation. It's faster
and more effective than chlorine, yet has
none of the harsh odors or residue.
Based at Franke Foodservice Systems in
Chicago, VP of Business Development
Greg Richards, says Franke has the rights
to this revolutionary industrial diamond
technology for food service applications,
but he sees a future in the technology’s
commercial applications across the entire
Franke Group. And the dialogue has
started; he recently welcomed a colleague
from Franke Kitchen Systems, Aarburg,
who came to discuss the future of applications in his business area.
take a look!
Franke – Featured Products
EcO3Ice at NRA Show 2013
EcO3Spray at NRA Show 2013
Contact
Franke Foodservice Systems’ innovative equipment, technology, and service solutions
im

prove restaurant operations and enhance
the dining experience of Franke customers’
patrons.
EcO3Ice Sanitation Technology
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designed for more casual living
What symbolizes the greatest change in the kitchen
environment over the past thirty years? “The room open
ing up,” says Massimo Vismara, Franke Kitchen Systems.
Where family and guests were once seated in the living-
or dining room while the cook prepared dinner out of
sight, hungry friends today are apt to be found drifting
casually in and out of an open plan kitchen. They might
bring their drinks with them to entertain whoever’s cooking, or the cook might come out to join guests or kids
before the meal. Just as the bathroom landscape has
become a design for more casual living – a place where
conversations may transpire in a niche near the bath – so
have the physical boundaries of the kitchen broken down
to give way to more exchange and animation among
those of us who like to eat!
The myMenu line makes it easy
A second phenomenon will soon radically change the
face of the kitchen once more: a new method of cooking that combines simplicity with professional results.
Franke’s myMenu oven line opens up a host of possibilities. Its “smart” technology plays a dynamic part in the
the preparation of food: By means of remote management, food fans can preheat and time dishes you want to
enjoy when you get home, choose a menu to personalize
your cooking preferences, list the amount of ingredients
relative to the number of guests, enter feedback from
those at the table, and store recipes for future reference.
“The myMenu line makes cooking intuitive and easy, just
like the the iconic operation of the Smart phone whose
instructions set the kitchen’s remote operations in
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motion,” says Massimo Vismara. Another striking inno
vation is the new DCT, the acronym for dynamic cooking
technology that Franke has designed to revolutionize
oven cooking. In DCT, the appliance’s traditional rear
heating element gives way to three combined wire elements that are controlled electronically, making for both
better management of heat and greater precision in
directing it. Et bon appétit!
A welcome link to better hygiene
For many years in the company’s history, the Franke
story revolved around just the sink. At the center of all
operations and aspirations for the kitchen, the sink was
the mainstay of Franke’s business, and enjoyed that
spotlight until well into the 1940s. Today, more than a
hundred year’s experience and service have paved the
way for water management and energy saving components, both in sinks and entire systems. Franke produces
conveniences in elegant, streamlined designs that our
forefathers could never have dreamed of!
Today’s kitchens, by contrast, are a place of experience
and exchange, in no small part because of innovations
that simplify what goes on in them. Customers want
kitchen systems that assure them ease in handling and
cleaning, but that also function as a calling card for social
interaction and pleasurable experience overall. Franke
components are renowned for meeting these criteria,
and it is expected that sales of even its high-end hygiene
product, Clean Sink System, will continue to gain momentum in 2013.
“The myMenu line makes cooking
intuitive and easy, just like the iconic
operation of the Smart phone…”
— Massimo Vismara, Marketing Communications Manager,
MyMenu Oven Line
Clean Sink System
(in German)
Franke at Eurocucina 2012
Contact
Dynamic Cooking Technology
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“turn to save” energy
A prize-winning tap, high performance coffee machines, and innovations that manage water
efficiently – these are among Franke products that point to the next generation of convenience.
ARGOS ECO TAP
Among other Franke products, the Argos Eco tap received the prestigious Red Dot Award in 2013. A juried
seal of quality, the Red Dot’s internationally recognized
and well respected label generates broad media attention
for any product, raising the level of awareness and ensuring that the brand is associated with excellent design
quality for the long term.
Although it is highly aesthetically pleasing, the sleek design of the Argos Eco tap is hardly its unique selling point.
Instead, the Argos distinguishes itself by its “turn to save”
energy management: 30% less water that uses 30% less
energy!
