There were many customers with specific investment plans with us. After this sunny weekend we start freshly recovered with the processing of the inquiries. Thank you again for your visit and we look forward to seeing you again in March 2023!
Read also the exclusive interview with Esa-Matti Aalto and Bastian Kuhl
Constant companion in everyday life
ICE Europe daily in an exclusive interview with Esa-Matti Aalto, managing director and CSO of the OLBRICH Group, and Bastian Kuhl, managing director and CEO of the Bocholt-based group of companies
ICE Europe daily: Mr Kuhl, Mr Aalto, what do you offer for the ICE visitors at the Olbrich and Polytype Converting booth in 2022?
Bastian Kuhl: I would like to highlight the video that we produced for ICE. In joint discussions, we noticed how technological the presentation of companies like ours at tradeshows usually is. As a non-technician, I always wonder what a given technology is actually used for! After the integration of the three brands Pagendarm, Polytype Converting and Olbrich, we are very broadly positioned and active in over 40 segments. You could say that our everyday life is characterized by products that we are involved in producing. That‘s why we wanted to let the products speak for themselves – not just the technology. Together with marketing, we built a story around the technology itself. The result was the story of a married couple who work at Olbrich/Polytype Converting and at the same time stumble across our products in their everyday lives. In this way, we show how we influence people‘s lives with our technologies. The “green” issues such as recyclability, new energies, etc. also play an important role.
Esa-Matti Aalto: At the trade show, we naturally want to present ourselves as an innovation partner. It embodies all these things – not only our classic themes like flooring and wallpapers, as well as packaging, but also new themes like solar energy, batteries, etc. For me personally, ICE is also like a class reunion. We meet customers, old acquaintances and feel real joy about this reunion.
ICE Europe daily: Which customer inquiries do you receive particularly frequently at the moment? Where do your contacts see a particular need to talk?
E.-M. Aalto: Of course, many customers come to us to discuss current projects. You can‘t identify a specific focal topic that dominates everything. Nevertheless, the topic of batteries, solar and energy efficiency is one that is burning under the nails of many. Converting topics are now also attracting many people across industries. This show is certainly a real beacon here – also for people who are interested in the new energies sector and therefore also want to learn more about coating technologies and converting in general.
ICE Europe daily: The joint appearance of Polytype Converting and Olbrich is now firmly established and practiced in all aspects?
B. Kuhl: Of course, we are still visible on the market with both brands. But for us, the cooperation has become a matter of course. Outwardly, we speak with the respective brands, but inwardly we are one company, one team – in Bocholt and in Switzerland and Hamburg.
