Spotlight

Towards a future together

Electro Terminal develops, produces and sells electro-mechanical components and systems for the lighting and household machine industries as well as the installation technology. With great success: Today Electro Terminal delivers to more than 60 countries worldwide. The enterprise was founded by Dr. Walter Zumtobel and Ferdinand Rojkowsi in 1964. In 1972 they moved to their location to the Archenweg. An eventful history followed, which led to a management-buy-out by the local management and the logistic partners of AFS in 2014. Even before that, the two enterprises had worked closely together. Amongst other things, AFS had been assisting with running the warehouse for Electro Terminal, since they had run out of space at the Archenweg.

Manfred Spiegl, operating manager of Electro terminal: “The expansion of our production is a real challenge when it comes to space, because our building can only grow in height. That is why we have started to outsource some areas – in a first step the dispatch and prefabricated component warehouse and later also the incoming goods. This regained space we can use for new big production plants.” The outsourcing of processes to AFS was an important growth factor for Electro Terminal.”

(Picture: The Electro Terminal partners at the strategy meeting at the end of June, from left to right: Martin Köcher, Michael Prior, Helmut Priewasser, Walter Mittermüller and Johann Stark)

Integrating potential

The cooperation between Electro Terminal and AFS has existed for decades.  Besides the high level of professional competence, it is also the working system that has been decisive. “AFS acts as service provider in the field of logistics in the system of Electro Terminal. This means that no additional interface is required and that there is a smooth flow of everything”, summarises Spiegl. “In our experience it has proved to be of value to play by the rules of our customers in the choice of the system. This way we avoid unnecessary cost and time expenditure for our daily operative business”, confirms Martin Köcher and Johann Start, the owners of AFS. “Otherwise our customers had to work with hundreds of different systems. This is not constructive. That is why we at AFS have always placed great emphasis on a tailored IT-infrastructure. Our business is not only about organising the flow of goods, but the key moment is the service before, during and afterwards." 

AFS works individually, transparent and always with the best solution for its customers. This way a tailored service can be offered at a fair price. The cooperation with Electro Terminal shows another advantage for customers: Even though logistics are carried out by AFS, Electro Terminal remains the only contact partner for its customers. A fact that has been convincing from the very beginning.

Maximum customer orientation

The still owner-managed AFS stands for trustworthiness and fair dealings – virtues which are a must for such an intensive cooperation with Electro Terminal. As well as maximum customer orientation,  the question of the location unifies the two businesses as well. “AFS is a Tyrolean enterprise and should stay that way in the future. Thanks to continuous investments we strengthen the location and also give our employees the security to be a reliable employer.” This is the way  Electro Terminal sees it. That office employees were taken over has made the decision to outsource some processes a lot easier. “We have been extremely lucky to be able to integrate the know-how of our partner directly in our own business with the management-buy-out and the close cooperation with AFS”, explains Spiegl. AFS profits especially from the close relationship Electro Terminal has with the industry and where it has subsequently been able to gain ground. Many renowned Tyrolean (family) businesses could be won as new customers and the market penetrations increased.

Electro Terminal Facts

ELECTRO TERMINAL GMBH & CO KG
Archenweg 58, 6020 Innsbruck

Products: • innovative joining technologies an tailored solutions • connecting terminals for lighting • connecting terminals for household machines • electronic installation material
Key competences: die cutting • moulding of synthetic materials • automatic assembly • tool making
Employees: 113
Turnover: 30.5 million Euros