And all this, on a five-point list of advantages for users:
– The tap dispenses warm water only when raised to an
angle above 45°
– Pressing down on the tap increases the power of flow
– The water volume can be boosted from six to nine liters
per minute by pressing a designated button
– The flow of water can be steered precisely, and
– Cleaning is made simple: turn the tap in its fixture and
dislodge the element!
Argos Eco Tap
Red Dot Award
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TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR MACHINE!
In keeping with Franke’s design for living,
the Franke FoamMasterTM belongs to
the most intuitive and efficient high-end
coffee machines. Featuring four different
operating modes and a highly sensitive
touch surface, the machine offers a vast
selection of hot-cold coffee creations. The
FoamMasterTM pledge is to high performance, superb flavor, and melt-in-yourmouth beverage consistency.
Providing a sustainable livelihood for
coffee producers is important to Franke,
since a healthy coffee bean builds the
core of our innovation and assembly. The
company continues to support the Efico
Foundation in its efforts to improve the
living and labor standards in the coffee
and cocoa-producing countries of the
world. Franke’s patronage in Ethiopia and
the nation’s cultivation of wild forest
coffee networks has, to date, supported
upwards of 7,500 local farmers in what
has become a vital new job market.
FoamMasterTM
Efico Foundation
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ENERGY EFFICIENT: COFFEE MACHINE “PURA”
Franke Coffee Systems is keenly aware
of the impact its products may have on
the environment. Independent of current
statutory regulations, the division has
been improving the energy efficiency of
their coffee machines for years, often in
collaboration with working groups, associations, and customers.
In pioneering intelligent energy management, the streamlined “Pura” coffee machine already meets the requirements for
lower environmental pollution as defined
by the European EuP guidelines, which will
be mandatory from 2014.
Pura
European EuP Guidelines
PURA
Under the EuP directive, products are required
to meet power consumption guidelines set by
the EU. Most manufacturers also have to to
carry out lifecycle assessments for their products to determine their environmental impact.
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A new generation of water management
Launched in 2012, the AQUA 3000 Open water management system is a product that offers the most diverse
and adaptable automated water management system on
the market today. Giuseppe Mastrodomenico says that
no other provider has matched its performance for optimizing water while, at the same time, ensuring such
a high degree of comfort and hygiene.
The product’s advantages include thermal disinfection,
flushing, and peak load optimization with an eye to costsaving parameters. While typically operable in large complexes such as hospitals and wellness arenas – where
requirements for hygiene are particularly demanding –
the innovation is increasingly finding its way into smaller
convenience operations, such as highway rest areas.
“THAT THE AQUA 3000 OPEN
IS A SUCCESSFUL INCOME
GENERATOR COMES AS NO
SURPRISE: NO OTHER FIRM
OFFERS A PRODUCT WITH THE
SAME USP.”
— Giuseppe Mastrodomenico,
Head Marketing Switzerland,
Franke Washrooms Systems
Hygiene, comfort, and economy
Intelligent water solutions of the AQUA 3000 water management system owe their success to an innovative electronic platform. Here is an example to illustrate this: The
person monitoring water used in highway rest areas along
a route from Zurich to Basel, for instance, can (whilst
sitting at a screen in their office elsewhere) manage,
track, and regulate the supply of water from those taps.
Builders and operators find that the system’s updated
architecture promises a simpler, safer, more functional,
cleaner, and cost-conscious solution – a system that is
easier overall.
Additionally, the two product areas – taps and networks –
can “communicate” via standard data technology transfer, and a specialized computer software offers additional
functionality and system extensions, including data storage.
AQUA 3000 Open (in German)
AQUA 3000 Open, Brochure
Contact
AQUA 3000 OPEN
Wherever hygiene, comfort, and economy are of foremost concern, customers can depend on the AQUA 3000 Open to meet
their most rigorous standards.
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PEOPLE
G oing the extra mile – Personal Fitness, A Human Resource
F ranke Polska – “Good Employer” in an Anniversary Year
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GOING THE EXTRA MILE Members of the Franke Foodservice Systems team join in at the Olympic Stadium grounds in
Berlin to celebrate their achievement. The runners enthusiastically support a fitness training
program that began at Franke a year ago.
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PERSONAL FITNESS – A HUMAN RESOURCE
Think about it: What exemplifies “dynamic”
better than an image of sportsmen and
women in action? What typifies our employees’ commitment more suitably than
to say we “go the extra mile”? Based in
Bad Säckingen, Germany, Franke Foodservice Systems launched a program of
healthy living under just that motto about
a year ago.
With the aim of team building, Anne Hellermann, Head of HR Franke Foodservice
Systems Europe, engaged a qualified
trainer to organize and supervise jogging
sessions as a free-time offer at Franke
from last June. Since then, Franke Foodservice Systems staff from Bad Säckingen
and Gdynia, Poland have joined in the program, wearing bright red Franke T-shirts,
and competing for the company in several
city marathons (Basel, Warsaw, Berlin).
Managers, clerks, trainees – they all come
and run together.
While improving their own “human resour
ces” and personal fitness, the runners add
a new dimension to teamwork: in a relay
race, for example, they pass the baton
from one person to the next with the aim
of winning. In a spirited, positive exercise,
they identify with the company, stay well
prepared for their task, give their best
performance, strive to take the lead, and
set something forward by getting it into
motion: The business parallels cannot go
unnoticed!
Melanie Hauth, Team Leader Marketing
Communications, also says that her fellow runners communicate easily across
hierarchies and task areas. A common
activity builds a vital sense of belonging,
and the broader the network, the greater
the possible synergies. Further, promoting “go the extra mile” sends a strong
message that the management takes an
interest in employees’ health. “And, lastly
but not leastly” says Anne Hellermann, “it
underscores the value of real fun!”
Contact
A STRONG FRANKE PRESENCE
After Bad Säckingen’s annual “old town marathon” last July, Melanie Hauth cited that “the
unleashed energies and the drive of the runners were simply compelling. Even the spectators felt the electricity! It was great to show
such a strong Franke presence in the region.”
WHILE IMPROVING THEIR OWN
“HUMAN RESOURCES” AND PERSONAL
FITNESS, THE RUNNERS ADD A NEW
DIMENSION TO TEAMWORK.
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Franke Polska – “Good Employer” in an Anniversary Year
In the very year it celebrated its twenty years’ market
presence in Poland, Franke Polska received the “Leader
in Corporate Social Responsibility – Good Employer
2012” award. The title is conferred annually by the
respected economics and finance newspaper Forum
Biznesu, under the auspices of the Institute of Philosophy
and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Prior
to any year’s announcement, a distinguished committee
of industry and media representatives considers criteria
such as company employment policy, the extent and
impact of a company’s charity work, and the benefit of its
other engagements to the business environment.
“…commended for implementing principles
of socially responsible
business activity…”
Franke Polska was commended for implementing principles of socially responsible business activity and, in
particular, for its employee treatment policy. Supporting workers’ professional development through training
courses, creating opportunities for promotion, being environmentally friendly, and supportive of charitable work
in service to the community were all cited as reasons for
the commendation. In sum, the “Good Employer” award
confirms Franke Polska’s sound reputation for reliability
and its exemplary response to the needs of the community – its own employees first and foremost.
Ewelina Romanska wears several hats at Franke in Warsaw, where production, warehouse facilities and business offices are all housed in the same building. Ewelina
Romanska is assistant to the Managing Director, but also
works as head of internal communications and HR. When
asked to characterize the tenor of the operation in her
city, she is quick to say that branch size, 70–80 employees, was a determining factor. “We are dedicated, and
perhaps because we are this size, we have to be energetic, but what we have is a truly cohesive and good working
atmosphere,” she says.
Franke Polska (in Polish)
Polish Academy of Sciences (IFiS PAN)
Contact
2012
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A counter to dust and loud noise
Given its two locations in Poland, the Franke brand is
well known all over the country as a benchmark for
excellence, and its risk management complies with the
national safety regulations. Recently, however, health
and safety specialist Monika Trudnowska and her team
at Franke Foodservice Systems Poland implemented
measures at the operation in Gdynia to further improve
the personal health and safety of employees throughout
the plant. The first actions focused on improved safety
measures in the polishing area, the second, in stations
nearby where polishing dust and loud noise could effect
employees’ well-being.
“…TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE PERSONAL
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES
THROUGHOUT THE PLANT.”
Monika Trudnowska, Head Safety and Protection, Gdynia
Franke Polska (in Polish)
Contact
Among the measures taken were the supply of anti-vibration gloves to protect the hands from harmful, repetitive movements, and a highly efficient electric-powered
breathing apparatus which features special protection.
Further, to counter loud volumes, staff were equipped
with high-quality hearing protection that decreased their
noise level by some 9.5 dB.
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engagement
Making a Splash – The Environment Arena
Working with ETH Zurich
The Eco-Design Workshop
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Making a Splash
Franke is proud to be one of the exhibition sponsors for the much-publicized Environment
Arena, the first facility of its kind worldwide. Visitors are informed not just on a theoretical
level, but also through a “hands on” approach.
FRANKEE-PAPER
FRANKE
INSIGHT1/2013
2013
engagement
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the Environment Arena
Located some 15 km from Zurich in the town of
Spreitenbach, the Arena is an exhibition platform
for sustainability topics in the areas of life scien
ce, mobility, and energy, with a particular focus
on renewable energies. Visitors have the chance
to see and compare more than forty interactive
exhibits. Since the themes are geared to laymen,
environmentalists, school groups, interest- and
business groups alike, the Arena has something
for all ages.
“The Arena offers
Franke a chance to
shape Franke’s
reputation as an
innovative company.”
— Oliver Johner,
Corporate Sustainability Manager
The “Aqua Arena” is Franke’s contribution to
this inviting house of knowledge. Our exhibition
features different types of taps, showerheads,
urinals (yes, those, too!) and insights into the
breakthrough “Aqua 3000 Open” water management system that markedly reduces both volume
of water and customer’s costs. Throughout the
OUR RESPONSIBILITY
For Franke, sustainability means that all
our business activities should ensure
that we can face future generations
with a clear conscience. Ecological,
eco
no
mical, and social implications
should be weighed at every turn we
take – whether in the office or on the
production floor.
installation, catchy graphics complement the
objects on display, and a water quiz gives plenty
of material for animated discussion. How much
water do we use a day? Can we save on water
without affecting our comfort zone?
Oliver Johner, who co-managed Franke’s involvement in the Arena, points to the benefits that the
company also reaps from the public installation;
it offers Franke a chance to shape its reputation
as an innovative company, and showcase several
products in a setting alongside those of other
market players. Explaining what is superior about
a product – especially if the innovative feature
is housed out of sight – will always be a struggle. But by featuring a product that can minimize
water consumption while maximizing hygiene, the
exhibit makes it absolutely clear that Franke’s
offer is far more than just pieces of shiny metal!
Franke and its companies participate
actively in a wide range of industry associations, initiatives and other organizations. Many of these deal with sustainability topics such as best practice
standards or informative product labeling. As you know, the Franke Group
agreed as early as in 2004 to sign the
UN Global Compact, making a strong
commitment to its principles regarding
human rights, labor standards, the environment, anti-corruption, and to using
those principles to guide our daily operations.
UN Global Compact
Franke Sustainability
This business also requires regular interaction with a wide range of stakeholder groups, for whom we strive to
demonstrate the Compact principles
in action. Lasting relationships with
our customers are essential, and, as
our shareholder Michael Pieper stated,
“long-term financial stability is more important than short-term success.”
We create added value for our stakeholders by meeting the needs of our
customers, employees and the many
communities that are home to our
operations. Our products and services
show respect for their natural materials
and the people that make them during
the whole life cycle. Further, different
entities in house, such as the Corporate
Sustainability Department, the Franke
Sustainability Team and the Sustainability Steering Committee interact to
ensure an efficient and effective sustainability management policy across
the Group.
Video “Einstein” (in German)
The Environment Arena (in German)
Aqua Arena, Franke (in German)
Contact
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working WITH ETH ZURICH
Scholarships and Cooperative Projects
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) is widely
considered as being Switzerland’s finest university.
The institute’s renowned ETH Zurich Foundation brings
together academics who are united in their disciplines
in efforts to stretch the boundaries of science. Whether
an individual, an organization, or a company provides the
funding, the selected projects’ common ground is the
exploration of unknown territory for the greater good.
Franke’s 2011 major award to the ETH Zurich Foundation was designated to support research projects related
specifically to sustainability. A generous additional award
was also donated to the distinguished “Franke – ETH
Zurich Excellence Scholarships.” In the Foundation’s history to date, 143 Masters students working in 16 different
departments have been awarded Excellence Scholarships
like those Franke is sponsoring. Each one allows promising candidates – who might not otherwise be able to attend the ETH – to expand their research capabilities and
optimize knowledge transfer.
The meeting of minds
Alexander Moser, program administrator on the Franke
side, said that while the Excellence Scholarships support
high potentials, the Foundation synthesizes professional
competencies drawn from both academia and industry.
A fine example of a joint innovation project was the work
done with Prof. Pavel Hora from ETH’s Institute of Virtual
Manufacturing to develop an eddy current system for
the measurement of stainless steel quality. Now installed
at Franke Kitchen Systems after successful testing, the
innovation helps not only to reduce the stainless steel
scrap rate (some 2%), but also to stabilize the sink production process.
Understandably, most of the projects on the FrankeETH drawing board lie in the area of science and technology, but topics on urbanization and modes of habitation
“WHAT I FIND FASCINATING
ABOUT THE ETH-FRANKE
COOPERATION IS THAT YOU
ACTUALLY SEE HOW IDEAS
GROW.”
— Alexander Moser,
Assistant to Group Management
increasingly draw on the expertise of sociologists and city
planners, as well. As for Alexander Moser, an ETH graduate himself, the bridge between engineering science and
business is ever more important to the success of the
global players, so the cooperation is extremely promising.
Contact
Franke and ETH Zurich
Another recent cooperation between Franke and ETH was a study
under the direction of Prof. Wendelin Stark on the basic effects
of both existing and innovative technologies – such as ultrasound
power – on food preparation and cooking in the professional and
consumer kitchen.
ETH Zurich, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
ETH Zurich Foundation
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarships
Expertise of Sociologists and City Planners
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THE ECO-DESIGN WORKSHOP
In the Era of Emotional Uptake
The Eco-Design Workshop is a Franke
methodology that aims to produce improved products with fewer resources.
Hallmarked by being “open innovation,”
a process in its own right, the Workshop
brings people from different backgrounds
and disciplines together to brainstorm
over the whole life cycle of select Franke
products. After all, we can’t innovate in
isolation: so the engineer may sit with a
representative from customer service, a
woman in marketing may be challenged
by a product designer. Are we using this
material optimally? Could we consider
using another to boost performance? And
what happens at the end of the cycle?
Can the product materials be recycled?
The second thrust of the Workshop is its
focus on customers and their product perception. How can we best respond to any
complaints? Move our offer closer to what
our customers’ want and need? Nowadays, the success of products is as much
measured by emotional uptake – the fun
one has with and around the product, the
enjoyment of what it enables or enhances
– as it is by its technical specifications.
In sum, the Workshop offers a basis to
rethink our products so that planning
and production can benefit from a closer
alliance, and work together towards improved solutions.
“WE CAN’T
INNOVATE IN
ISOLATION.”
— Oliver Johner,
Corporate Sustainability Manager
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Heading Towards Success
The Franke ambition is to establish or
maintain its position as front-runner in
the various business areas, and to think
of “dynamic change” as a launch pad to
that success. In engagements throughout the company, we underpin this ambition with values that are indispensable
to operations at every level. Riding on a
commitment to excellence, enthusiasm
for our task, and the innovation that
inspires us, each one of us can “go the
extra mile” and make a difference – not
just on our own personal sense of integrity, but to the integrity of the collective
whole.
Everything we do,
we do for and with
the customer.
Most importantly, everything we at
Franke do, we do for – and with – the
customer. With that conviction firmly in
mind, we’ll do much more than go the
extra mile. We’ll get to where we want
to go.
Franke Management
Frankestrasse 2
P.0. Box 229
CH-4663 Aarburg
Switzerland
www.franke.com
Concept
Natascha Widmer,
Franke Corporate
Communications
Thomas Volprecht,
Process Brand Evolution
Copywriting
Sarah Batschelet,
wordworks
Bilder
Franke, Plainpicture
Design
Process Brand Evolution
Art direction:
Bärbel Fritz
Graphic design:
Sonja Röessler
©The
Franke Group,
June 2013
Contact